(Vegan) Killer mixed berry cheese cake

[pinto]

A friend brought this to a recent pot luck - a hit with all. Her recipe. ~ pinto

Mixed berry cheese cake
Serves 8

¾ cup Earth Balance butter
2 cups vegan graham cracker crumbs
1 (12 oz) package silken tofu (soft)
1 cup non dairy cream cheese (I used Tofutti brand)
1 tbls safflower oil
¼ cup maple syrup plus additional 1 to 2 tsp if using a fresh fruit topping (I used Agave syrup)
¼ cup soy milk
2tsp arrowroot
1tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp lemon or orange extract (optional)
Fresh mixed berries or frozen (thawed) for topping

Preheat oven to 350 f. oil an 8” or 9” springform pan

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Turn off the heat, stir in the graham cracker crumbs. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and slightly up the sides of the pan, bake for 5 minutes. Let cool on a cooling rack.

Combine the tofu, cream cheese, oil, 1/4 cup syrup, milk, arrowroot, vanilla extract, and citrus extract in a blender or food processor and process til smooth. Pour the mixture into the crust, and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake the cheesecake for 45 mins to 1 hr. Let the cake cool to room temp. If using fresh berries, toss them with 1 to 2 tsp syrup to create a slightly glazed effect. Top with berries - chill until you are ready to serve.

**** I made a blueberry sauce and added some dark rum to it, to top the cheesecake *******

[Warpy]

1. Tofutti "cream" cheese is da bomb

I vastly prefer it to the real thing but it's expensive so I don't treat myself all that often. It was one of the first vegan dairy substitutes that was perfected, IMO.

People just don't realize what silken tofu can do in recipes that call for dairy. Even substituting it half and half with ricotta in lasagna can fool tofu haters while dropping the fat and increasing the protein. It can also perform some of the same functions egg does in baked goods.

The above looks really great, but I'd definitely use that orange extract.

[The empressof all]

2. This looks fabulous

Now that I'm back on the Vegan train...I'm so gonna bookmark this and add it to the Thanksgiving menu. I've been craving banana's and pecans like crazy. I wonder how a banana, maple, pecan cheesecake would be. Right now that sounds like heaven to me.