Chocolate-Covered Dairy Free Cheesecake Bites Recipe (2024)

Author: Ricki Heller

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Serves: 9 cheesecake bites

Ingredients

Dairy-Free Cheesecake Filling

• 1 heaping cup raw cashews
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or agave nectar
• 10 to 20 drops plain or vanilla pure stevia liquid, to taste (or use more sugar)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract (optional)
• ¼ cup plain or vanilla unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds, ground in a coffee grinder to a fine powder (about 2 teaspoons powder)
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest

Chocolate or Carob Coating (see option below)

• 4 ounces good quality unsweetened chocolate (I find Baker’s is too bitter for this recipe)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons carob powder or cocoa powder, sifted
• 20 to 30 drops pure stevia liquid, to taste (I recommend keeping it bittersweet or using the option below - too much stevia leaves an aftertaste)

Instructions

Dairy Free Cheesecake Filling

1. Place the cashews in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Allow to sit for 30 minutes to an hour, then drain and rinse (or, if you have time, soak in room-temperature water for 6 to 12 hours, then drain and rinse).
2. Line a small square container (about 2 cup capacity) with plastic wrap, or set out a dozen silicone mini muffin cups.
3. Place the cashews and remaining cheesecake ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until perfectly smooth. Transfer the mixture to the container or distribute evenly among the muffin cups. If using the single container, freeze until just firm (about 3 to 4 hours), then invert onto a cutting board, peel off the plastic, and cut into 9 cubes. Return to the freezer until perfectly hard.

Chocolate Coating

1. Follow the recipe in the notes below or in a small, heavy-bottomed pot, melt the unsweetened chocolate with the coconut oil. Whisk in the carob and stevia until smooth. Transfer the chocolate coating to a small, deep bowl.
2. To assemble the Dairy Free Cheesecake Bites
3. Using the frozen cheesecake cubes (one at a time), dip the bottom of one cube into the chocolate mixture to coat. Then place the cube on the tines of a fork (closer to the tip than to the handle) and hold the fork over the bowl. Using a spoon, spoon more chocolate mixture over the cube so that it coats the top and sides of the cube; be sure to cover all of the “cheesecake” filling. Gently tap the handle of the fork against the bowl to allow any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, then gently push the cube off the fork onto a clean plastic cutting board or plate covered with plastic wrap. The coating should begin to firm up fairly quickly.
4. Repeat until all the cubes are covered. If you have leftover chocolate, drizzle it in a decorative way over the tops of the cubes.
5. Place in the refrigerator until the coating is firm and the cheesecake filling is defrosted, at least 1 hour, then remove from the board or plate and enjoy. Store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

Notes

Chocolate Coating Option: If you are okay with regular sugar, simply use 6 ouncesof dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips plus 1 teaspoon coconut oil in place of all the other coating ingredients.

Nutrition Information

Serving size:1 generous cheesecake bite Calories:195 Fat:17g Saturated fat:7.2g Carbohydrates:12.3g Sugar:2.5g Sodium:12mg Fiber:3.5g Protein:4.9g