Agave Sweetened Cheesecake Recipes

AGAVE SWEETENED CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust by mixing the last 2 or 3 ingredients, Put them in the bottom of a greased Cheesecake pan. Roll flat with a tiny roller, I use my pizza crust roller, or tamp down with an ice cream scoop. Put in the freezer.
• Preheat your oven to 475 degrees.
• In a large bowl beat the ROOM TEMPERATURE cream cheese, with a mixer until it is very creamy and smooth, with no lumps.
• Add the agave and the flour, continue to cream with the mixer.
• Add the fresh grated rinds, if you have none, don't even bother with the dry stuff in a jar. (I save fresh lemon rinds, and some orange ones in a ziploc bag, and FREEZE. Now is where you USE THEM.) Maybe a dab of frozen juice concentrate? Keep mixing.
• Add the eggs, (the original recipe says to add them one at a time, and mix between, since I'm a rebel) add 2 at a time and mix until well blended.
• Retrieve the crust, pour the batter in the pan.
• Bake at 475 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Bake at 200 degrees for 60 minutes.
• Turn your oven off with out opening the door and wait 60 minutes.
• Stir the sour cream and vanilla, only until it is one color.(if you must add the sugar. add it to the sour cream -- ).
• Spread the mixture over the top of warm cake and bake 5-7 minutes , just until it is set.
• This bakes in multiples wonderfully, and freezes and shares GREAT. It seems like this takes FOREVER, but it is SO worth it.
• Optional: Sometimes I make more topping, 12 oz sour cream, and 3 Tbsp sugar.

7-INGREDIENT VEGAN CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Add dates to a food processor and blend until small bits remain and it forms into a ball. Remove and set aside.
• Next add nuts and process into a meal. Then add dates back in and blend until a loose dough forms - it should stick together when you squeeze a bit between your fingers. If it's too dry, add a few more dates through the spout while processing. If too wet, add more almond or walnut meal. Optional: add a pinch of salt to taste.
• Lightly grease a standard, 12 slot muffin tin (as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). To make removing the cheesecakes easier, cut strips of parchment paper and lay them in the slots. This creates little tabs that makes removing them easier to pop out once frozen.
• Next scoop in heaping 1 Tbsp amounts of crust and press with fingers. To pack it down, use a small glass or the back of a spoon to compact it and really press it down. I found the bottom of a glass works well. If it sticks, separate the crust and the glass with a small piece of parchment. Set in freezer to firm up.
• Add all filling ingredients to a blender and mix until very smooth. For the coconut milk, I like to scoop the "cream" off the top because it provides a richer texture. But if yours is already all mixed together, just add it in as is.
• You don't need a Vitamix for this recipe, just a quality blender. I mixed mine for 1 minute, then "liquified" or "pureed" it until silky smooth. If it won't come together, add a touch more lemon juice or agave or a splash more coconut milk liquid as the liquid should help it blend better.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. If adding peanut butter, add to the blender and mix until thoroughly combined. If flavoring with blueberry or caramel, wait and swirl on top of plain cheesecakes (optional).
• Divide filling evenly among the muffin tins. Tap a few times to release any air bubbles, then cover with plastic wrap and freeze until hard - about 4-6 hours.
• Once set, remove by tugging on the tabs or loosening them with a butter knife. They should pop right out. Our favorite way to devour these was with a little more caramel and a touch of coconut whipped cream. But they're perfect as is! Keep in the freezer for up to 1-2 weeks.
• Optional: You can set them out for 10 minutes before serving to soften, but I liked them frozen as well.

THE BEST UNBAKED CHERRY CHEESECAKE EVER

Steps:

• Mix together graham cracker crumbs, margarine, and sugar in a bowl until well incorporated and crumbly. Press into a pie plate, going up the sides as much as possible.
• Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth and spreadable. Whisk whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until smooth. Pour cream cheese into prepared crust. Smooth the top with a spatula, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 to 3 hours. Spread the cherry pie filling over the top, and refrigerate until serving.

AGAVE-SWEETENED LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Whisk water, 3/4 cup agave nectar, cornstarch, flour, zest and juice from 2 1/2 lemons, and salt together in a saucepan; bring to a boil just until lemon mixture coats a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir butter into lemon mixture until melted; remove saucepan from heat.
• Whisk 1/2 cup lemon mixture with the egg yolks in a bowl to temper the yolks. Return saucepan to medium-low heat and slowly whisk tempered egg yolks into remaining lemon mixture until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Spoon lemon mixture into pie crust.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat egg whites and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice in a clean bowl using an electric mixer until soft peaks form; add 2 tablespoons agave nectar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spoon egg white mixture on top of lemon mixture, making sure to completely cover the lemon mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until meringue is golden brown, about 10 minutes.