Raw Chocolate Beet Layered Dairy-free Cheesecake

This recipe was originally posted on our health coaching website, The Healthy Row, on September 22, 2017.

I walked into one of my favorite shops for ingredients the other day with just one item on my shopping list. I walked out without that item, and instead with a pack of rose petals which I was immediately drawn to and inspired by. I thought, “why don’t I make a cake!” (Clearly, I was and still am in a celebratory mood after all of this week’s new beginnings.

I had a specific cake in my mind using those petals, and was missing just one ingredient – a simple vanilla bean. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available, and so, I’m setting that idea aside for now until the right season comes along.

With a bit of tweaking, and inspiration from a beetroot latte which I had this week as well, in came an aha! moment, and this idea for a cake.

— A creamy raw cheesecake that’s naturally sweet and dairy free! Made mostly with nuts that provide our bodies with the good kind of fat.. It’s nutritious, and a great alternative to traditional cheesecakes. Eat sparingly, however. Just because it’s nutritious, it doesn’t mean that you can eat a whole lot (I wish I could, too, trust me). I’m taking a slice (or 2) and keeping the rest for another day.

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Raw Chocolate Beet Layered Dairy-free Cheesecake

A creamy raw cheesecake that's naturally sweet and dairy free, layered with a dark chocolate crust, and white chocolate and chocolate beet cheesecake fillings.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Raw

Keyword Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free

Prep Time 30 minutes

Total Time 10 hours

Author Roanna Medina

Ingredients

For the crust

• 1/2 cup raw almonds
• 2 Tbsps virgin coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 3 pcs pitted dates
• A pinch of sea salt

For the filling

• 1 1/2 cups pre-soaked cashew nuts*
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk room temperature
• 3 Tbsps melted cacao butter
• 2 Tbsps honey or maple syrup if vegan
• 2 pcs pitted dates
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 slice small beet root

Toppings (all optional)

• cacao nibs
• edible flowers

Instructions

1. Using a food processor or blender, process all the ingredients for the crust until well combined.

2. Place the crust in a 6" springform pan. (Optional: set aside about 2 Tbsps of the crust to use as a topping). Spread and press with the back of a spoon to make make an even layer. Place in the freezer and move on to the next step.

3. Drain the cashews and place in a clean high-power blender**. Mix in the almond milk, cacao butter, honey, dates and salt, and process until smooth.
   

4. Pour just half of the filling over the crust, and make an even layer. Place the pan back in the freezer.

5. Mix in the beetroot with the other half of the filling until the color is spread evenly.
   

6. After keeping the pan in the freezer for 20 minutes, pour in the rest of the filling, smoothen out the top, and freeze for 5 hours or overnight before serving.

Recipe Notes

* How to pre-soak cashews: Place the cashews in a bowl and cover with filtered water. Set aside in room temperature for at least 4 hours (or overnight in the fridge). Apart from softening the cashews making it easier to blend, this soaking process releases and increases its nutrient contents, making it more digestible.

** A high-power/high-speed blender would be best to use to avoid lumpiness.

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