Go Back
+ servings
Fermented Cheesecake
Print

Dairy-free Fermented Cheesecake

You will need a springform pan to make this recipe. Use a very large pie plate if you don't have one. (With a pie plate you won't unmold the finished product; and you may have extra filling.)
Prep Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 10 servings
Author Megan

Ingredients

The Filling

  • 4 cups cashews labeled raw (although technically all cashews have been pasteurized)
  • 2 cups pine nuts , soaked*, see method below in Recipe Notes
  • 1.5 cups filtered water
  • 3/4 cup coconut oil melted and cooled slightly, divided
  • 3/4 cup raw honey (use maple syrup for a vegan version; for Keto version, use favorite Keto sweetener)
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 + 1/8 cup filtered water
  • 2 T. sustainably-sourced gelatin Use code BEAUTIFUL10 at check out for 10% off all items; (or use same amount of powdered agar agar for vegan version)
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp. high-quality probiotic see link in article for sourcing

The Crust

The Raspberry Topping

  • 12 ounces frozen or fresh raspberries defrosted if frozen
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup honey (for Keto version, use stevia to taste)
  • 1 T. sustainably-sourced gelatin Use code BEAUTIFUL10 at check out for 10% off all items.

Instructions

Filling and Assembly Instructions

  • Place cashews in 4 cups water for 2 hours, to soften.
  • Drain and rinse cashews in a colander.
  • Place cashews, rinsed wet pinenuts, water, 1/2 cup coconut oil, lemon juice, vanilla, and sea salt into high-powered blender. Puree on high speed 50 seconds. Puree in two batches if your blender can't handle this quantity, dividing the water and melted oil between both batches.
  • Add probiotic and puree again, just briefly, 10 seconds.
  • Pour puree into medium size deep glass bowl (the smaller surface area the better, no larger than 7 inches across) or jar, pressing down to release any air bubbles. Smooth top surface so it is flat. (Take care not to smear any puree on upper sides of bowl. All puree needs to be neat and flat for next step.)
  • Optional step based on temperature: Slowly pour remaining 1/4 cup melted coconut oil onto surface of puree, taking care oil floats on surface instead of mixing into puree, as much as possible. It needs to cover entire surface of puree, and touch all glass edges. (This oil seals puree and creates an anaerobic environment. It is not necessary if you do the overnight ferment in the yogurt maker or in a very warm home. But for longer nut puree ferments of 2 days or more, in cooler homes, it is essential. Either way, this 1/4 cup of oil should be included in the recipe. I personally find it an easy and fun step and do it either way.)
  • Loosely cover jar or bowl, so air can escape, but nothing can get in. If your container isn't clear glass, take note of puree's level, making a mark on its outside to indicate height.
  • Place container is warm, dark location for 12 hours to 1.5 days, until you see puree become sponge-like and porous with many air pockets. The height of the puree will have risen as well. (Placing container in your yogurt maker can expedite the process so it's done overnight.)
  • When puree is fermented empty contents into large mixing bowl.
  • Place 1/4 cup water in small saucepan. Sprinkle surface with gelatin. Heat, stirring, for 1 minute, until gelatin is dissolved and water looks foamy. (If using agar agar powder, soak powdered agar agar in 1 cup water for 10 minutes and let it simmer for 5 minutes or until it dissolves completely.)
  • Remove from heat, allow to cool briefly and add honey. Stir to mix.
  • To the large mixing bowl add gelatin-honey mixture, folding it in gently but thoroughly. Set aside while you make the crust.
  • Once crust is made, pour filling into crust and smooth the surface.
  • Refrigerate for 3 hours.

Crust Instructions

  • Place cashews into blender. Pulse until a FINE meal is formed. You want as few chunks as possible (without making nut butter). This will help the finished product crust hold together well.
  • Add remaining ingredients and pulse again until oil creates a nice even crumble with cashew meal. Do not over-pulse or you will create nut butter.
  • Dump crumble into springform pan. Press firmly into base and 1/2" up sides of springform pan.

Topping Instructions

  • Place 1/2 cup water in small saucepan. Sprinkle surface with gelatin. Heat, stirring, for 2 minutes, until gelatin is dissolved and water looks foamy.
  • Fold in raspberries and honey. Puree approximately half the mixture.
  • Nest fine mesh colander over saucepan with whole raspberries and honey. Pour puree through colander and whisk to remove seeds. Gently fold puree together with whole raspberry-honey mixture, so partial chunks remain.

Final Assembly

  • After cheesecake has chilled for three hours in fridge, pour raspberry topping evenly over its surface.
  • Chill for three additional hours, or overnight, before serving.

Notes

Soaking and Sprouting
For every 4 cups of raw seeds or nuts, cover with room temperature, filtered water by two inches, and 2 tsp. sea salt.  Stir well to dissolve the salt.  Leave out overnight at room temperature to soak.  Drain them in a colander; and rinse them well.
(As a side note, regarding cashews, they can not be sprouted.  Their shells are toxic and a heating process is used to eliminate the chemical poison and to free the nut (which is actually a fruit) from its lining.  Therefore, no cashew we buy from the store is technically “raw,” even if it is labeled thus.  Shorter soaking times for cashews are still beneficial; whereas longer soaking times will render them slimy.  2 hours is adequate.)