Yes, I know. Another raw recipe.
Every second dessert I’m making at the moment is raw. I assure you I’m not caught up in some kind of craze , but the appeal of eating something delicious which is also so very good for you is too much for me to resist!
This is all relatively new to me. Not the notion of healthy eating (which I have a long history with, as mentioned in this post) but clean eating. I have Emma, my lovely friend/colleague/boss to thank. She lives her life striving to eat clean and raw foods, and has introduced me to the whole phenomenon. For those of you who are new to the concept, eating clean means a diet consisting of food that’s consumed closest to it’s natural state – mainly fresh vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, nuts and seeds. Whilst I completely understand the health benefits of this diet, I personally could never make the commitment to eat this way 100% of the time. I see too many benefits in other food groups to simply leave them behind, and more importantly I have a deep and infinite love for bread and butter. However, I have discovered through Emma, that raw desserts really are magnificent. And with an ingredient list of (basically) fruit and nuts, is it any wonder that I’m so eager to keep making them!
I have also discovered that there are many people worldwide who are choosing to eat this way. Websites and blogs are all over the internet, with various recipes for clean and raw desserts. It didn’t take long to realise that they all follow the same brilliant formula: nuts/dates for the base and cashews/maple/coconut oil for the top layer. This is my version of a raw Lemon + Raspberry Cheesecake following that same formula. I have a few ideas for a raw Chocolate + Peanut Slice which I am still working on. It basically tastes like a Snickers bar, believe it or not, so keep an eye out for that one in the coming weeks.
In the meantime I urge you all to give this one a go – you may not believe it until you taste for yourself.
After which you may very well be converted too..
Raw Lemon + Raspberry Cheesecake
for the base
1 cup desiccated coconut
3/4 cup almonds
1 heaping cup fresh pitted dates
juice of 1 lemon
Place all of the above ingredients, apart from the lemon juice, into a food processor and pulse until ground to rough breadcrumb consistency. Add the lemon juice and pulse again briefly.
Line a round cake tin with enough cling film to hang over the top. Press down the base mixture very firmly, in one even layer. Place in freezer.
for the top layer
2 cups cashews, soaked for 2 hours, then drained
1/2 cup maple syrup
zest and juice from two or three lemons, depending on their size
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
few Tbsp water (optional, if a thinner consistency is required)
1 cup frozen raspberries
Place all but the raspberries into a food processor. Blitz until the mixture is thick and smooth. You might need to add a couple of tablespoons of water if the mixture is too thick, it does take quite a while so be patient with it.
Take the base out of the freezer and pour your cashew cream cheese mixture on top of the base. Smooth over with a spatula, then sprinkle over the frozen raspberries, pressing in gently so they rest nicely into the cheesecake.
Freeze for an hour.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before you are ready to serve.
If you are not eating the entire cake in one sitting, keep the remainder stored in the freezer.
This recipe looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it. I’m actually heading to a family birthday party tonight-think I will bring this cake along.
This recipe looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it. I’m actually heading to a family birthday party tonight-think I will bring this cake along.
Brilliant! I am sure everyone will love it – even my man at home gave it an A + (and this is coming from a man who has a heart for junk food). I’d love to hear how it turns out. X
Brilliant! I am sure everyone will love it – even my man at home gave it an A + (and this is coming from a man who has a heart for junk food). I’d love to hear how it turns out. X
Awesome recipe! Thanks so much 🙂 Most healthy cheesecake recipes use tofu, but I don’t eat tofu. Cashews are great!
Awesome recipe! Thanks so much 🙂 Most healthy cheesecake recipes use tofu, but I don’t eat tofu. Cashews are great!
Thank you!! It really is amazing how creamy the cashews are after a bit of persistence with the food processor. WAY better for you than tofu too! Glad you like it. X
Thank you!! It really is amazing how creamy the cashews are after a bit of persistence with the food processor. WAY better for you than tofu too! Glad you like it. X
I agree with you, it feels great to eat something so good and so clean! I try to avoid preservatives and processed food as good as I can (although I do still bake desserts with sugar, butter and flour sometimes..). And recipes like these are perfect and exactly what I’m looking for! Thank you for sharing!
http://miyafood.blogspot.com
I agree with you, it feels great to eat something so good and so clean! I try to avoid preservatives and processed food as good as I can (although I do still bake desserts with sugar, butter and flour sometimes..). And recipes like these are perfect and exactly what I’m looking for! Thank you for sharing!
http://miyafood.blogspot.com
I agree with you, it feels great to eat something so good and so clean! I try to avoid preservatives and processed food as good as I can (although I do still bake desserts with sugar, butter and flour sometimes..). And recipes like these are perfect and exactly what I’m looking for! Thank you for sharing!
http://miyafood.blogspot.com
how GOOD are these cakes? I have had one in the freezer consistently for weeks. hard to beat the Yong Green Food versions, but I’m working on it.
how GOOD are these cakes? I have had one in the freezer consistently for weeks. hard to beat the Yong Green Food versions, but I’m working on it.
Honey they are so GOOD!
I too have one on the go in the freezer most of the time – I tend not to devour these cakes as I do with the regular flour/sugar varieties, a little bit goes such a long way!! Love Yong but haven’t been there in so long. It didn’t even occur to me that they do dessert! Very excited to try. X
Honey they are so GOOD!
I too have one on the go in the freezer most of the time – I tend not to devour these cakes as I do with the regular flour/sugar varieties, a little bit goes such a long way!! Love Yong but haven’t been there in so long. It didn’t even occur to me that they do dessert! Very excited to try. X
looks awesome can’t wait to try it ps if you want to make the top layer chocolate just add cacao powder and don’t put in so much lemon and if you don’t wanna have maple you could add some dates for sweetness
looks awesome can’t wait to try it ps if you want to make the top layer chocolate just add cacao powder and don’t put in so much lemon and if you don’t wanna have maple you could add some dates for sweetness
looks awesome can’t wait to try it ps if you want to make the top layer chocolate just add cacao powder and don’t put in so much lemon and if you don’t wanna have maple you could add some dates for sweetness
Thanks Magali!
You’re so right, I have been playing around with cacao in cashew cream quite a bit – It’s so freaking good!!!! I love yr idea of adding dates for sweetness, maple can get quite expensive when you’re using it constantly. Definitely gonna give that a go. X
Thanks Magali!
You’re so right, I have been playing around with cacao in cashew cream quite a bit – It’s so freaking good!!!! I love yr idea of adding dates for sweetness, maple can get quite expensive when you’re using it constantly. Definitely gonna give that a go. X
Miya you are very welcome! Sounds as if we are quite similar – I like to keep my food as nutritious as possible but still bake regular cakes and muffins too. I try to add wholemeal flour where possible and often use some kind of nut meal too.
So glad you like the recipe. I have a couple of other clean desserts that I’ve been working so stay tuned!. X
Miya you are very welcome! Sounds as if we are quite similar – I like to keep my food as nutritious as possible but still bake regular cakes and muffins too. I try to add wholemeal flour where possible and often use some kind of nut meal too.
So glad you like the recipe. I have a couple of other clean desserts that I’ve been working so stay tuned!. X
Oh yum. Love the idea of this cheesecake! The photos of your little one with the cheesecake are quite divine… so sweet. Thanks for this recipe! x
Oh yum. Love the idea of this cheesecake! The photos of your little one with the cheesecake are quite divine… so sweet. Thanks for this recipe! x
You are very welcome Laura, it really is a little gem this recipe. And thank you for your lovely words about my boy – my official taste tester – he is well and truly sick of having his photo taken so I am lucky I got these shots!
You are very welcome Laura, it really is a little gem this recipe. And thank you for your lovely words about my boy – my official taste tester – he is well and truly sick of having his photo taken so I am lucky I got these shots!