The most creamy, luscious, velvety smooth, this is the Best Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake that is dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free! This blows away everybody who tries it! Just 8 ingredients.
BEST VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
If there is one thing I enjoy doing and find an immense amount of passion in, it is creating desserts. I have always loved to bake for as long as I can remember. But, i also enjoy no-bake desserts. That is where this no-bake Best Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake comes in. There is no comparison to the rich, luscious, smooth texture of a raw cake.
NO-BAKE VEGAN CHEESECAKES
You might say I have a thing for making no-bake vegan cheesecakes, this is my 8th one. I’ve made several on my blog…all vegan, dairy-free, oil-free, no-bake and so darn simple to make and of course, just 8 ingredients.
- Chocolate Almond Cheesecake
- Mango Caramel Swirl Cheesecake
- Cinnamon Spice Cheesecake Tart
- Cinnamon Coconut New York Style Cheesecake
- Vanilla Cheesecake Ice Cream
- Mini Mocha Black Forest Cheesecakes
- Strawberry Peppermint Cheesecake
If you are trying to lose weight or avoiding fat, then just skip right over this post. While I tailor to many low-fat recipes on this blog, when it comes to desserts, I do not typically like the taste of low-fat ones. Besides, I believe that if you are going to have a dessert, it should actually taste like one, and not some sad “just ok” version.
MY SECRET TO THE BEST VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
Cocoa butter! If you truly want an authentic chocolate taste, then start with the source that is actually what makes it chocolate. In other words, use these cocoa butter discs to give that true authentic vegan chocolate cheesecake flavor. I much prefer these over the blocks of cocoa butter, because you just melt them as is, no need to chop, which is a pain with those blocks. Most raw desserts rely on coconut oil to solidify them, but I wanted to use actual cocoa butter, since that is what makes chocolate taste like true chocolate. It is also what causes this cake to set and firm up and slice perfectly.
I use cocoa butter in several desserts on my blog. I even make homemade chocolate with them. It makes the most dreamy filling ever….way more than just coconut oil…you will be very tempted to just eat it all before chilling it…
The inspiration for this chocolate cake came from Rawguru, who sent me these awesome chocolates to try out. Immediately after seeing the Crushed Cashew Raw Chocolate Bark, I knew I wanted to create a raw vegan chocolate cheesecake. They are so kind to offer my readers a 2o% off discount on their Rawmio chocolate barks with NO expiration. Just use code: RACHOCVEGAN8. This chocolate is a dark chocolate, not very sweet, so it’s perfect for topping onto a dessert, so the sweetness is tamed. (I do not make any commission off any sale).
This best vegan chocolate cheesecake has the most incredible, smooth, creamy texture. It’s like love at first bite, I’m telling ya. It has a rich chocolate flavor, not overly sweet at all. I also only used 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, a very slight tang, to really allow the chocolate flavor to be the star and not overpowered.
Velvety smooth vegan chocolate cheesecake topped with crushed cashew chocolate bark and raspberries. Does it get any better?
I can’t wait to hear what you all think of this Best Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake!
OTHER VEGAN CHOCOLATE DESSERTS:
- Vegan Sweet Potato Chocolate Pudding
- Sweet Potato Chocolate Tart
- Double Chocolate Muffins
- Vegan Homemade Chocolate Sauce
- Whole Wheat Chocolate Muffins
The Best Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake
Ingredients
CRUST
- 1 cup (150g) raw whole almonds
- 2 tablespoons (12g) raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
- pinch fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons (40g) pure maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
FILLING
- 1 1/2 cups (235g) raw cashews
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons water (90g)
- 1 tablespoon (15g) fresh lemon juice
- 5 tablespoons (100g) pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons (20g) coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup (30g) raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 90g raw cocoa butter (I used these discs b/c no chopping and easier to use. You must use a scale for accurate results, you should have 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons melted cocoa butter.)
NOTE
- This cake has a rich velvety chocolate texture and flavor. There is only 1 tablespoon lemon juice, a very slight tang, to really allow the chocolate flavor to be the star. It is not overly sweet, as I wanted to bring out the chocolate flavor. If you taste the batter after blending and want it sweeter, add 1-2 tablespoons more of the coconut sugar, not the syrup, as you don't want to add extra liquid.
- I use this scale.
Instructions
- I did not soak my cashews at all, but if you do not have a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, then you MUST soak your cashews overnight in a bowl of water, drain, rinse and proceed. This mixture is very thick and you will have major trouble getting it smooth otherwise. A regular blender is not likely to work, but a strong food processor should, as long as you soak them overnight. After soaking, drain and rinse and set aside.
- You will need a 6 inch round springform pan for this cake. Add a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan inbetween the two pieces of the pan. I very lightly greased the insides just for easy removal later.
- Prepare the crust by adding the almonds, cocoa, sugar and salt to a food processor and process until it is a fine meal texture, about 30 seconds. Add the syrup and vanilla and process again just until it comes together in a chunky ball. Press the mixture into the prepared springform pan, making sure it's flat and even around the edges. Set aside.
- For the filling, make sure to go in this order. Add the cashews, water, lemon juice, syrup and vanilla to your vitamix or food processor. Process, starting on slow at first and work your way up to high speed until it's completely smooth. It will be very thick and you may need to scrape the sides once, but make sure it's totally smooth before adding the dry ingredients! Once totally smooth, add the salt, sugar and cocoa powder and slightly stir it into the mix. Don't blend yet, it will be too thick.
- Melt your cocoa butter in the microwave or over a double boiler. For 100% raw, put the cocoa butter in a bowl over a bowl of boiling water and let it melt. If doing in the microwave, heat it in 30 second intervals, up to 2 minutes stirring in between. Once it's almost all melted, remove and stir until it's 100% dissolved. 90 g will yield exactly 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons melted cocoa butter, which is exactly what you need for the cake to firm up. Pour into the blender and process until completely smooth. It will be VERY thick like a pudding. Do your best to stir with a spoon to loosen and blend again, just to make sure it is all mixed and smooth. Taste and if you want it sweeter, add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut sugar and not the syrup, you don't want extra liquid. Pour over your crust and smooth the top with a spoon. Make sure to scrape out all that chocolatey goodness from the blender, it is very thick.
- Place in the freezer for several hours until set. I left mine in overnight. Or you can place in the fridge to set, but it will take much longer. If you freeze it overnight, remove it around 20 minutes before serving and it is the perfect firm, smooth texture. Once it has fully set from the freezer, keep it stored in the fridge and then it will always be the perfect texture to eat immediately from the fridge. Just wait until you take a bite! Garnish with chopped chocolate and raspberries, if desired!
Yayyyyyyy! A dessert post from Brandi!! And a ridiculously decadent one too 😮 As soon as I saw the cocoa butter I was like oh whoa this is going to be good <3 The flavor of cocoa butter is incredible. It just makes anything taste extra dessert-y, so much more flavor than coconut oil. And I'm a dark chocolate person all the way, another reason I just want to face plant into this cake! That dreamy bite shot, definitely an any occasion treat! And I've wanted to try those Rawmio barks for a while actually, love their nut butters everything they make is so decadent. Alright I need to stop rambling and drooling over this masterpiece, love it Brandi!
You are so incredibly sweet Natalie! Thank you so much, so glad you love this! I am so with you girl, cocoa butter all the way. Coconut oil is fine for firming things up, but it does absolutely nothing for flavor, it just makes things taste oily to me. I’ve tried raw chocolate desserts from places with coconut oil before and the oil overpowered the flavors, and well, cocoa butter IS chocolate. Plus, I really love how firm it makes the cheesecake, just like a traditional one. This one you can leave in the fridge and it stays firm too. Oh yes, I love their nut butters the most out of everything. The coffee one is what dreams are made of, haha!
Thank you again for being so sweet! xx
Um delish!!!! Yes a treat for any occasion 😉 Nutty chocolately creamy decadence!!!
Thanks girl!
I love that you didn’t use coconut oil in this. I haven’t worked with coco butter before, I need to try it. And that crushed cashew bark over the cake looks so pretty. Nicely done, my friend! Pinned for later!
Thank you so much Linda, you are so kind! Cocoa butter is very hard, and it’s what makes chocolate actually taste and smell like chocolate (it’s what is in most chocolate chips and bars at stores) since it comes from the cocoa bean, so it is a must for a chocolate cake in my opinion 🙂
Could white chocolate or dark chocolate be used as a substitute for cocoa butter? I am lactose intolerant but I’d like a good dairy free cheesecake to try out!
Hi Lauryn! Hmmmm, that will change the recipe since white chocolate and dark chocolate are both sweetened. I’ve written based on the cocoa butter (no sweetener) along with the liquid sweetener and the cocoa butter has no additional ingredients like the dark or white chocolate does. I’m afraid it would really alter the taste and texture, because then you would have to change the other ingredients as well. If you would like a cheesecake without cocoa butter, then make this one, it is incredible!
https://thevegan8.com/2016/08/17/vegan-mango-caramel-swirl-cheesecake/
This looks like Valentine’s Day perfection. Just gorgeous.
So sweet, thank you so much Annie!!
A stunner as always, beautiful, Brandi! Love that you use different nuts: almonds for the crust and cashews for the filling! I definitely share your passion for raw cheesecakes since I recently made and posted a raw peanut butter cheesecake (my first attempt). I have to admit I never used cacao butter before. I think I should definitely change this after seeing your gorgeous cheesecake! I’m so in love with the lighting here. You really know how to use the light. Your last picture is my favorite, I’m sold!
Thank you so much Florian!! So sweet of you to say that! I had a lot of fun photographing these in particular! Haha! I love making raw cheesecakes and have a few on my blog and first started making them a couple years ago, but this one is probably my favorite since well, duh, it’s all chocolate! I made 2 this week though, this one and another (to be revealed later), but ultimately decided to share the chocolate one today 🙂
So gorgeous. I’ve never seen raw cocoa butter–thanks for the link! Your photos are inspiring.
Hi Letty! Wow, thank you for that compliment so much. Yes, the cocoa butter is not in most stores, but Whole Foods does carry it, but I find it easier and cheaper to just order it on Amazon and get it in 2 days 🙂
It looks so decadent!! Super silky, smooth and CHOCOLATEY! My kind of dessert! And since my hubby doesn’t like chocolate, MORE for ME!
Thank you so much Jenn! It is definitely decadent, haha! What is with husbands not liking chocolate?!
this looks amazing Brandi!
Thank you so much Andie, so nice of you!
OMG I can’t even express how amazing this looks. My mind is just blown. Wow. I want to eat my computer screen. I am so sad that I can’t have this but I seriously feel like I must make it for someone because if I can’t have it I must watch someone eat it and love it. Hahahahahaha The cocoa butter is seriously genius in this. You are just brilliant, for real.
Hi Christina! I always love your comments, they always make me smile! I hate that you can’t have cashews, but some recipes just need them. I do have other nut-free raw cakes though, I can’t remember, can you have coconut? But yes, make this for others. It’s my favorite cheesecake now because I just love chocolate so much and the texture is unbelievable and it doesn’t have to remain in the freezer, like most of my others, which I just LOVE. It is the perfect texture right out of the fridge.
I’m so glad you love this! The cocoa butter really gave that incredible firm texture, that coconut oil won’t do quite the same and of course, a truely chocolate flavor! Thanks as always!
I never thought of using the cocoa butter discs…I’ve used the blocks…yes annoying! This looks so decadent. I’m a definite sweets person, as in…my meal is not complete without a tasty treat! But I don’t need a lot, just a perfectly delicious portion. This looks like just the ticket!
Thank you so much Natalie! Yes, those blocks are so much more work to deal with. Yes, much smaller cake, but so rich, truly a little sliver is enough for after dinner!
Yeah that is pretty awesome that it can be kept in the fridge after it sets. This is just a perfect recipe. Oh and yes I can eat coconut. 🙂 I will check out your other nut free raw cakes. 😀
Wow, Brandi, you have outdone yourself with this one! Your photos are absolutely stunning and are making my mouth water! Of course I’m pinning this for future reference. I’ve never used cocoa butter before but I just opened your link in a new tab to check them out. This recipe sounds soooooo delicious!
Thank you so much Jen! So incredibly sweet of you to say that about my photos, thank you. Oh, you gotta try cocoa butter sometime for a special occasion. I rarely use it, except for cakes or truffles a couple of times a year, but there is no match for it’s awesomeness. Coconut oil just doesn’t work quite the same way as far as textures go. Thank you again!
Simply lovely, Brandi! You created a stunning dessert and your last photo in particular has my mouth watering.
SO sweet Hannah! Thank you so much! I hope you are well! So glad you love that photo, thank you 🙂
Darn it Brandi–well I was WAS trying to lose weight until I saw this post!! It is so much healthy fatty goodness how can you NOT make it!! I was relieved to see that it was 6inch–at least it is only one serving. LOL JK
I literally laughed out loud Lili!! Hahaha….one serving! That was so funny. Sorry, just move on away from the post, haha. It’s not low fat at ALL. I took more than half of it to my folks today just so there wasn’t too much in the house. And yes, 6 inch is much better for portion control 🙂
You don’t have to ask me twice!! I’ll follow this up with a tall glass of strawberry milk and pretty much call it a day!
Haha, sounds like a plan to me!
Special occasion indeed! Just having this on the table would make the moment all special though 🙂 no other external reasons needed 😀 Oh and I love that you used cocoa butter, that must make it all the more creamy and chocolatey!
Thank you so much Lucie! Yes, oh it does, it gives it the most amazing creamy and firm texture, just like a traditional cheesecake! 🙂
Happy Galentine’s Day and happy Valentine’s Day, dearest Brandi! You always blow me away with your incredible dessert posts and this cheesecake is no different. It looks ridiculously smooth, creamy, decadent and just perfect for celebrating any occasion! And you’re totally right – if you’re going to eat dessert, it should be luxurious and worth every damn calorie. Ain’t nobody got time for mediocre dessert!
Aww thank you so much Nancy, you are so incredibly sweet! Yes, exactly woman! Thank you and so good to see your pretty face in my comment section! 🙂
Hiya Brandi, just made this sinful choc cheesecake as my hubby will return from a biz trip tomorrow so we will have a belated Valentine. Could not resist pouring a small sample of the filling in a glass and now I am enjoying this decadence with a lovely Yoga chai latte. Wow, just wow! The addition of cocoa butter takes the cake to the whole other level. I have not used it before so this is a revelation to me. Have made numerous raw cheesecakes before but this one is much less heavy. Really really nice. When I slice it tomorrow I will tag you on Instagram. Thanks for another great recipe!
Yay! I’m so ecstatic to read this amazing review on the cheesecake! SO happy you loved it and I feel the same way about the cocoa butter, makes it so creamy, yet not greasy, as coconut oil would have done! Thank you again for leaving the feedback! Can’t wait to see your pic and omg, what an amazing idea you had to serve it that way too!
So I need to go out and grab cocoa butter ASAP because this is the most amazing vegan cheesecake I’ve ever laid eyes on. Your photography is SO beautiful! I love that you mentioned how it’s not overly sweet because that sounds just perfect!
Aww thank you so much Brittany! You are so sweet, so glad you love these photos and thank you so very much for such a huge compliment to the cheesecake!!
Oh my, this popped up on my Facebook feed a couple days ago, and I have been thinking about it ever since. We don’t really do valentines day around here, but I am totally breaking ‘tradition’ and making this cheesecake for valentines dessert!
Thank you so much Donna, that is so nice of you!
Whoa this looks good! Cheesecake is one of my all time favourite foods and so is chocolate so you got me as soon as I saw the first picture. I actually have some cocoa butter in the pantry too. I bought it a while ago and it was pretty expensive so I’ve been waiting for the perfect ‘no fail’ recipe to try it in. I will try this soon. Great recipe!
Thank you so much Mel! I have about 10 other recipes using cocoa butter, so I’m quite the fan of it in raw desserts! It’s an ingredient that gives amazing results, especially chocolate of course!
Holy cow! This is one of the most delicious vegan cheesecakes I’ve ever seen! Looks absolutely fantastic!
SO sweet of you to say that Vanessa!! Such a sweet compliment!
This seriously looks like the most delectable cheesecake I’ve ever seen! What a treat. Saving this recipe to make for my own birthday! 🙂
Wow, what a compliment, thank you so much Gin!!
Beautiful photos as always!! I have to say that raspberries from the top look interesting though.
Should have made this cake yesterday than those muffins from a fellow food blogger.
Thank you so much Howie! I love adding a touch of color from fruit to cakes, especially chocolate and I love how the fresh raspberries look as well. Oh no, sorry you made some muffins from a blogger that you didn’t care for it sounds like, haha.
Ooooohhhh – that looks soooo lush and Now I’m super hungry and craving this. Love the recipe and use of Cacao, Almonds and Cashew!
This is beautiful Brandi! I need to try more of your raw cakes!!
Thank you so much Anjali!
ummm YUM! 😉 this looks incredible and decadent! I’m totally drooling over this I can tell it was super rich and creamy!!!!
and I have been wanting to try making chocolate with the cocoa butter but never knew what the heck kind of cocoa butter to buy so I’m totally gonna have to check out those little disc ones you have listed!
Thank you so much for your kind words Michele!!
This recipe is incredible! I made it for my health conscious brother-in-law’s birthday this past Saturday. He absolutely LOVED it! I reserved a small portion of the filling in a souflet cup, for myself to try and I concur. This was quite deliscious. I shaved some vegan chocolate into the top, and added chocolate coconut whip cream and raspberries. I’m going to make one for myself this coming weekend. I can’t wait! Thank you so much for this decadent chocolate delight! I took some pics, but am not seeing where I can post those. I’m happy to send them, though, if you wish.
Kimberly
Yay Kimberly! I’m so excited it was such a hit and shaved chocolate and whipped cream on top sounds amazing! Thank you so much for the feedback and rating! I would absolutely love to see your pic! You can email it to me through my contact form above or you can tag me on Instagram with my tag #thevegan8 or post it on my Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/The-Vegan-8-129155053788347/
Any way that’s best for you!
Thank you again!
I tagged you with my pics on Instagram. My profile name there is Scorptress, btw.
Hi Kimberly! I just checked but don’t see it, is your account set to private? That may be why I can’t see it. You can just email it to me, I’d love to see it!
Okay, I have emailed them to you. Sorry about that…..please let me know if you don’t get them.
Also:
How do you think this would turn out if I added a couple layers of date caramel? If I freeze the filling between adding each layer of caramel, would that mess with the texture or anything?
Hi Kimberly, I have not received any emails from you. Did you send them through my contact page above? You can always post them on my Facebook page as well.
Yes, I think as long as the caramel is really thick, it should work just fine, sounds delish!
This was the best recipe I have ever made from your site. I sent it to a bunch of people. It was fantastic!!! I am cutting it into small pieces and freezing it so I don’t eat the whole thing in 2 days. Great job!
Wow Lili! Thank you so much for that awesome feedback! I’m so happy you loved this so much!
Question…I need know what to substitute for nuts….no nuts i can eat..neither any citrus….and I have cooked w Enjoy Life baking vegan chocolate with other desserts…Thank you. #loveyourwebsite
Hi Ryss! This recipe unfortunately needs the cashews, otherwise it just won’t work. BUT, I do have another similar rich chocolate fudge cake that is nut-free! Here it is. It is a tiny little cake, so you can triple it for a regular pan. https://thevegan8.com/2015/08/06/no-bake-chocolate-mint-tart-two/
Hi, I just made this without the base (only because I didn’t have time or ingredients) and poured it into little ramekins. Although the mixture was more fluid than you suggested, maybe because I soaked my cashews, it still firmed up beautifully. It is THE BEST vegan chocolate desert I’ve tasted!! I might experiment with some orange zest in it next time! Thank you!
Thank you so much Sammy for this wonderful review! So happy it was the best you’ve ever had, wow! Sorry I missed this comment before!
Hey Brandi,
I first want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that it was an epic one.
Secondly I want to say thank you for sharing this amazing Raw Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake recipe that turned out so good, all of my family and friends couldn’t believe how good it was. It was a huge hit at our no meat thanksgiving celebration.
“Wait…this is raw vegan?” 😁
Thirdly I would like to share that I’ve been eating raw vegan desserts for a while now like 5-6 years and I hands down had one of the best I’ve ever had in my life.
Thanks again for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving.
Cheers
Adam, thank you so very much for leaving such wonderful feedback! I’m so happy to hear you loved this cheesecake so much! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Hello!
On step 2 of the directions, it says, “You will need a 6 inch round springform pan for this cake. Add a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan inbetween the two pieces (see photo above). I very lightly greased the insides just for easy removal later.”
I don’t see a photo above the recipe showing this process and also, I understand what you mean by adding a piece of parchment to the bottom of the pan, but I’m not sure what you mean by saying, “in between the two pieces” and without a photo I’m not sure.
If you could clarify that for me, I would appreciate it.
Thank you,
Kelly
So sorry for the confusion, I think I was going to add a picture and forgot. I’ve updated the directions now. I only meant placing a large piece of paper in between the 2 pieces of the pan. I realize now that sounded odd, sorry about that!
Hi Brandi,
Thank you SO much for sharing your recipes! My husband became vegan the beginning of this year and your blog has been a life saver! He loves your Tomato Bisque, and will even use it as a spaghetti sauce. I have a question regarding this cheesecake… I only have a 9″ springform pan, will doubling the recipe work? Thank you!
Hi Samantha! I’m so glad to hear that! Yes, I think that should work fine! Let me know how it turns out!
Hello! With making the crust, I am assuming you add in the 1/4 tsp vanilla extract when adding in the maple syrup? It was listed as an ingredient but not listed in the directions.
Hi, yes, sorry about that, it’s been updated on the recipe!
Hi Brandi,
The cake looks lovely! You mentioned soaking cashews is a must, but what about almonds, as they are even harder to blend, aren’t they? I am not very good at vegan desserts.. yet! But looking forward for trying this one out.
Hi Neri! I actually noted that I didn’t even soak mine, but of course that is only if you have a high-powered blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec that can 100% pulverize the nuts. I actually never soak my cashews unless I’m making my cream cheese recipe. Do you have a high-powered blender? If so, no need to soak. No matter the nut, it doesn’t matter.
If you don’t have a Vitamix, then yes, I highly recommend soaking at least 8 hours and then blend in a food processor for several minutes until completely smooth and NO bits remain, otherwise your cheesecake will be gritty.
Thanks! I have just recently purchased mine of a different brand, so will test and hopefully it will turn out great. It looks fantastic, can’t stop drolling over this recipe.
I just made this……and…OMG! Best cheesecake I’ve ever had! Yum! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe xxx
Yay Rebecca! That makes me so happy to hear!!
Can I double the recipe to fit in my 9 inch spring form pan?? I don’t have a 6 inch. Looks fabulous
Yes, that should be fine! It will be a tall cake and need probably a lot more time to completely chill and firm up but should still work! Please come back and let me know what you think!
The recipe turned out perfectly smooth and delicious ! The instructions were accurate and easy to follow. Vegan 8 girl makes you want to do more vegan cooking and baking the healthu way. Would definitely make it again !
I’m so happy to hear that Malky, thank you so much for the amazing review!