Raw Vegan Blackberry Cheese Cake

No, you did not read the title wrong; it is possible to enjoy cheesecake on a vegan and specifically raw vegan lifestyle. No need to fret, there is more to life than just salads. This recipe is one that I made based off several recipes I found on the internet. I normally don't follow a recipe exactly, but just take ideas from it to make my own version; I just use the basics. I really recommend this to anyone who is trying to cook for themselves, since it is a good way to get creative, and allows you to not always have to plan and find a recipe for everything you want to eat. Anyways, here are the following things you will need for this recipe...

for the crust...

2 cups walnuts

9 medjool or large dates pitted

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

for the filling...

4 cups raw cashews soaked for 5-10 hours

1 cup lemon juice

2/3 cup maple syrup

2/3 cup olive oil

2 tbsp vanilla extract

1 cup blackberries

for the sauce.....

1 cup blackberries

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup blackberries for decorating

First, in a food processor, chop the walnuts until they are in fine chunks. Than, add in the dates and cinnamon until you can pick up the mixture with your fingers and it sticks together. Spread it out along the bottom of a cheesecake pan (has removable sides) nice and thick, and set in the refrigerator to cool.

Next, in you blender, mix the soaked nuts, lemon, vanilla, olive oil, and syrup. You should not require any water, but if you do add only a little; you want to keep it as thick as possible. Taking your mixture, poor about 1/2 a cup worth of it into a bowl and set it aside. Than mix the rest of the mixture with the blackberries. Pour the blackberry mixture on top of your crust and than take your white, non-blackberrie mixture and using a spoon, drizzle over top to create a design. 

Finally, using your blender, blend the other blackberries up with the maple syrup and drizzle that on top of the cheese cake as well. Set in the freezer for 6 hours and serve frozen (it will thaw pretty quickly so keep it in the freezer until you serve it). Add some fresh blackberries to decorate and you're golden!

Feed back is welcomed,

Julia