Raw blueberry swirl cheesecake

If you’re after an easy make ahead mini dessert these raw blueberry swirl cheesecake are for you. Made from plant based whole foods and pretty as a picture they are the perfect no fuss dessert with a healthy twist.

I love making baked recipes but in all honesty my favourite type of dessert are easy make ahead slices that are no bake, wholesome and not too sweet. I love making them, I love looking at them and I love that as a family we enjoy them without the sugar high afterwards. We like to eat cake on the regular (because life is too short not to) so having healthy alternatives is a win for us.

If you are ready to make this raw blueberry swirl cheesecake here is what you will need.

Raw (or roasted) macadamia nuts. Even though macadamia come with a hefty price tag I prefer them for a few reasons. Firstly, here in Australian they are a native plant. Secondly, their flavour is subtle and perfect for pairing with lemon. Other nuts can be used (almonds, pecans, roasted cashews) but do take over the favour profile more.
Shredded coconut. Adds texture and a sweetness to the base. You can use flaked coconut too but avoid swapping for desiccated coconut.
Coconut flour. Coconut flour has a unique property for absorbing a lot of liquid in a recipe. It should not be substituted. It can be found at most healthy food stores and major super markets.
Lemon juice and zest. Its lemon season so if you don’t have lemons at home go on a neighbourhood walk, you’re bound to find a box some kind community member has left out.
Medjool dates. Any soft juicy dates work here. Dried dates can be used too but you’ll need to soak them in hot water for 5 minutes then drain well (and you will likely need double the amount).
Raw cashews. Cashews make up the base of the cheesecake. they are the perfect nut for no bake desserts being mild in flavour and naturally high in fat. If you regularly make no bake desserts find a bulk suppler and save some money. Nuts can be stored in the fridge or freezer to massively increase self life, so if you buy in excess store in either of these places.
Pure maple syrup, or your preferred liquid sweetener. Maple syrup has the best flavour in my opinion, however honey, rice malt syrup, agave and coconut nectar will also work for this recipe. All these syrups vary in sweetness so you will need to taste your filling add add extra sweetener if desired.
Cacao butter. I like these cacao butter buttons for easy use (I also think they have the best taste of nay I have tried). Cacao butter is a saturated fat meaning it is solid at room temperature essential to set our raw blueberry swirl cheesecake (or any no bake cheesecake). It has a pleasant flavour and I prefer it to coconut oil. If you want to use coconut oil I would recommend adding 50% extra by weight.
Salt. Flavour, obviously.
Almond milk, or any boxed or homemade milk of choice.
Blueberries. Fresh or frozen work fine, as do blackberries and raspberries if you want to change up the flavour of your no bake cheesecakes.
Chia seeds.

Frequently asked questions

How can I make these without cacao butter or coconut oil?

If you are after an oil free recipe I would recommend checking out this recipe here. There is no straight swap for this recipe, however it is possible to use gelatine or vegan gelatine to set the cake, but the method varies a little and you would need to understand how to incorporate these ingredients into a recipe. Cacao butter and coconut oil help no bake cakes set, so they are essential in this recipe.

Is this recipe actually raw?

Actually no, you got me there. The berries are cooked down into a jam so technically this is a no bake cake, however you could simply blend the berries instead of cooking them down. Cooking the berries removes water and creates a thicker and more pleasant texture, so I do recommend it.

I want an easy make ahead slice- is this ok to make a day beforehand?

Yes, or even 2 days ahead of time just ensure you store the slices in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also make these no bake cheesecakes a week in advance and store them in the freezer. To defrost just take out the night before and place in the fridge to allow for even defrosting.

I want to serve these in Summer, how long can they stay out of the fridge?

Both cacao butter and coconut oil begin to soften and melt above 35 degrees C. If the ambient temperature is above 30C it is best to leave your no bake blueberry cheesecakes in the fridge until they are ready to be eaten. In cooler weather it is fine to take them out for 30-60 minutes prior. I have deliberately used a small amount of cacao butter in the recipe- it means they are less stable at room temperature but taste a lot better (if you have bought a raw dessert and it just tastes like coconut oil you will know what I mean).

Can I make these nut free?

Maybe. I have not tried any nut free versions however you could substitute macadamia for rolled oats and cashews for silken tofu or sunflower seeds. I have not tried this but theoretically it would work. If you would like a nut free recipe let me know in the comments and No aim to create something for you.

If you’re after more easy, no bake recipes you might enjoy:

If you made this Raw blueberry swirl cheesecake slice we would love to hear from you. Your reviews and feedback help or little blog grow and find new readers.