The vegan cheesecake is not only creamy but also has a light and airy texture that makes it perfect for summer. It is achieved by using silken tofu in place of cream cheese as well as cashews, which are ground until they form a fine grind. The recipe is made with honey to give it the savory touch that can't be found in other recipes anymore. It is important to note that this requires an overnight chilling process in order to set the cake nicely and make sure its ingredients are mixed without any lumps. Not only is it a quick and easy vegan dessert recipe, but it also makes an ideal healthy choice for those who are into dairy-free products.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cup cashews, soaked overnight
1 cup non-dairy milk (any plant-based milk will do fine)
3/4 cup sugar
1 large vanilla bean or 2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp arrowroot powder (if using stevia granules, sieve first to remove any lumps)
2 tsp corn starch
4 ounces silken tofu (I used Mori-Nu for this recipe)
PREPARATION:
1. Drain the cashews and place them in a food processor. Process until fine particles form. Scrape the sides of the blender and repeat if needed.
2. Add in non-dairy milk, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, vanilla seeds or extract, and arrowroot powder. Process until smooth and creamy. (If using stevia granules sieve first to remove any lumps).
3. Transfer the contents of the blender into a bowl set up with thick towels on top to prevent stains on your countertops by using clean towels on top of it while working with this recipe (see picture below). You can use paper towels instead as well if you have no heavy-duty towels). Mix until uniform color forms.
4. Add in silken tofu and mix until the contents are smooth.
5. Transfer the contents of the bowl on top of your towels set it up on your countertop and cover with more towels. Use a large cutting board over top to evenly distribute the pressure to ensure no cracks form on top of your cheesecake. Let it chill overnight until it is set and firm.
6. Make sure you have properly lined a glass or metal round cake pan in order for your cheesecake to come out cleanly when you turn it out for its final step which is refrigeration before serving. Also, make sure that all ingredients are at room temperature when mixing this recipe so that you can avoid cracks due to temperature differences between ingredients.
