Turtle Cheesecake Squares (Grain and Dairy Free)

Turtle Cheesecake Squares

My friend, Lauren from Mindful Mama, told me she made something that I just had to have. She knows how much I love cheesecake (my fav!), but she said this was no ordinary cheesecake. This was turtle cheesecake and it was grain and dairy free and would knock my socks off.

When Lauren says it will knock my socks off, I believe her. After all, she is the genius behind one of our favorite meals of the summer, the Italian Chicken Lasagna using zucchini as the noodles. She also created the easiest cauliflower pizza recipe ever and I can’t wait to share my favorite pizza recipe with you using her crust recipe as the crust. Let me tell you, that Italian mama can cook.

So she shared her turtle cheesecake recipe with me, I made it, and yes, I got my socks knocked off just like she said. These turtle cheesecake squares are so rich, creamy and decadent and tasted just like the old favorite (even better, actually!).

She is so generously sharing her recipe with all of you and I can’t wait for you to try it. It’ll knock your socks off, too! Please don’t forget to visit her blog for other goodies and connect with her page on facebook.

Who doesn’t love turtle? And turtle cheesecake is a whole other level of delight.  This grain-free, refined sugar-free ‘Turtle Cheesecake Squares’ are absolutely decadent.  There are three steps to making them, but all it requires is a food processor and you’re golden.  No turning that oven on for these.  If you have never enjoyed the absolute silkiness of cashews as a ‘cream cheese’, here is your chance to be blown away.  This dessert will wow any guest you entertain, little and big mouths alike.

Turtle Cheesecake Squares (Grain and Dairy Free)

 

Author:

Lauren from Mindful Mama

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Ingredients

• Crust
• ½ cup dates, pitted
• ¼ cup unsweetened coconut
• ⅔ cup pecans (or any combo almonds/pecan/walnut)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• pinch sea salt
• Filling
• 1¾ cup raw cashews (soaked first in water for 4 hours, drained)
• ⅓ cup coconut oil
• ⅓ cup raw cacoa/cocoa
• ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Topping
• 1 tablespoon butter or ghee (use coconut oil for dairy free)
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

1. Crust
2. Combine all crust ingredient in food processor until fine crumbles.
3. Brush tart pan (I used a 4x14 rectangle) with coconut oil and press crumble into pan evenly. Stick in freezer to harden.
4. Filling
5. Put drained cashews with all other filling ingredients in food processor, mixing until very smooth.
6. Topping
7. Heat topping ingredients on low on stovetop until bubbling and thickened (few minutes), stirring continually.
8. Assemble by pouring filling into frozen crust and spreading caramel nuts over the top. Push nuts down gently into filling. Freeze for 3-4 hours until firm and ready. Enjoy! (Keep in freezer until serving)

3.2.2045

Meet Lauren from Mindful Mama!

Lauren is emergency department RN, doula and soon to be nutritional therapy consultant. Her heart is to encourage mothers to greater mindfulness in their decisions related to their family’s health. Her experience and growth in natural health has come primarily from mothering her three beautiful young children. Growing up in an Italian family she is passionate about real food– that tastes delicious! Currently her family is following the GAPS diet in order to address digestive symptoms and other lingering health problems.  Her and her counseling husband are planning on living overseas as missionaries in the next couple years, where she aspires to support international workers in maintaining healthy lifestyles. She presently lives in upstate NY, near family and friends, enjoying time together before her family moves overseas.  Visit her at www.mindfulmama.org and connect with her on Facebook and Pinterest.