Rich and decadent vegan chocolate cheesecake made with a date and oat crust. Less than 10 ingredients and entirely vegan and gluten-free. Absolutely delicious and sweetened with dates and a little maple syrup.
You are in for a treat, my friend. If you love chocolate (my hand is up) and cheesecake (my hand is still up), then let me introduce you to the perfect vegan chocolate cheesecake bars. These were born from my love of both chocolate and cheesecake. My thought was – why not put them together?
These bars the perfectly sweet with Medjool dates in the crust and pure maple syrup in the filling. You know how some cheesecakes feel like a sugar bomb? These chocolate cheesecake bars are not that. They are super rich in chocolate flavor, but not sugary tasting.
Speaking of chocolate, I’m using Navitas Organic’s new Cacao Wafers in this recipe, and let me just say that I am completely blown away. They melt so well and are super rich in cacao flavor without being overly bitter. I highly recommend them for baking!
Navitas Organics Cacao Wafers are unsweetened and made with 100% cacao. Their wafer form makes it super convenient to measure and weigh. They even have a measurement conversion on the back of the package that tells you the number of wafers equivalent to an ounce.
This recipe is simple, just how I like it, requiring only 9 ingredients:
Dates, rolled oats, salt, cashews, coconut milk, cacao powder, dairy-free chocolate, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
Make these for a group or just for yourself. After all, chocolate is a form of self-care. They store well in the fridge for a few days, and in the freezer for up to a few weeks! The great news is these stay firm at room temperature for hours, so don’t worry about them melting if you make them for a party.
If you make this recipe, let me know how it goes! Leave a comment, rate it, or take a picture and tag it @livingwellwithnic on Instagram. I love seeing what you come up with. Cheers!
Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup Medjool dates (Joolies brand) pitted (about 10-12 dates)
- 1½ cups rolled oats
- 3 Tbs cacao powder
- ⅛ tsp salt
Filling
- 1½ cups raw cashews
- 1-2 Tbs lemon juice
- 3 Tbs water
- 1 (14-oz.) can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 cup dairy-free chocolate I used Navitas Organics Cacao Wafers
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Toppings (optional)
- melted chocolate
Instructions
Crust
- Add dates, oats, and cacao powder to a food processor and blend until a loose dough forms.
- Line a 9 x 9 baking pan with parchment paper and press the crust into the pan.
- Set aside while you making the filling.
Filling
- Add all filling ingredients to a blender and blend until very smooth.
- Pour the filling on top of the crust. Tap the pan a few times on your countertop to release any air bubbles.
- Place in the freezer for about an hour to set.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate, slice and enjoy!
