Orange, Lemon, and Blueberry Mini Vegan Cheesecakes

It's New Year's Eve. We celebrate with our little one and another family that also has a young boy. ithas been our tradition to celebrate with them for the past decade before either of us had children. We used to even stay up until midnight. Now we go home mid evening to put our kids to bed. Ain't it grant getting old. Tonight we're going to their place, and bringing dessert. I decided to makes something fruity and fancy.  Historically when I've made mini vegan cheesecakes they involved cashew cream instead of cream cheese or ricotta, and blueberry topping. This year, they've been elevated up a notch or two.  The gorgeous organic navel oranges on the counter inspired me to make a layered concoction. The bottom layer of course is the faux-graham wafer crust, followed by a dreamy orange cheese cake layer, a bright lemon cheese cake layer, and finally an abundance of blueberries layer. The fruity flavour combinations are pleasing, although perhaps the colour contrast between the layers is a little inadequate to see it very well.


Please note, they are best after being refrigerated for 24 hours. Don't know why. Which is great because they can be made ahead.

filling:

Lemon Cheesecake Layer:
filling ingredients:

3/4 cups raw cashews soaked in water and sea salt for 2 hours, then rinsed
1/2 cup water
4 tbsp agave
4 tbsp lemon juice
20 drops lemon essential oil
2 tbsp coconut oil



1/4 tsp sea salt

2 tbsp finely ground white chia seeds



Orange Cheesecake Layer:

filling ingredients:

3/4  cups raw cashews soaked in water and sea salt for 2 hours, then rinsed
2 small navel oranges, zested, peeled, and pureed. reserve 1 tsp of zest  (dispose of peel and any stray seeds) (use 3 small navel oranges next time)
2  tbsp agave

1 tsp orange zest if you have used organic oranges
2 tbsp coconut oil

1/4 tsp sea salt

2 tbsp finely ground white chia seeds



filling directions:

1. in a food processor, process the ingredients until creamy and smooth, scraping down the sides as needed



crust:

ingredients for the crust:

1 cup almond flour

1/2 cup shredded coconut (I gave it a quick pulse in my grinder to make the shreds small)

1/4 cup coconut sugar

1 1/2 tsp ceylon cinnamon

1/2 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1/4 tsp sea salt

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

2 tbsp water

directions for crust:

1. combine the above ingredients in the order listed, mixing well with a fork before adding the water



Blueberry topping:


topping ingredients:


2 cup frozen blueberries
2 tbsp arrowroot powder
1 pinch sea salt
4 tbsp coconut sugar
splash of vanilla extract
a pinch of ground vanilla bean

topping directions:

1. combine ingredients and let defrost
2. mix well




Making the cakes:

preheat the oven to 345

1. once all three parts have been made, you are ready to start

2. scoop the crust mixture evenly into 18 silicone muffin cups  and flatten with your fingers
3. spoon each flavour of cheese cake filling evenly over the crust, and bake for 10 minutes at 345
4. after 10 minutes of baking, spoon the blueberry mixture evenly over the partially baked cakes, then bake for 25 more minutes. 

cool thoroughly before removing from the silicone cups.
I store them in the silicone cups in the fridge, and just remove them prior to serving.

notes:
1. bake at 345 for 30-25 minutes
2. if using the blueberry topping, add after 10 minutes of baking, then bake for 20-25 minutes more
3. cool before removing from the silicone muffin cups
4. makes 18 baby cheesecakes
5. make the day before, and serve chilled

Simple Blueberry Muffins -- vegan, nut free, basic

ingredients:

1/2  cup coconut oil
1 1/2 cup boiling water
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp vanilla extract

2 tsp egg replacer mixed with 1/2 cup water

1/2 cup raw agave


1/2  tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

2 cups kamut flour


2 cups frozen blueberries



directions:

1. combine the ingredients in the order listed
2. gently fold in the kamut flour
3. gently fold in the blueberries
4. scoop into 24 prepared muffin cups
5. bake at 345 for 25 minutes

Blueberry baby cakes -- grain free, gluten free, etc etc

Breakfast on December 25th is looming large, and in preparation I am making baby cakes and baked apple. Other goodies have already been made. Yet more are still to follow. These are light and moist, delicate and sweet, wholesome enough for breakfast, but not stodgy. Perfect with tea. Try 'em. You'll like 'em.

 ingredients:

 2 cups warm water
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup unpasteurized local honey
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean
1 tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt
ground black pepper (just a little)
1/4 cup hemp hearts, ground
1/2 cup raw cashews, ground
1/2 cup white sesame seeds, ground
1/4 cup white chia seeds, ground
1 cup shredded coconut, ground

 4 eggs

1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups blanched almond flour

 2 cups of frozen blueberries (still frozen) or fresh if you have

 coconut sugar to sprinkle on top


 directions:

 preheat the oven to 345

1. combine the honey, coconut oil, and water
2. add the vanilla bean, cinnamon, sea salt, and black pepper
3. stir in the ground hemp, cashews, sesame seeds, chia seeds, and coconut
4. mix in the eggs and the baking soda
5. stir in the almond flour
6. quickly fold in the blueberries and scoop into 24 prepared muffin cups
7. sprinkle the top of each generously with coconut sugar
8. bake at 345 for 50 minutes

Mini Lemon Blueberry Baby Cakes -- a gluten free, sugar free homage to deliciousness

I'm having a bit too much fun with my lemon extract. It's made by a company called 'Simply Organic'.  So far I have used their peppermint, orange, vanilla, and lemon extracts, and have found each of them swoon worthy. I have made luscious vanilla ice cream with the vanilla, chocolate orange energy bars and macaroons with the orange, lemon macaroons, and now these delectable and delicate babycakes with the lemon, and chocolate peppermint energy bars with the peppermint. The flavours are impeccable and entirely pleasing.

These lemon blueberry baby cakes are delicate in texture, nicely sweet but not cloying, and bursting with flavour. Oh yeah: they are also gluten free, grain free, sugar free, and made entirely with whole foods. Come on over for tea ...

ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup coconut nectar

4 eggs

1 1/2 tsp lemon extract


1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground vanilla bean
1 touch of black pepper
1/4 cup chia seeds, ground
1/2 cup raw cashews, ground
1/4 cup hemp hearts, ground
1 cup almond flour

1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup coconut flour

1 cup blueberries (if using frozen, mix into batter whilst still frozen)

1-2 tbsp coconut sugar


directions:

preheat the oven to 345

1. combine the ingredients in the order listed
2. scoop batter into 24 prepared muffin cups, and sprinkle coconut sugar on top of each one
4. bake at 345 for 30 minutes

Blueberry Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Ice Cream -- vegan and delicious

This ice cream has slightly more blueberries than everything else. It has no dairy in it, and derives its creamy goodness from coconut milk. I would say be careful which coconut milk you use, because I've encountered some that taste like 'can'. Blech. This has a delicate, multilayered flavour, and the taste of 'can' has no place in it at all. I am a big fan of fruity flavours, and think this is terrific. It does taste like coconut milk, so if you find that nuance objectionable, this may not be the blueberry ice cream for you.

ingredients:

1 can organic coconut milk -- 400 ml
2 cups frozen blueberries

1 tsp ground vanilla bean
1/4 cup unpasteurized honey


directions:

1. combine the ingredients, and puree -- I used a hand blender
2. chill
3. freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturers directions.
4. share ...