Vegan Classic Cheesecake

Prep time: 35 mins
Cook time: 2 hrs
Total time: 3 hrs
Yield: serves 10 people

Ingredients:

Crust

Cooking spray

18 sheets graham crackers (2 sleeves)

3 Tbsp sugar

3 Tbsp vegan margarine

Filling

1 ½ lb(s) extra-firm silken tofu, strained

1 lb(s) vegan cream cheese

1 ½ cups sugar

1 Tbsp cornstarch

1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract

1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice + 1 Tbsp finely grated lemon zest (about 2 lemons)

1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice + 1 Tbsp finely grated orange zest (about 1 orange)

Topping are your choice, I suggest berries or caramel syrup.

Directions:

Crust

Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350ºF.
Spray a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Add the graham crackers and sugar to the bowl of a food processor and process until fine crumbs form (you should have about 1 1/2 cups). Add the margarine and 2 tablespoons water to a measuring cup and melt in the microwave; add to the crumbs and blend until the mixture looks like wet sand. Pour the crumb mixture into the prepared pan; press it evenly into the bottom and use a measuring cup to smooth it evenly about 2 inches up the side. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.

Filling

Add the tofu to the cleaned bowl of the food processor and process until smooth and very fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vegan cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, lemon juice and zest and orange juice and zest and process again until smooth and combined, 2 minutes more. Pour onto the cooled crust.

Topping

Bake the cheesecake until the outside is set but the center is still a bit loose, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave the cake in for 30 minutes more. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely on a rack; cover and refrigerate overnight. About 30 minutes prior to serving, remove the cake from the refrigerator (if it weeps overnight, gently dab the top with a clean paper towel). Remove the springform ring, top the cheesecake with the toppings of your choice and serve.

ENJOY!!!