Vegan cheesecake bars with blueberries

Vegan cheesecake bars with blueberries

Hope your weekend is peachy! Ours is really quite hot and humid as Bristol is having a mini heatwave right now. If you feel like a simple yet delicious weekend bake, may I interest you in these tangy vegan cheesecake bars studded with jammy blueberries?

These vegan cheesecake bars with blueberries are really easy to make and absolutely to die for. I tested them on Duncan’s kayaking mates, none of whom are vegan and (by the sound of things) they are not even sure what vegan means 🙂 – they loved them and did not realise these were made with something other than cheese. That’s a winner in my book!

These creamy cheesecakes feature a delicious shortbread base, tangy and zesty cheesecake filling and fresh blueberries that get all jammy in the oven. I picked blueberries but any berries will work just as well. I had half a mind to make these with raspberries actually (like here) but my husband stopped me from forever tinkering with a recipe for no good reason, adding to my workload and stress level – thank you Duncan for having my back! x

MORE ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS

VEGAN BUTTER: I used vegan butter (I used Violife) to make the shortcrust base and to give the cheesecake layer a little more creaminess. Use the type that comes in a block, rather than spreadable kind that comes in a tub. You could also use coconut oil – if you were to do that I recommend using refined type, like this, which has been steamed to remove coconut taste.

SUGAR: I used caster sugar (which is what UK calls superfine white sugar) to sweetened both the base and the filling. You could use any sugar you like remembering that if it’s dark in colour, it may make this dessert look a little less appetising and that if it isn’t finely ground, it may not fully dissolve in the oven during baking (this is more of a concern for the shortbread, a little less so for the filling).

You could also use MAPLE SYRUP or a similar liquid sweetener. To use maple syrup for the base, place all of the dry ingredients in a bowl first, add 3 tbsp (45 ml) of maple syrup and enough softened vegan butter (about 40 g / 1.4 oz) to make the mixture clump together – be aware that you will end up with a less indulgent shortbread though as due to the fact that maple syrup adds moisture, you have to use less sweetener and less fat. To use maple syrup in the filling, use it instead of plant milk and you may have to take it out of the oven a little sooner as a result.

ALMOND FLOUR: Almond flour helps to keep the shortbread more tender.

PLAIN FLOUR: I used plain flour to make the shortbread, but a good gluten-free flour mix (containing a high proportion of starches) will work just as well if you want to keep this dessert gluten-free.

CASHEWS: I used raw cashews, soaked in water first so that they soften, to make the cheesecake filling. If you don’t want to use cashews, I am pretty sure that hulled sunflower seeds will work just as well (they also need soaking) as I’ve used them in many other dishes that call for creaminess to a great effect.

PLANT MILK: Plant milk is used to blend the cashews silky smooth and keep the consistency of the filling moist enough so that once the dessert is baked, it’s creamy and not dry. I used soya milk but any plant milk will do.

LEMON ZEST AND JUICE: I used zest of a whole lemon and a very generous amount of lemon juice as I wanted this slice to have a delicious tang. Feel free to reduce the amount if you prefer things to be less lemony (be sure to use plant milk instead) but I and all my taste testers (most of them not even vegan) loved the balance of flavours in this dessert.

VANILLA: I used a generous amount of vanilla to inject even more flavour into the filling, but you can skip it if you prefer lemon flavour on its own. A small amount of freshly ground cardamom would also pair really nicely with lemon and blueberries.

BLUEBERRIES: I used fresh blueberries, which I simply suspended in the cheesecake layer and dotted some more on top. You could also use frozen (the dessert may need a longer baking time) or a jam. Alternatively, use another fruit: raspberries or blackberries would be my recommendation.

THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE THESE

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries butter sugar

Place softened vegan butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and rub sugar into the butter using a fork first and then your hands.

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries flour

Next, add in salt and both flours in two batches and rub the butter-sugar mixture into the dry ingredients. By the time you are done, the mixture should be moistened enough to clump up when squeezed.

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries base

Scatter the shortbread base mixture in the prepared baking tin (I used a 20 cm / 8″ square baking tin) and press it down using your hands, compact it well (use a flat-bottomed glass to help), the prick the base with a fork all over to stop it from cracking. Bake until golden brown, cool, and scatter some of the blueberries all over.

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries before baking

Make cheesecake filling by placing all of the ingredients (apart from blueberries) in a blender and blending until smooth. Pour cheesecake mixture over the base and stud with more blueberries. Bake until the edges are firm but the middle stays wobbly.

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries cutting

Cool down completely. For the neatest looking slices, refrigerate for at least 2 hours after baking, use a sharp and warm knife (dip it in hot water briefly and wipe dry). Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries cut

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries zoom

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries stack

vegan cheesecake bars blueberries slice cut

makes
16 slices
PREP
30 min
COOKING
45 min
makes
16 slices
PREPARATION
30 min
COOKING
45 min
INGREDIENTS
SHORTBREAD BASE

CHEESECAKE LAYER

  • 200 g / 1½ cups raw cashews, soaked
  • 120 ml / ½ cup plant milk (I used soya)
  • 90 ml / 6 tbsp lemon juice + zest of 1 lemon
  • 125 g / ½ cup + 2 tbsp sugar* (I used caster, but coconut sugar will work too)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla paste (optional)
  • 40 g / 3 tbsp vegan butter*, softened
  • 150 g / 1 heaped cup blueberries*

METHOD
SHORTBREAD BASE

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 180° C / 355° F (or 160° C / 320° F on a fan setting) and line a 20 cm / 8″ square tin with baking paper so that it sticks out on all sides.
  2. Place softened vegan butter and sugar in a mixing bowl, using a fork first and then your hands rub sugar into butter.
  3. Add salt and then add both flours in two batches and rubbing them into the butter with your fingers until the mixture forms clumps when squeezed between your fingers.
  4. Scatter shortbread mixture at the bottom of the lined tin and shape it into a base by pressing it down with your fingers. Level the base using a flat-bottomed glass and prick it using a fork.
  5. Bake until lightly browned – about 15-20 minutes. Cool before filling.

CHEESECAKE LAYER

  1. Soak the cashews in boiling water for 30 minutes or in cold water for several hours. Drain before using.
  2. Place drained cashews along with the rest of ingredients (except for blueberries) in a blender (I used Ninja smoothie maker ) and blend until the mixture is super smooth.

ASSEMBLY

  1. Arrange half of the blueberries on top of the pre-baked base, then pour cheesecake filling on top and decorate with the rest of blueberries.
  2. Bake until the edges are set but the middle stays a little soft and wobbly, about 25-30 minutes depending on your oven and how set you like your cheesecake.
  3. Cool completely then place in the fridge for at least 2 hours before cutting. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

NOTES

*VEGAN BUTTER: You can use coconut oil instead, I recommend using refined type, like this, which has been steamed to remove coconut taste.

*SUGAR: Any sugar will work, but dark sugar will impact the colour of cheesecake layer. You can also use maple syrup – please see MORE ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS section in the blog post for specific directions.

*FLOUR: To make these gluten-free, use a trusted gluten-free flour mix containing a lot of starches. While it’s not 100% necessary, I also recommend adding ½ tsp xanthan gum to stop the shortbread from cracking. In any case, handle gluten-free shortbread especially carefully whilst warm as it’s very fragile.

*BLUEBERRIES: Any berries will work, raspberries or blackberries would be my other suggestions.

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NUTRITIONAL INFO
calories
217
11%
sugars
14 g
16%
fats
12 g
18%
saturates
2 g
11%
proteins
4 g
7%
carbs
25 g
10%
*per 1 out of 16 slices
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5.0
9 reviews, 15 comments
REVIEWS & QUESTIONS
Roxie:
This is one of the best cheesecakes I have ever eaten, vegan or non vegan. Even my husband who hates dairy cheesecake loved it. I added an extra tablespoon of lemon juice and used frozen cherries instead of blueberries. It came out amazing! Thank you Ania for this delicious and easy recipe!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw thanks so much, Roxie - that is some compliment! And what a bonus that you found it easy to make too, thanks, I am really happy to hear that. Ania
I love this recipe, it is easy to make and my non-vegan friends and family love it. It's tangy and so tasty. It is my go-to cheesecake!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw, thank you Jo! I am truly delighted to hear that this recipe has become such a favourite of yours and your family and thanks so much for taking the time to review - I really appreciate it. Ania
Beata:
Dziękuje serniczek wyszedł super a smak wyśmienity 😍😋
    Ania
    Ania:
    Dziekuje :) bardzo sie ciesze. Pozdrawiam. x Ania
Miriam:
Made this. Was absolutely delicious! I made the big mistake of offering one guest to take some home and only had one slice left to myself 😒. Lesson learned for next time!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hahahaha, I have definitely done that myself too! Glad it was such a hit and thank you for taking the time to leave this lovely review - I really appreciate it. x Ania
Madhav:
This is an awesome creation!!! I doubled the recipe and the blueberries too so it will make more!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you so much Madhav - that makes me so happy to hear! And thank you for taking the time to review, I really appreciate it. x Ania
Connie:
Made these and ate every delicious bit!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hurrah Connie, I am so pleased to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. They are equally popular ion my household - we just finished another batch and I'm getting pleading looks ;) x Ania
Karen:
Loved making this recipe, it was easy to make and came out delicious!! I swapped the blueberries for cherries and it turned out great. The bars didn’t last more than two days before we finished them, planning on making this again very soon!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you Karen, I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed them so much (they looked delicious in your Instagram photos!) and thank you for taking the time to review, much appreciated. x Ania
Leigh:
i haven't tried this recipe yet, but I am surprised that there is no cornflour or other thickening agent in the cheesecake mixture. I would like to try this recipe, I just want to make sure that there is not supposed to be any cornflour or agar agar added to help it set.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Leigh,
    Sorry for the delay - I was on a mini-break. You don't need any thickening agents in this recipe, they are perfect as they are, trust me! x Ania
      Leigh:
      Thank you so much for the response. Sounds wonderful Ania. Will definitely give them a try!
        Ania
        Ania:
        Great to hear, I hope you'll enjoy them. x Ania
Nadine:
I had your cheesecake bars with blueberries in my mailbox and it spoke to me.So I made it today. I made the version with coconut oil and coconut sugar.It was such a hit.My daughter has Down Syndrome and usually she doesn’t like to taste new things.But for this she made an exception,devoured her bar and stole half of mine.😉 So I guess that speaks for itself.Thanks for the great recipe.Best regards from sunny Mauritius,Nadine
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much Nadine, your message made me so happy! Thank you for coming back to review, I really appreciate it. x Ania
Mel:
My first attempt at making a vegan cheesecake and I was surprised as how super simple it was to make and absolutely delicious.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you Mel, I am so happy to hear that you not only enjoyed but also found it easy to make too. Thank you for taking the time to review, I really appreciate it. x Ania
Eva:
Would it be ok to use 1 1/2 cups almond flour instead of gluten free flour for the biscuit base?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Eva,
    I haven't tried but my feeling is that it will not work that well. Almond flour is not really flour, it's quite fatty so I feel like you'll end up with overly greasy base that will be prone to crumbling. You can use other type of GF flour mix or make up your own by combining say rice and buckwheat flour (I would steer clear of coconut flour though) and adding some starch for binding (cornstarch, tapioca, arrowroot, potato starch). I would do 25% starch and 75% GF flour. Hope this helps! Ania
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