Mini No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake is a simple, elegant dessert! Vegan & dairy-free with a paleo & gluten-free option!
It’s almost Mother’s Day! And there really is no better way to celebrate the moms of the world than with chocolate. {am I right}?!
This recipe for Mini No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake will make any celebration sweeter {literally} while still being healthy! These beauties are vegan and easily made gluten-free, refined sugar free AND paleo! Plus they are so stinkin’ cute that they’re perfect to serve at an elegant brunch or afternoon tea!
I feel super emotional because this will be my first Mother’s Day as a momma of four beautiful babies. Of course the fact that I’m less than 2 weeks postpartum doesn’t make controlling my hormones any easier…LOL! 😉 But really, the word that keeps filling my heart and mind is grateful. I cannot express how much I absolutely adore being a mom, and how thankful I am for my sweet little family.
I’m currently working on a post all about Mara’s entrance into this world and her first week with us! I hope to share it with you in the next couple of days!
Anywho, if you see my hubby, tell him that if he wanted to make this Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake for me on Mother’s Day {or any day for that matter} I definitely wouldn’t object!
How to make this No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake recipe
These Mini No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Cheesecakes are a breeze to put together!
1. Soak the Cashews!
Be sure to start soaking your cashews 1 hour before you’re ready to make the filling! It only takes 5 minutes or less to make the filling, but that’s only if you have the cashews presoaked!
2. Make the crust.
Make the crust, press it in the pan and toss in the freezer to harden. While it’s hardening, make the filling. Then put it all together and let them set up in the fridge or freezer {faster}!
3. Kitchen tools needed to make these vegan cheesecakes!
There are two kitchen tools that ensure this dessert turns out perfect every time:
- Vitamix. These beauties are made with the help of my absolute favorite kitchen appliance, my Vitamix. I only recommend using a Vitamix or other super high-powered blender, because it will ensure that your filling is irresistibly silky and smooth, which is what all of your chocolate dreams are made of.
- Mini Cheesecake Pan: I use this Norpro Nonstick Mini Cheesecake pan to make all of my cute mini desserts. Thanks to the nonstick coating and the removable bottoms, these mini cheesecakes come out perfect every. single. time. I guess you could make them in mini muffin tins, but I suggest lining them for easy removal.
No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake: Substitutions
Filling:
I do not recommend any substitutions in the filling of this cheesecake! It is absolute silky smooth chocolatey perfection, and I wouldn’t want to tamper with it in any way!
Crust
I used a combination of crushed Oreo cookies and coconut oil for the crust because it’s easy and delicious! If you would like to keep these Mini No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Cheesecakes completely refined sugar free AND paleo, then I recommend using this recipe for the crust:
Ingredients:
1 cup pecans (can use walnuts but not as highly recommended)
1 cup dates
3 TBS cocoa powder
4 TBS unsweetened coconut
2 TBS maple syrup (or honey)
¼ tsp salt
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in your Vitamix or food processor fitted with the “S” blade and blend/process until the mixture turns a dark chocolatey brown, is still crumbly, but will form clumps when pinched together. Stop processing before it gets too buttery/moist.
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Mini Vegan Chocolate Cheesecakes
Ingredients
Oreo Crust (Paleo & refined-sugar free version in the notes section):
- 2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs Oreos or gluten-free option
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
Chocolate Cheesecake Filling:
- ½ cup coconut cream
- 6 TBS pure maple syrup
- 1 cup roasted unsalted cashews, soaked for at least 1 hour
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
- ½ cup unsweetened chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- First, boil 2 cups of water. Place cashews in a glass container and pour boiling water over nuts until they are completely covered. Let soak for 1 hour.
Make the Crust:
- Grease a mini cheesecake pan (or line and grease a muffin tin). Set aside.
- Mix melted coconut oil and cookie crumbs together until well combined.
- Drop 1 TBS portions of the crust into each well of your mini cheesecake pan. Use your finger to press the crumbs evenly around the bottom of the well.
- Repeat with each well until all the cookie mixture has been used.
- Put the mini cheesecake pan in the freezer for the crusts to harden.
Make the Filling:
- Drain the cashews.
- Put all the ingredients in the order listed into your Vitamix (or high powered blender).
- Turn blender on low, gradually increasing to high speed. Blend until all ingredients are combined and mixture is smooth (about 1 minute).
Putting it together.
- Remove pan from the freezer (make sure crusts are hardened).
- Add 2 TBS of chocolate filling to each well.
- Smooth with your finger and press the air out of each well.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours (or overnight). You can also freeze these pies to hurry the process along, but be sure to remove them from the freezer before serving!
- Top with extra melted chocolate chips if desired!
Notes
Ingredients:
1 cup pecans (can use walnuts but not as highly recommended)
1 cup dates
3 TBS cocoa powder
4 TBS unsweetened coconut
2 TBS honey
¼ tsp salt
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in your Vitamix or food processor fitted with the "S" blade and blend/process until the mixture turns a dark chocolatey brown, is still crumbly, but will form clumps when pinched together. Stop processing before it gets too buttery/moist.
Nutrition
Vitamix Giveaway NEXT WEEK!
I NEED to give you guys a heads up! Next week I will be hosting a giveaway with my friends from Vitamix for Mother’s Day! You can win the ferrari of belenders…a Vitamix A3500! It’s going to be awesome! Click on the link below to explore the new A Series and GET EXCITED!
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Lillie
Hi can these be left out at room temperature for a party or will they melt? or do they need to be served from the fridge?
Gurpreet
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that Oreo cookies aren’t vegan friendly. I wasnt aware of this until a year ago. Just wanted to pass along the message! These cheesecakes look amazing by the way!
Laura
I do explain this in the article! I recommend using the alternative crust that is healthier (it’s paleo and vegan)!
Eve
Can these be made in advance and frozen?
Laura
Yes! Absolutely!
natalie stanley
Could i just make 1 big/normal size cheese cake following using the same method and would i need to increase the quantities?
Thanks
Laura
Yes you can! I recommend a 6 or 8″ cake pan!
Jackie
I made these with a couple of subs. I didnt have any actual chocolate, so I added the juice of one lemon amd about 4 tablespoons of cocoa. They turned out amazing!
Christine
Oreos contain uncertified palm oil
Corrine
Congratulations momma! These look delicious! I recently jumped on the ‘using soaked cashews instead of cream’ in recipes and I can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
Laura
Thank you Corrine! YES! Cashews are truly magical, especially for vegan baking (or no-baking in this case)!
Melissa @ Insider The Kitchen
I made this for the first time last night and was so stoked!!! Highly recommend. Everyone enjoyed it, not just vegans… I made it as one large cake in a springform and it worked perfectly. Thank you so much!
Laura
YAY! Melissa I’m SO glad you all loved it!!! I also love knowing that it works great as one large cake! What size springform pan did you use?
Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness
These look amazing. I would love some of these for Mother’s Day! Beautiful pictures!
Laura
Thank you Dawn!
Ashley | Fit Mitten Kitchen
Laura I can not get over these photos! STUNNING.
Anything cheesecake and chocolate-YES.
Laura
Thank you Ashley! 🙂 I’m totally with you on the cheesecake and chocolate combo…SO good!
Georgie | The Home Cook's Kitchen
These are so pretty and look so good! I love vegan cheesecakes!
Laura
Thank you Georgie! I love that even us dairy-free eaters can still enjoy cheesecake! Thank you cashews! 😉
Jenn
I seriously love everything about this. I want to shove the whole batch in my face right now.! I’ve scheduled this to share on my FB page!
Laura
LOL Jen! I won’t judge if you do that!
Alisa Fleming
Be still my heart! I’ve actually been on a mini dairy-free cheesecake kick lately, and chocolate was next on my list. These look spot on!
Laura
You will LOVE them Alisa!
Lauren Grant | Zestful Kitchen
I’ve been eyeing these on Instagram 🙂 They look so good!
Laura
You totally need to make some! SO good!
Kerri Olkjer
I think I’m finally going to take the plunge and get a Vitamix. Second cheap blender down and I think it’s time. These look so yummy! I definitely need them in my life.
Laura
You need to!!! They currently have a Mothers Day sale! If you click on any of the links in this post you also get free shipping!
Lindsay Cotter
I am loving the Paleo & refined-sugar free version for the crust! These mini vegan chocolate cheesecakes are calling my name! Such an easy no bake treat!
Kristina @ Love & Zest
Yes, and then if your hubby could tell my hubby to make these too, that would be great! These look delicious!
Taylor Kiser
Oh wow, do these look ahhmazing! Perfect bites of deliciousness! Would love to have a few of these right now!
Sarah
These look amazing and delicious and they are my kind of cheesecake so I’m all over them! They are just too cute.
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
Oh my, these look amazing! And of course gotta love the no-bake!
Jessica @Nutritioulicious
I can’t get over how gorgeous these are! Love how simple they are to make too!
Deanna Segrave-Daly
These are stunning and I very well have to make these for Mother’s Day for myself #justsayin
Laura
lol I usually make my own desserts too! 😉
amanda -runtothefinish
how are there only like 6 ingredients?! this is absolutely my kind of cooking. I like it simple…and filled with chocolate and not dairy, these might be my spirit animal
Liz
These are simply stunning Laura! Been thinking about you and your beautiful family of four! I don’t know how you do it and all these recipes! Superhero I tell you!
Emily
This is so exciting; they are adorable. I want to try them with the gluten free crust. 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading about little Mara’s entrance into the world.