At Queen City Health Center, we recommend limiting your dairy intake. Too much dairy can result in side effects like excess mucus production (leading to stuffy nose & upper respiratory congestion) and constipation. Moreover, lactose intolerance is an increasing problem in our American culture, where our diets consist largely of dairy and gluten-containing products.
We’ve all been conditioned to think that milk “does a body good,” but the fact is, you can get more calcium and other nutrients from dairy-free equivalents like almond or coconut milk. And if you’re worried about cheese, cashew cheese is a great alternative to creamy cheeses like goat and ricotta, and even cows-milk cream cheese. It’s also really easy to make and chock-full of protein! For this reason, it’s a popular substitute in Italian dishes and cream-cheese desserts like cheesecake!
We’ve curated a list of 12 deliciously dairy-free cheesecake recipes that you can enjoy guilt-free. Start your new year off right by replacing your favorite sugar-laden cakes and cookies with one of these healthier alternatives.
(And then make a different one each month to stay on the right foot all through 2017!)
1. Brownie-Bottom Cheesecake
Diary-free, gluten-free, and absolutely amazing. This simple dessert features a brownie base topped with plain New York Style cheesecake
2. Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
Made with cashew cheese, this one is a perfect holiday treat. It’s sweetened with maple syrup and is sure to impress your house guests. (Trust me, they won’t know it’s vegan or free from processed sugar!)
3. Raspberry, Lime, and Coconut Cheesecake
This one’s actually, vegan, soy-free, and nut free as well. So if you have food allergies, copy the crust from this recipe and you should be good to go. It’s got a tart, refreshing taste that sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
4. Roasted Almond and Salted Caramel Easter Cheesecake
This delicious cheesecake is a bit more time-intensive, but well worth the wait. Take this to your family Easter Sunday dinner and watch everyone lick their plates clean.
5. Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake
Who needs Reese’s? You sure won’t when you try this recipe! This uses real, homemade peanut butter cups, as well as peanut butter for an even creamier consistency than cashew cheese offers on its own. It’s also naturally sweetened with maple syrup and medjool dates. YUM.
6. Dairy-Free Cheesecake Dip
Even though it’s not a cheesecake per say, we had to include this, simply because it’s so delicious and much healthier than the marshmallow dip that you can buy in grocery stores. It’s the perfect addition to the fresh fruit platter served at holiday gatherings. You’re welcome… :)
7. Caramel Apple Cheesecake
No oven needed. Packed with apples throughout, and topped with crunchy almonds and caramel sauce, this recipe is raw, healthy, and delicious. A great sweet-tooth satisfier at your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
8. Easy Baked Cheesecake
If you’re looking for something simple, this is the recipe for you. Not surprising coming from minimalistbaker.com. Instead of making your own cashew cheese, this calls for store-bought vegan cheese, reducing your prep time by at least 4 hours. Top with fresh fruit and enjoy anytime!
9. Secret Ingredient Strawberry Cheesecake
The author of this beauty claims you won’t even taste the pound of grated cauliflower in the filling. Try it. We dare you.
10. Coconut Ice Cream Cheesecake with Lime and Avocado
Avocado is a great source of healthy fats (which are great for your brain and help you burn fat, by the way.) Vegan, lime, and gluten-free, this one is packed with some of our favorite ingredients, including cashews, chia seeds, and coconut oil.
11. Raw Banana Cheesecake
Again, no oven needed. The base is sweetened with dates and dried bananas, and the filling is made perfect with maple syrup. If you love bananas, ditch grandma’s pudding (sorry, G!) and try this instead.
12. (Almost) Raw Kiwifruit & Ginger Cheesecake
Last but definitely not least, we found this recipe quite intriguing. Ginger is a great immune booster, especially during the cold seasons when flu viruses run rampant. And paired with kiwi? You won’t believe your taste buds. Especially when you find out the filling also contains spinach leaves… whaaaaaa?
What’s your favorite diary-free cheesecake recipe? Share it with us in the comments below, and if any of these caught your fancy, please share this post with your friends!