Raw Raspberry Cheesecake

Raw Raspberry Cheesecake

Serves6
Cooking time 2h 30m

Raw cashews are the secret to this exquisite cheesecake. Leave them soaking overnight before preparing this delicious dish. Then, once firm, decorate the cake with generous scatterings of raspberries, almonds, coconut and more – to a round of applause from your guests.

Ingredients

125gpunnet Driscoll's raspberries, to decorate

whole almonds, to decorate

toasted coconut flakes, to decorate

edible flowers, to decorate (optional) *violas pictured

edible dried rosebuds, to decorate (optional)

Base

1 1/2 cups(225g) raw cashews

1 cup(60g) coconut flakes

1/4 cup(20g) cacao powder

1/2 tspsea salt

10 medjool dates, pitted & coarsely chopped

Filling

1/4 cup(30g) cacao butter

1/4 cup(60ml) coconut oil

1/2 cup(125ml) light agave

2 Tbspfreshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tspvanilla extract

4 cups(600g) raw cashews, soaked for 8 hours or overnight, drained & rinsed

2 Tbspsoy lecithin

3 x 125g punnets Driscoll's raspberries

Method

  1. Preparation

    Lightly grease the base and sides of a 23cm springform cake pan and line with baking paper.

  2. Base

    To prepare base, place cashews in a blender or food processor, blend until coarsely chopped. Add coconut flakes, cacao and salt and blend to combine. Add the dates a few at a time, blending until mixture begins to bind together. Tip into the prepared pan and press into the base. Smooth over using the back of a spoon. Refrigerate.

  3. Filling

    To prepare filling, place the cacao butter and coconut oil in a small saucepan and melt over low heat. Add the agave, lemon juice and vanilla and stir to combine. Set aside. Place half of the soaked cashews, half of the cacoa butter mixture and 1 tablespoon of the lecithin in a high-speed blender. Blend on high speed for 12 seconds. Decrease speed to medium-low and blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer into a medium bowl. Blend the remaining cashews, cacao butter mixture and lecithin and transfer into the same bowl. Blend raspberries until pureed. Add to cashew mixture and stir to combine.

  4. Setting

    Pour filling over the prepared base and smooth over to create an even surface. Tap firmly on a kitchen bench to remove any air bubbles. Wrap with plastic wrap and freeze for 4 hours or overnight, until a firm cheesecake consistency. Remove raw cheesecake from freezer 30–45 minutes before serving, or until softened slightly making it easier to slice.

  5. Serving

    Decorate with raspberries, almonds, toasted coconut, edible flowers and dried rose petals. Slice to serve.