Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (2024)

The easy vegan cheesecake recipe that even non vegans LOVE… with no cashews, and no tofu required.

Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (1)

Vegan cheesecake with no cashews

This vegan cheesecake is so out-of-this-world delicious that I have yet to bring it to any party where both vegans and non vegans haven’t raved about it!

Even people with no interest whatsoever in healthy or vegan eating go crazy for this cheesecake every time I serve it.

When creating the recipe, my goal had been to make something that tasted so similar to classic New York cheesecake that—if you didn’t already know it was egg free and vegan—you would absolutely never be able to tell.

You may also like:Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (3)

I’ve had way more than my fair share of bad vegan cheesecakes in my life, so I know exactly what comes to mind when people picture vegan cheesecake: chalky texture, unpleasant artificial aftertaste, disappointingly non-cheesy flavor, or lack of any flavor at all.

As a huge cheesecake lover, I have exorbitantly high standards for the perfect baked cheesecake, and those high standards were front and center when I set out to make a vegan version that tasted just as good as the original.

This dairy free cheesecake is so rich and creamy, no one ever believes it isn’t full of heavy cream and sugar!

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Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (5)

The best vegan baked cheesecake

When I finally perfected my cheesecake recipe, it was time to test it out on a group of non vegans.

I brought it to a party and quietly set it down with all of the other desserts, without mentioning to anyone that it was vegan.

While I’d hoped people would like it, I’d never in a million years expected the entire cheesecake to be completely gone in under an hour!

That’s when I knew the recipe was definitely a keeper.

*For chocolate cheesecake, try this veganBrownie Cheesecake Recipe

Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (7)

Cheesecake ingredients

You have multiple options for the cream cheese, yogurt, and sweetener in this recipe, so choose ingredients that fit your own dietary and taste preferences.

The recipe works with store-bought vegan cream cheese, such as Trader Joes vegan, Tofutti, Miyokos (soy free), or Kite Hill (soy and cashew free).

Or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make your own homemade cream cheese with cashews or macadamia nuts.

And have fun decorating your cheesecake, with sliced strawberries, bananas, blueberries, chocolate chips or coconut milk chocolate truffles.

I topped the vegan cheesecake in the photos with toasted coconut and homemade vegan cream cheese frosting (4 oz cream cheese, 2 oz vegan butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract).

Use a prepared crust, cookie crust or graham cracker crust; or follow the optional crust recipe below. The entire cheesecake, from the filling to the crust, is completely vegan.

Leftover cream cheese? Make Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (9)

How to make vegan cheesecake

Gather all of your ingredients, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fill any baking pan about halfway up with water, and place the pan of water on your oven’s lower rack.

Bring the cream cheese to room temperature, then beat cheese cake ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Be sure not to over beat, which could cause air bubbles to form that might later burst and cause cracking.

Smooth the filling on top of a prepared vegan crust, place on the oven’s middle rack, and bake 30 minutes. Do not open the oven door.

When time is up, keep the oven door closed but turn the heat off. Leave the cake in the closed oven for 5 additional minutes, then remove and let it cool 20 minutes or more before placing the still-underdone cheesecake in the refrigerator for a few hours to firm up.

These steps are important because letting the recipe cool gradually, instead of exposing it to harsh temperature changes, is another trick to prevent cracking.

The cheesecake will be considerably firmer in texture after 6-8 hours. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to four days, or it can also be sliced and frozen.

Above, watch the vegan cheesecake recipe video

Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (10)

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The easy vegan cheesecake recipe that even non vegans love, with no cashews required.

Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (12)

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Print Recipe

Prep Time 6 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 hours hours

Yield 8 – 12 slices

5 from 257 votes

Ingredients

  • 24 oz cream cheese, such as TJ vegan or Tofutti OR vegan cream cheese
  • 2 cups plain yogurt, such as coconutmilk, almond, soy, or cashew yogurt
  • 2 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 4 tsp cornstarch (or here's a Keto Cheesecake Recipe)
  • 2/3 cup sugar or pure maple syrup, or xylitol for sugar free

Instructions

  • Optional Crust (or use your favorite crust): 1 1/2 cup raw nuts of choice, 1 cup pitted dates, 1/8 tsp salt. If dates are not soft, soak in boiling water until soft. Blend all ingredients in a food processor until fine crumbles form. Add water very slowly (1 tsp at a time) only if needed. Pour into a lined 9-inch springform pan, press down evenly, then set aside while you make the filling.

    Preheat oven to 350 F. Fill any baking pan about halfway with water and place it on the oven’s lower rack. Bring cream cheese to room temp. Beat all cheesecake ingredients with a blender or food processor just until smooth. (Do not overbeat, which would introduce air bubbles that might burst in the oven and cause cracking.) Smooth on top of the prepared crust. Place on the middle rack, above the rack that has the water pan. Bake 30 minutes, and do not open the oven door during this time. When the time is up, still do not open the oven even a crack, but turn off the heat. Leave in the closed oven for an additional 5 minutes. Then remove the cake—it will still look underdone—and let cool at least 20 minutes before placing the still-underdone cheesecake in the fridge. It’s important to let it cool before refrigerating, because you want it to cool gradually so it doesn’t crack. Chill at least 6 hours or overnight, during which time it firms up. Store leftovers covered in the fridge 3-4 days, or you can also freeze slices if desired.

    View Nutrition Facts

Notes

Also try these popular Vegan Brownies.

Have you made this recipe?

Tag @chocolatecoveredkatie on Instagram

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Or this vanilla Vegan Cake

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Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (2024)

FAQs

What are vegan cheesecakes made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 100g coconut oil, melted, plus extra for the tin.
  • 300g digestive biscuits (check the label to ensure they are vegan)
  • 800g vegan soft cheese.
  • 175g soft light brown sugar.
  • 100g (about 4 tbsp) vanilla yogurt alternative.
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste.
  • 40g (about 2 tbsp) coconut cream.
  • 1 tbsp cornflour.
Oct 12, 2023

What is a vegan substitute for eggs in cheesecake? ›

Silken tofu

You might be surprised to hear that silken tofu makes an excellent substitute for eggs in savoury or sweet dishes, such as vegan cheesecake or chocolate mousse. However you use it, you'll need to whip it until smooth, otherwise you'll be left with noticeable chunks of tofu in your mixture.

Do vegans eat cheesecake? ›

No, cheesecake is not usually vegan because it's made with dairy and often eggs. My recipe is 100% vegan and dairy free, of course!

What are the ingredients in Daiya cheesecake? ›

Filling (Filtered Water, Creamed Coconut, Cane Sugar, Coconut Oil, Tapioca Flour, Expeller Pressed Safflower Oil, Potato Starch, Pea Protein, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Alginate, Lactic Acid, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavors, Cultured Sugar, Enzyme), Gluten-free Crust (Tapioca Flour, Cane Sugar ...

What do vegans use instead of cream cheese? ›

Best Healthy Substitutes For Cream Cheese (Vegan)
  • Vegan Cashew Cream Cheese.
  • Hummus.
  • Tofu Sour Cream.
  • Cashew Sour Cream.
  • Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese.
  • Avocado.
  • Strawberry Chia Jam (Fruit Spread)
  • Unsweetened Plain Yogurt (vegan)
Mar 11, 2021

Is Philadelphia cream cheese vegan? ›

Philadelphia may be the most popular and well-known brand that offers vegan cream cheese, but it's far from alone. Before the original pioneers of cream cheese jumped on the bandwagon with their own plant-based version, vegan brands were already offering a wide variety of cream cheese options.

What do vegans use instead of butter? ›

Here are some of the best vegan substitutes for butter.
  • Olive oil. This should be in everyone's kitchen. ...
  • Macadamia oil. A natural oil made from the cold pressing of macadamia nuts. ...
  • Rice oil. A delicate oil with a subtle flavour that is appreciated in baked goods. ...
  • Extra virgin coconut oil. ...
  • Avocado pulp.
Jul 31, 2023

What is a vegan binder for baking? ›

Vegan Binders for Baking

Chia seeds are a popular vegan egg substitute for baking. To replace one large egg in a recipe, simply combine one tablespoon of chia seeds with two and a half tablespoons of water. Let the mixture sit until it forms a jello-like texture. That's it!

What cheese can vegans not eat? ›

Vegans do not eat cheese or any other dairy products because they are derived from animals. Dairy products involve the exploitation of animals for their milk, and so cheese made from animal milk is not considered part of a vegan diet. this includes cheeses made from sheep and goat's milk.

Are graham crackers vegan? ›

Thankfully, vegans can find cruelty-free graham crackers in just about any grocery store in the country. Some vegan-friendly varieties replace honey with the more traditional molasses. Others opt for brown sugar, and some choose corn syrup instead.

What cheese do vegans eat? ›

Vegans can eat cheese that is comprised of plant-based ingredients like soybeans, peas, cashews, coconut, or almonds. The most common types of vegan cheeses are cheddar, gouda, parmesan, mozzarella, and cream cheese that can be found in non-dairy forms.

Is Daiya actually vegan? ›

The Original Game-Changer

Daiya makes history with our first plant-based cheese, which boasts a wonderful melt—bringing cheesy comfort foods back into the lives of the plant-based serious, the plant-curious, and those with allergies!

Is Daiya cheese made with nuts? ›

The company was established in 2008 by Andre Kroecher and Greg Blake. Daiya's original products are cheese analogues made from coconut oil and tapioca flour that are known for their cheese-like consistency and melting properties. They contain no animal products or soy, lactose, wheat, barley, gluten, or nuts.

What are three dominant ingredients in vegan cheese? ›

As vegan blog Wag Free Food notes, coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut cream are popular ingredients to make vegan cheese. The high-fat content of coconut makes it easier to create a creamy, decadent, cheese-like product.

What is the main ingredient in vegan cheese? ›

Vegan cheese is usually made from soy, nuts, vegetable oils, and various other natural ingredients like peas or arrowroot. Vegan cheese is seen as a healthier alternative to cheese by some, and may reduce your risk of heart disease due to its lower content of fat.

What kind of vegan cheese does cheesecake Factory use? ›

Finding vegan options at The Cheesecake Factory is easier than ever—the chain has added Field Roast Chao cheese and Best Foods vegan mayo to its menu at locations nationwide. Now, you can enjoy an animal-free burger topped with dairy-free cheese and egg-free mayo at this popular restaurant.

What is vegan crab cakes made of? ›

How to make vegan crab cakes: To a food processor, add chickpeas, artichokes, panko breadcrumbs, chopped nori, vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Pulse a few times to mix and break up the chickpeas and artichokes. Don't over mix, you want there to be texture still.

What is cheesecake usually made of? ›

Cheesecake is a dessert made with a soft fresh cheese (typically cottage cheese, cream cheese, quark or ricotta), eggs, and sugar. It may have a crust or base made from crushed cookies (or digestive biscuits), graham crackers, pastry, or sometimes sponge cake.

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