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 274 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?

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Or this vanilla Vegan Cake

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Vegan Cheesecake Recipe - NO Cashews! (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan cheesecake made of? ›

These 7 ingredient beauties begin with a 2-ingredient crust! Dates and raw walnuts (or almonds) – that's all you need. Whirl and set aside. Next up, the 5-ingredient filling: Soaked cashews, coconut milk, coconut oil, lemon juice and agave nectar.

How do you stiffen a cheesecake mix? ›

You can mix a tablespoon or two of cornstarch into your cheesecake filling mixture before baking. Another option is to use a little bit of flour or arrowroot powder. These ingredients will also help to thicken your filling and give it a more consistent texture.

How do you thicken no bake cheesecake batter without gelatin? ›

Confectioners' Sugar: A smidge of confectioners' sugar thickens the filling, while also keeping it light. I tested with flour and cornstarch and both left a chalky aftertaste. I recommend sticking with confectioners' sugar. Sour Cream: Add a little sour cream for that trademark tangy cheesecake flavor.

How do eggs affect cheesecake? ›

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

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.

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 is the thickening agent in cheesecake? ›

Almost every cheesecake recipe calls either gelatin or beaten eggs, which are used as a setting or thickening agents. The cake will not set properly if there is no egg in the preparation, and you will just have a cream cheese pudding.

Can you overbeat cheesecake batter? ›

Avoid Overmixing: Unlike other cakes, where beating air into the batter is key, overmixed cheesecake can rise, fall and then crack from that excess air. Keeping ingredients (cheese, eggs, liquids and flavorings) at room temperature can help.

Why do you put cornstarch in cheesecake? ›

Flour or cornstarch is sometimes included in cheesecake recipes to preventing cracks. If you find that you always have problems with cracking and your cheesecake recipe does not call for any flour or cornstarch, it's ok to experiment and add some cornstarch (one to two tablespoons) to the batter when you add the sugar.

What is no bake cheesecake filling made of? ›

For the Filling: Combine cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix at low speed to form a thick paste, then increase to medium speed until soft and smooth.

Why is my no bake cheesecake not firm? ›

The primary reason a no-bake cheesecake is too runny or doesn't set up properly is generally the temperature of the ingredients. If your cream cheese is too warm, the mixture will be too soft and will never set up properly.

How can I make my cheesecake firmer? ›

A bit of alcohol or acid can help set your cheesecake a bit firmer, as well as making sure that you use full fat cream cheese (the cheaper stuff can be a bit looser than something like philly too) as well as double cream which you whip quite firm.

What can replace eggs in cheesecake? ›

Yes, eggs can be replaced with tofu or soy milk in a cheesecake recipe. To replace eggs, tofu can be blended and added to the recipe as a substitute for the eggs. However, soy milk does not provide the same binding properties as eggs, so it is best to use tofu as a substitute for eggs in a cheesecake recipe.

What happens if you add too many eggs to cheesecake? ›

Adding richness and a smooth texture, the proteins in the eggs set up during the gentle baking process, solidifying the dense network of dairy and sugar into a sliceable whole. Too many eggs will create a cracked and sunken cheesecake with an overly firm texture. Too few eggs and the cheesecake won't set well.

Is sour cream or heavy cream better for cheesecake? ›

Sour cream supports the underlying tang of the cream cheese, but, if overdone, it takes over as the dominant flavor. You need a little of each -- cream for texture and sour cream for flavor. With our ingredients settled, we focused in on how to keep the cheesecake from baking up grainy and cracked.

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 the difference between vegan cheese and dairy cheese? ›

Dairy cheese is made my separating the different kinds of milk proteins and adding enzymes and bacteria to curdle the casein protein. Vegan cheese is made in a similar way, but involves separating plant proteins.

What is Daiya cheesecake made from? ›

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 ...

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