The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (2024)

By Gretchen 78 Comments

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Welcome to the Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever!

No seriously! I repeat it really is the best vegan cheesecake recipe ever!

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (1)

My famous vegan cheesecake recipe is luscious, creamy and dense at the same time!

Just like a perfect New York style cheesecake should be and this vegan version is unmatched!

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (2)

It’s a very simple food processor or blender recipe that is ready in minutes

Pour the batter into a 7″ cake pan, yes that’s right I bake all of my cheesecakes in cake pans, never spring form pans; Believe me once you try it, you won’t go back!

For more information on that sensitive topic click through to find out my reasons!

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (3)

With a classic graham cracker crust and homemade recipe for fresh strawberry compote

You will be begging for more!

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (4)

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Notes for success:

In the video you will notice that I used frozen strawberries for my fruit compote.
I always use frozen berries over fresh because I find that frozen berries have a brighter taste and I do not have to add any water to help the cooking down process
If you do use fresh just add some sugar and a few tablespoons of water to help it cook down to a sauce

You may notice that my base recipes for cheesecake are always the same with some slight variations to the sugar or an added spice depending on what flavor I am making.

Additionally I only use Tofutti Cream Cheese for my BAKED recipes. *not sponsored
I have not had success with any other brand in BAKED recipes, for some reason some other brands I’ve tried have broken down into an oily mess when baked.
Until more recently I tried Violife again and it works! Although I still prefer the Tofutti brand

Cornstarch is a very difficult ingredient to measure consistently with a volume spoons measure
So while I list both measures below I cannot stress enough how the grams measure with a scale is going to give you the best results.

Lactic acid gives vegan cheesecake that authentic tang and it really is unmatched, but if you do not want to buy another ingredient simply sub in apple cider vinegar

One last thing! Nabisco Graham Cracker are VEGAN!

There’s No Honey in the recipe, so be sure to check your ingredients list when buying your crackers if you cannot find Nabisco Brand *not sponsored

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (5)

Can Be Made GLUTEN FREE & SUGAR FREE!

To make this cheesecake gluten free simply substitute gluten free flour for the all purpose flour or leave out the flour altogether and add 1 more tablespoon of cornstarch
Also be sure to use gluten free graham crackers to make the crust!

Sugar Free is so easy in a recipe like this!
Monk Fruit is my sugar substitute of choice but you can use your favorite sugar sub or any refined sugar too!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT SUGAR FREE BAKING!

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (6)

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR HOW TO MAKE MY VEGAN CHEESECAKE RECIPE

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (7)

Tools I Use for this Recipe

7″ CAKE PANS

LACTIC ACID

14 cup food processor

Yield: serves 8-10 people

The Best Vegan Cheesecake

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (8)

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time1 hour

Total Time1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • Graham Crackers 1 package = 10 sheets (140g)
  • Vegan Butter melted 4 tablespoons (56g)

For the Cheesecake:

  • Vegan Cream Cheese *see notes 12ounce (339g)
  • Firm Tofu 4ounces (113g) * see notes
  • Vegan Butter melted 2 tablespoons (28g)
  • Granulated Sugar 1 cup (200g) *see notes for sugar free
  • Cornstarch 4 Tablespoons (32g) *see notes
  • All Purpose Flour 3 Tablespoons (24g) *see notes for gluten free
  • Plant Milk 6fl oz (177ml)
  • Vegan Lactic Acid or apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon *see notes
  • Salt ¼ teaspoon
  • Vanilla Extract 3 teaspoons (15ml)

For the Strawberry Compote/Glaze:

  • 1 pound fresh or frozen strawberries (454g) *see notes
  • Sugar as needed 1/4 - 1/2 cup *optional or sugar free

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
    Grease & parchment line a 7" cake pan *8" cake pan will also work fine your cheesecake will just be slightly thinner than mine- no change to the recipe needed
  2. First prepare the graham cracker crust by crushing the graham crackers in a food processor to fine crumbs.
  3. Add the melted vegan butter and pulse until it resembles wet sand
  4. Press the crumbs into the prepared greased & parchment lined cake pan evenly on the bottom and up the sides.
  5. Freeze while you prepare the cheesecake batter
  6. Placing all of the cheesecake ingredients into the work bowl of your food processor and pulse to blend
  7. Scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure an even mix then blend again to a smooth mixture
  8. Pour the batter into the crust and bake in a water bath in a preheated 350°F and bake for 60 minutes
  9. After 60 minutes turn the oven off but leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door cracked open to cool slowly for another 60 minutes
  10. Remove the cheesecake & cool completely at room temperature and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set or overnight before unmolding.
  11. For the strawberry compote place the fresh or frozen strawberries with the optional sugar in a heavy bottom sauce pot and cook over low to medium heat
  12. Bring to a low boil stirring often to prevent scorching
  13. Cool compote and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week before using
  14. Loosen the sides and bottom of the cheesecake pan with a blowtorch or by submerging the pan into hot water and running a small spatula around the edges
  15. Vegan Cheesecakes unmold very easily so flip int out onto your serving platter then add the cooled strawberry compote to the top

Notes

Cheesecake must be kept refrigerated at all times, I do not like to freeze cheesecakes as I think the texture changes on the thaw; but this cheesecake will stay fresh wrapped loosely to prevent drying for up to 10 days in the refrigerator

The Best Vegan Cheesecake Recipe Ever! - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan cheesecake made of? ›

These 7 ingredient beauties begin with a 2-ingredient crust! Dates and raw walnuts (or almonds) – that's all you need. Whirl and set aside. Next up, the 5-ingredient filling: Soaked cashews, coconut milk, coconut oil, lemon juice and agave nectar.

Why is my no bake cheesecake base soggy? ›

I'd say it's too much liquid in the cheesecake batter and it didn't set fast enough and the liquid and moisture got into the base. Baking the base would help, but I guess if you need to bake it then there's no point to make a no bake cheesecake. Buiscuits, butter and a bit of cocoa powder for the base.

What happens to cheesecake when the eggs are added too soon or it is over mixed? ›

Make sure to add eggs one by one on low speed and mix until just combined. Over mixing the eggs will incorporate too much air into the batter, which will result in the cheesecake deflating and possibly cracking when it comes out of the oven.

Does no bake cheesecake get firm? ›

But given time to chill all the way down to 40°F (4°C), which takes about six hours, the filling becomes firm and dense, much more like a "real" cheesecake and far easier to slice. During that time, the filling will lend some of its moisture to the crust, making it considerably less crumbly.

What is the main ingredient in vegan cheese? ›

Vegan cheese is usually made from soy, nuts, vegetable oils, and various other natural ingredients like peas or arrowroot. Vegan cheese is seen as a healthier alternative to cheese by some, and may reduce your risk of heart disease due to its lower content of fat.

What kind of vegan cheese does cheesecake Factory use? ›

Finding vegan options at The Cheesecake Factory is easier than ever—the chain has added Field Roast Chao cheese and Best Foods vegan mayo to its menu at locations nationwide. Now, you can enjoy an animal-free burger topped with dairy-free cheese and egg-free mayo at this popular restaurant.

What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

16 Mistakes You're Making With Homemade Cheesecake
  1. Working with cold ingredients. Hobo_018/Getty Images. ...
  2. Using whipped cream cheese. ...
  3. Using low-fat cream cheese. ...
  4. Undermixing your cheesecake. ...
  5. Not diversifying your cheeses. ...
  6. Not being careful with your eggs. ...
  7. Only making plain cheesecake. ...
  8. Baking in anything but a springform pan.
May 29, 2023

Can you over mix no bake cheesecake? ›

If you are making a plain cheesecake such as my no-bake vanilla cheesecake, you can probably get away with cold ingredients, but generally the cream cheese should be room temp. Often a cheesecake mixture can split or curdle because of over mixing – I often get comments of 'how long do I mix for?

What does an extra egg do to cheesecake? ›

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

What does adding more eggs to cheesecake do? ›

Adding richness and a smooth texture, the proteins in the eggs set up during the gentle baking process, solidifying the dense network of dairy and sugar into a sliceable whole. Too many eggs will create a cracked and sunken cheesecake with an overly firm texture.

What does adding an extra egg to cake mix do? ›

Add an Extra Egg

Most cake mixes call for two to three eggs. Just one more egg will add extra moisture, fat, and a little protein, which means the cake will be softer and less likely to overbake and dry out in the oven.

Should I cover no-bake cheesecake in the fridge? ›

No-bake cheesecakes should be stored in the refrigerator to keep them fresh and prevent spoilage. Here are some tips for storing no-bake cheesecakes: Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap or foil to prevent it from drying out or absorbing any odors from other foods in the fridge.

Can you leave no-bake cheesecake out overnight? ›

Leaving cheesecake out overnight is not recommended, as it can lead to food safety concerns. It should be refrigerated within 2 hours of serving to prevent spoilage and maintain its freshness.

Is baked or no-bake cheesecake better? ›

They both are great in their own way. It all narrows down to your personal preferences. If you enjoy dense and velvety cake, a baked cheesecake is the one for you. Or if you crave some light and airy dessert post-dinner, go for the no-bake one.

What is the difference between vegan cheese and dairy cheese? ›

Dairy cheese is made my separating the different kinds of milk proteins and adding enzymes and bacteria to curdle the casein protein. Vegan cheese is made in a similar way, but involves separating plant proteins.

What is Daiya cheesecake made from? ›

Filling (Filtered Water, Creamed Coconut, Cane Sugar, Coconut Oil, Tapioca Flour, Expeller Pressed Safflower Oil, Potato Starch, Pea Protein, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Alginate, Lactic Acid, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavors, Cultured Sugar, Enzyme), Gluten-free Crust (Tapioca Flour, Cane Sugar ...

What is a non dairy substitute for cream cheese? ›

Blend together one cup of thick coconut cream and one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Next, add a pinch of salt and two teaspoons of nutritional yeast for a cheesy tang. Chill the mixture to firm it up, and you'll have a terrific dairy-free cream cheese substitute.

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