Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

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Are you looking for an easy and amazing simple vegan cheesecake recipe that will blow your mind with how 'real' it tastes? This ultra creamy vegan cheesecake literally whips up in minutes, bakes in the oven to perfection, and then rests in the refrigerator overnight until you are ready to serve it with your favorite toppings!

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (1)

This cheesecake is fantastic for any special occasion (is Friday night a special occasion??). But in all seriousness, it's great for birthday and holidays, and the best part is that it is cooked the night before so it does not take up valuable oven space when you're busy cooking for a big holiday.

By the way, if you're looking for more holiday recipe inspiration, check out my favorite vegan holiday recipes!

What is vegan cheesecake made of?

Often you will find recipes for vegan cheesecake made with cashews, coconut milk, and/or tofu. All of these ingredients have their place, but you won't find them in this recipe. I love healthy desserts but the goal here is a superdecadent vegan cheesecake.

This is a rich and creamy vegan cheesecake without tofu and without cashews. This cheesecake is made with dairy-free cream cheese and dairy-free sour cream for a dairy-free cheesecake that tastes like the real thing.

Related recipe:Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients:

  • vegan cream cheese (I love Tofutti cream cheese for this cheesecake)
  • vegan sour cream (I also use Tofutti for this cheesecake)
  • flour or cornstarch
  • lemon juice
  • vanilla extract
  • sugar

I know!! It sounds too easy, and it really is!

You'll also need:

  • large graham cracker crust
  • ingredients for the drizzles, if you want to add some pizzazz to your cheesecake (fresh or frozen raspberries + agave nectar + corn starch, and chocolate chips + coconut oil)
  • Vegan coconut whipped cream - for topping

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (2)

Related recipe: Vegan Strawberry Shortcakes

Let your vegan cream cheese and sour cream warm to room temp if possible. (If you're in a hurry, just go for it, it'll just be a little more difficult to whip or blend.)

Empty two 8oz. containers of vegan cream cheese, and one 12 oz. container of vegan sour cream into a blender (you can also use a bowl and electric beaters for this!). Add fresh lemon juice, sugar, and vanilla extract to blender (or bowl) and blend away.

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (3)

Blend (or beat with electric beaters) until absolutely smooth and creamy. Pour into an extra large graham cracker pie crust.

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (4)

Keep the center of the cheesecake slightly higher than the edges if possible.

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (5)

Gently place in the oven and bake on middle rack at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until center appears mostly set. (You will see the cheesecake puff up considerably during baking. It will deflate after and that is perfectly normal.)

Allow the vegan cheesecake to cool on a wire rack until close to room temperature, then cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (6)

Related recipe:Simple Berry Sauce

Raspberry and chocolate drizzle for cheesecake

A simple raspberry sauce and melted chocolate are some of my favorite ways to decorate this cheesecake.

Here's how to make raspberry sauce for cheesecake:

→ Warm one cup of frozen raspberries either in a pot on the stove or in the microwave. Using a sieve, drain the raspberry juice, saving the pulp for smoothies or other recipes.

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (7)

→ Add 2 tablespoons of Agave Syrup or sugar to your raspberry juice to sweeten. If your raspberry juice is room temp or cooler, you can add 1 - 1 ½ teaspoons of cornstarch directly to it. If it is warm, first dissolve the cornstarch in a tablespoon of water, then add to your raspberry mixture.

→ Whisk continuously over medium heat until thickened and set aside.

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (8)

Here's how to make a simple chocolate drizzle for cheesecake:

→ Take one quarter cup of vegan chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, and place in the microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds or (warm to melty state in a saucepan on the stove).

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (9)

→ Remove from the microwave and stir. If all chips are melted, you're ready to drizzle, otherwise microwave further in 20 second increments, stirring each time to see if completely melted!

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (10)

Now you're ready to slice your cheesecake, add your drizzles, (add a touch of non-dairy whip cream if you like!) and serve to your delighted guests!! (Just be sure and slice it so you have some left for later!!!)

Other cheesecake drizzles to try:

  • Simple berry sauce - if you prefer some pieces of fruit on your cheesecake!
  • Vegan caramel sauce - caramel cheesecake?? Yes please!!
  • Vegan chocolate sauce - if you prefer to make chocolate sauce from scratch instead of by melting chocolate chips

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (11)

So here's the ultimate question, Is Vegan Cheesecake good?

No, it's not good - it's AMAZING! Yeah, excuse me for shouting that. But I'm just so seriously addicted to this cheesecake and I know you're going to love how authentic it tastes, so I can't wait for you to try it!

Well my dears, I am truly excited for you to try this recipe. No stress, little mess, but ohh so decadent!!

Other vegan desserts you will love:

  • Vegan cream cheese
  • Vegan chocolate peanut butter pie
  • Vegan chocolate milkshake
  • Chocolate popcorn balls
  • Vegan pie crust
  • Vegan blueberry pie
  • Vegan coquito

If you’ve tried this Vegan Cheesecake Recipe or any other recipe on my blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I LOVE hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME onFACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food!!!

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?? PLEASE CLICK ON THE STARS TO GIVE IT A RATING BELOW!!

Recipe

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (12)

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake

This simple vegan cheesecake is so authentic that the creamy richness will just blow your mind! Nut-free and tofu-free, whip a few simple ingredients together, bake, refrigerate, and enjoy!!

4.55 from 35 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Italian

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 530kcal

Author: Kate

Ingredients

For the cheesecake:

  • 2 8 oz Vegan cream cheese, I use Tofutti
  • 1 12 oz Vegan sour cream, I use Tofutti
  • ¾ cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice, fresh squeezed is best!
  • 2 tablespoons Flour, or cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1 Extra-large graham cracker pie crust

For the raspberry drizzle:

  • 1 cup Frozen rasberries
  • 2 tablespoon Agave nectar, or sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Cornstarch

For the chocolate drizzle:

Special equipment

Instructions

  • Let your vegan cream cheese and sour cream warm to room temp if possible. (If you’re in a hurry, just go for it, it’ll just be a little more difficult to whip or blend.)

    Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

  • Empty two 8 oz containers of vegan cream cheese, and one 12 oz container of vegan sour cream into a blender (you can also use a bowl and electric beaters for this!). Add fresh lemon juice, sugar, flour, and vanilla extract to blender (or bowl) and blend away.

    Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (13)

  • Blend (or beat with electric beaters) until absolutely smooth and creamy. Pour into an extra large prepared graham cracker pie crust.

    Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (14)

  • Keep the center of the cheesecake slightly higher than the edges if possible.

    Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (15)

  • Gently place in the oven and bake on middle rack at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until center appears mostly set. (You will see the cheesecake puff up considerably during baking. It will deflate after and that is perfectly normal.)

    Allow the vegan cheesecake to cool on a wire rack until close to room temperature, then cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight.

    Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (16)

Raspberry Drizzle

  • Warm one cup of frozen raspberries either in a pot on the stove or in the microwave. Using a sieve, drain the raspberry juice, saving the pulp for smoothies or other recipes.

    Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (17)

  • Add 2 tablespoons of agave syrup or sugar to your raspberry juice to sweeten. If your raspberry juice is room temp or cooler, you can add 1 – 1 ½ teaspoons of cornstarch directly to it. If it is warm, first dissolve the cornstarch in a tablespoon of water, then add to your raspberry mixture.

    Whisk continuously over medium heat until thickened and set aside.

    Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (18)

Chocolate Drizzle

  • Take one quarter cup of vegan chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, and place in the microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds or (warm to melty state in a saucepan on the stove).

  • Remove from the microwave and stir. If all chips are melted, you’re ready to drizzle, otherwise microwave further in 20 second increments, stirring each time to see if completely melted!

    Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (19)

  • Now you’re ready to slice your cheesecake, add your drizzles, and devour!

Notes

This Cheesecake easily serves 8.

Please note that I used an extra-large size prepared graham cracker crust for this recipe!

Can I freeze this vegan cheesecake?

Yes, it can be frozen, be freezing does slightly alter the texture, so it may not be quite as smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 533mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg

Best Easy Vegan Cheesecake Recipe (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.

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

Is bake 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.

How do you keep a no bake cheesecake firm? ›

For a sturdy no-bake cheesecake with beautifully neat slices, refrigerate for at least 12 hours. This makes for a great make-ahead dessert! Do not freeze the cheesecake to set it. The filling won't slice and you'll lose the velvet texture!

Is Philadelphia cream cheese vegan? ›

Philadelphia may be the most popular and well-known brand that offers vegan cream cheese, but it's far from alone. Before the original pioneers of cream cheese jumped on the bandwagon with their own plant-based version, vegan brands were already offering a wide variety of cream cheese options.

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 does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

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.)

When should you not eat cheesecake? ›

Eggs and milk have high protein and moisture content, and they're the primary ingredients in cheesecake, so when cheesecake is left at room temperature, conditions are ripe for bacteria to multiply. According to the USDA's Food Keeper App, cheesecake should be consumed within 5 to 7 days of refrigeration.

What can you substitute for eggs in cheesecake? ›

For a thick and creamy texture in your eggless cheesecake, use heavy cream cheese. Because it thickens and has a creamy texture, fat cream cheese is a great egg alternative. It will assist in preventing your cheesecake from becoming too dense or heavy. Fat Cream Cheese's nutritional value is really good.

What cheesecake is the best? ›

Here are ten of the very best cheesecakes you can find:
  • New York-Style Cheesecake. ...
  • Chocolate Cheesecake. ...
  • White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake. ...
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake. ...
  • Strawberry Cheesecake. ...
  • Key Lime Cheesecake. ...
  • Banana Cream Cheesecake. ...
  • No-Bake Cheesecake.
Apr 14, 2023

What is the difference between New York cheesecake and baked cheesecake? ›

Regular cheesecake relies on heavy cream and sour cream to thin the batter and create a silkier, creamier texture. New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese which is why it's so dense and rich. Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special.

Which baking method is best for cheesecake? ›

Classic Cheesecake Recipe. Look no further for a creamy and ultra smooth classic cheesecake recipe! Paired with a buttery graham cracker crust, no one can deny its simple decadence. For the best results, bake in a water bath.

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 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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