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This No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake is a cashew-based raw, vegan, and Paleo cheesecake adorned with slices of juicy citrus. It's incredibly creamy, a little tangy, and lightly sweetened with maple syrup.
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No-Bake Lemon Vegan Cheesecake with Citrus Topping

This No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake is a cashew-based raw, vegan, and Paleo cheesecake adorned with slices of juicy citrus. It's incredibly creamy, a little tangy, and lightly sweetened with maple syrup.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Healthy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8 slices
Author Rachel Conners

Ingredients

For the crust

For the cheesecake

  • 2 cups cashews soaked for at least four hours or preferably overnight
  • ¼ cup canned coconut milk shaken
  • ¼ cup coconut oil melted and cooled, use refined coconut oil if you want no coconut flavor
  • cup pure maple syrup
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon vanilla bean powder

For the citrus layer

  • Blood oranges Cara Cara oranges, navel oranges, and tangerines

Instructions

  • Line a 6” or 7" pan with strips of parchment paper for easy removal, and grease well with coconut oil. Set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl, stir together the shredded coconut, almond flour, melted coconut butter, melted coconut oil, and maple syrup. Press the dough evenly along the bottom of the prepared pan.
  • In a high-powered blender (I used my Vitamix, but most powerful blenders should do the job), combine all of the filling ingredients and blend for about 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture is silky smooth and creamy. You may need to add a bit more coconut milk or lemon juice to get it to blend smoothly if your blender isn’t super high-powered.
  • Once it’s smooth, taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness/tartness levels, if desired. Pour the filling into the prepared pan over the crust and smooth the top.
  • Place in the freezer to set for at least 3 hours or until completely firm before garnishing, slicing and serving. For the garnish, use a parish knife to peel the citrus fruits. Slice the citrus, and dry each side with a paper towel. Arrange on top of the cheesecake. I recommend doing this right before serving, so the citrus is freshest.
  • When serving, I recommend running your knife under hot water to warm it up before cutting the cheesecake with the still-hot (dried) knife. Serve frozen or let them thaw at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. Store in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
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