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Ingredients
- For the brownie layers:
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/3 cup cocoa or cacao powder
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup pitted dates
- For the cheesecake layer:
- 1 cup cashews, soaked 2 to 4 hours and drained
- 1/4 cup water or milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 30 drops liquid stevia (or 3 packets stevia or 2 tablespoons sugar of choice)
- Substitutions:
- Pecans: additional walnuts, or macadamia nuts or almonds
- Walnuts: additional pecans, or almonds or Brazil nuts
- Cacao powder: unsweetened cocoa powder or carob powder
- Dates: soft raisins
- Cashews: macadamia nuts
- Variations:
- Lower-Fat Cheesecake Brownies: Replace 1/2 cup of the walnuts with old-fashioned rolled oats. Replace 1/4 cup of the cashews in the cheesecake layer with plain or vanilla nondairy yogurt.
- Oil-Free Cheesecake Brownies: Replace the coconut oil in the cheesecake layer with coconut butter, adding extra water if needed to blend the mixture smoothly.
- Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies: Replace the water in the cheesecake layer with Raspberry Coulis (recipe can be found in Practically Raw Desserts), raspberry purée, or raspberry jam.
- Cheesecake-Stuffed Blondies: Use the recipe for Famous Five-Minute Blondies (recipe can be found in Practically Raw Desserts) in place of the brownie layer recipe above.
Preparation
Step 1
(Reprinted with permission from Practically Raw Desserts)
Brownie Layer: In a high-quality food processor, combine the pecans, walnuts, cacao powder, and salt, and pulse until finely ground (be careful not to overprocess). Add dates, 2 to 3 at a time, pulsing between additions until each date is well-incorporated and the mixture is sticky. Taste for sweetness, and add another date or some stevia if desired. Press half of the mixture (about 1 heaping cup) firmly and evenly into an 8-inch square baking pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper for easy removal. Place the pan in the freezer to chill. Set the other half of the mixture aside while you make the cheesecake layer.
Cheesecake Layer: In a high-speed blender, combine the cashews, water, coconut oil, lemon juice, vanilla, salt, and stevia and blend until smooth (you can add more water, a teaspoon at a time, as needed to help the mixture blend). Taste for sweetness and add more sweetener if desired.
Remove the pan from the freezer, and transfer the cheesecake mixture onto the brownie layer, spreading evenly with a spoon or spatula. Place the pan back in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours to let the cheesecake firm up. Once frozen, remove the pan again, and evenly scatter the remaining brownie mixture on top. Gently, but firmly, press the brownie bits into the cheesecake layer (you might still see the cheesecake underneath; that’s ok). Place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to a week (or freeze for up to a month). These chocolate cheesecake brownies are best served cold. Yield: 16 bars.
Raw Brownies Calories and Nutrition Facts Per Bar:
189 calories, 15g fat (3g saturated), 12g carbs, 3g fiber, 4g protein, 5 Weight Watchers Points Plus (Katie’s Note: The cookbook does include nutrition facts, but not Weight Watchers points.)