I love no-bake items. They're super easy and fast . . . and often just as tasty as their toasty counterparts. This vegan "cheesecake" is no exception, of course. And because it's so quick to pull together, I'm writing the post that way too.
What prompted me to pull this baby out of the METHOD archives is this: I went to get my hair cut on Saturday. My stylist and I got on the topic of food . . . and tofu, specifically. Then out of absolutely NOwhere, this guy from way across the room said "YUCK! TOFU! That's disgusting" As if I had asked for his opinion. Turns out, he's never even tried the stuff.
Ah, ignorance. And I'm sure somewhere along the way, I may get some nasty comments on this recipe. But I don't care. It tastes amazing. Yup. Tofu can taste good. Even in desserts. So, if you're on the fence, give it a try. Here are my favorite tofu-friendly recipes:
To make this "cheesecake" I first used some natural peanut butter to make a delicious graham cracker crust (2 cups graham crackers -- well crushed in a food processor, 1/2 cup peanut butter, water as needed -- mix well and then press into a pie dish).
I then took a 15-ounce block of firm tofu (regular, not silken), drained it, and split it in half. One half was well blended (again in a food processor) with a small banana, 1/3 cup honey (I do eat honey), and a splash of vanilla to make the banana "cheesecake" . . . the other was blended with some melted vegan dark chocolate chips (about 1/4 cup), another 1/3-ish cup honey, and a splash of soy milk to make a chocolate "cheesecake."
(Carefully) Layer the two, chill . . . more than 15 minutes for firmer results, aaaaaaaaand you're done.
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15 comments:
Uh, I DIG this A LOT! Looks fantastic, I am going to give it a shot, maybe sometime this week. I can't stand tofu haters, esp when they haven't tried it...I grew up thinking this way and it's just so...silly, esp for an adult to have that sort of outlook. There are so many great foods out there people don't include in their worlds simply because they have a stipulation and are afraid to try. Glad you didn't and GLAD you shared!
Thanks bcgw! I'm so with you. I mean, yeah. Tofu can be pretty nasty if you don't prepare it correctly. But -- it soaks up the flavor of whatever you use it in. And I, for one, often crave the stuff!
I love tofu and I'm a rabid meat eater. Delicious! Also, I can't no-bake! I blogged about my non-skills last week. It's frustrating. Everything turns out slop: it never seems to set. Any tips?
Hmm. Stacey. Just read your post. I dunno. I have had that problem sometimes with recipes (they never firm up). I guess that is a moisture issue. Maybe try another one of those recipes again, and try adding less water-ish stuff? That's a total shot-in-the-dark kind of answer. It'd hard to tell. But I have indeed had that problem. For this specific recipe -- just make sure you drain the tofu as much as possible to eliminate extra water. <3
omg i love graham cracker crusts but i've never thought to use peanut butter instead of butter thats such a ridiculously good idea. I really like the idea of this but i don't eat tofu for various reasons any suggestions on something I could replace it with? (doesn't have to be vegan)
OMG. I have been craving cheesecake! This recipe looks so simple! The crust sounds amazing. I love peanut butter to death.
Oh, I meant to ask, are you and your husband both vegan? I tried to find out through reading your info but I couldn't find anything.
Hey, Christina! Thanks on the recipe. It's good. Let me know if you try it. Stephen and I have both been vegan for long stretches of time. We currently are not, however -- we try to eat a 80-percent-ish vegan diet. Because we like the food, it's healthier, and it's kinder. :) I know people will disagree, but it's hard for -- at least me -- to feel full when training for marathons on the vegan diet. I benefit with the cheese and a couple other dairy items. We'll see, though. Thinking about going back to vegan sometime in the future.
so do you consider honey vegan? I make muffins all the time and sometimes use honey for a sweetener. Would i still be able to call them vegan? I know there is a lot of debate about this... your opinion?
most def. bookmarking this recipe NOW. THAT LOOKS AND SOUNDS AMAZING! I do not really like honey though.. could you just omit it?
Katie -- My opinion is that honey is vegan. But if you want to be safe (and this is for Molly, too), use agave nectar or maple syrup instead. :)
This sounds amazing, I've been told that I have 2 blocks of tofu to use when I get back from uni and this sounds like a good way to use them. However will this work as well with a frozen then defrosted block of tofu or will that make it go weird?
This looks and sounds delicious! I wonder if you could use peanut butter Puffins cereal for the crust instead of graham crackers for extra peanut-buttery yummy-ness. I think I'll reward myself with this recipe after my half marathon on Sunday!
This cake looks amazing! I can't wait to try.
This looks ridiculously good!
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