Never has it been accused of being a particularly fun occasion, but Passover can be an especially loathsome event for those who already must seek alternatives to mainstream fare. After one dreadful and nearly deadly week of subsisting on nothing but cardboard incarnate matzo smothered in sticky peanut butter many years ago, the ritual simply became too much for me to bear.

Yes, I’m a bad Jew, and I don’t observe Passover beyond the initial sedar. I now know that there are plenty of good eats to be had for Jewish vegans during this period of repentance… But not so much here. That isn’t to say that it’s a meaningless date to me in the least, and I do at least try not to tempt my slightly more pious family with my typical barrage of wheat-filled baked goods. At the end of the day, it’s simply a matter of favoring health, rather than adhering to a tradition that doesn’t quite resonate with me, and to each their own.

To that end, it was a matter of luck that one of the most recent recipes that ended up being cut from Vegan Desserts fits perfectly into the requirements for this wheat-free holiday; The fact that it happens to be delicious for the remaining 51 weeks of the year is an added bonus. Combining simple but pleasing flavors, easy to whip up, and the perfect size to feed a small dinner party, the recipe could also be doubled to accommodate a larger crowd… Or so that you can freeze leftover mini cheesecakes to snack on throughout the week.

Being a light drinker myself, I could have easily gone years without even knowing about the astringent citrus liqueur known as limoncello, had it not been for a friend’s request to make something with it. After doing a bit of research, through both reading and tasting, it turned out to be a whole lot like concentrated lemon juice with an extra kick. To allow this spirit to shine, a blank canvas like cheesecake seemed to be an excellent fit, and by making it into small bites, you can enjoy a little burst of flavor whenever you please.

Yield: Makes 12 Cheesecake Bites

Limoncello Cheesecake Bites

Consider these mini cheesecakes little bites of lemony sunshine. They're flourless and gluten-free so everyone can enjoy!

Ingredients

Almond Crust:

1/2 Cup Almond Meal
1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
2 Tablespoons Tapioca Flour
2 Tablespoons Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil, Melted

Limoncello Filling:

8 Ounces (1 Cup) Vegan Cream Cheese
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch [Not Appropriate for Passover] or Potato Starch
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 Cup Limoncello
1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 and lightly grease and flour 12 mini muffin cups.
For the crust, simply combine all of the ingredients to form a moist but crumbly mixture, and firmly press 1 tablespoon of this into the bottom of each mini muffin cup. Stash the pan in your freezer while you assemble the filling.
Beat together the cream cheese, corn starch, and sugar in your stand mixer on low speed, or with a wide spatula, until smooth. Pour in the limoncello and vanilla, mixing until thoroughly combined.
Distribute the filling between all of your crust-lined cupcakes, and bake for 15 – 20 minutes. Like a standard cheesecake, they will seem very loose when fresh out of the oven, but continue to firm up as they cool, so be careful not to over bake them. The cheesecake bites will puff significantly in the oven, but will fall as they cool.
After chilling in the fridge for at least an hour, slip a thin paring knife down the sides of each cheesecake bite and use it as a lever to remove them. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 178Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

What’s The Best Way To Use Kefir?

After quickly discovering that the plain Coconut Kefir wasn’t something I would be quick to drink on it’s own, I wasted no time in brainstorming other uses for it. Thinking along the “buttermilk” route first, I immediately thought of that classic breakfast staple, buttermilk pancakes.

And as one could imagine, they were perfectly tasty pancakes. Exciting, innovative, or creative…? Not so much. Such a simple interpretation of this ingredient just wouldn’t be enough to do it justice in my eyes.

What Does Kefir Taste Like, Anyway?

Going back to the drawing board, it was a challenge to brainstorm some dessert that would still highlight the unique flavor of the kefir.

Without sweetener, it can be quite sour, but when properly balanced, it’s tart, tangy, bright, and even refreshing.

Quickly realizing that any baked good would only detract from its bright tartness, the oven was out of the picture. Dreaming up a creamy, tangy concoction, in no time at all, I had exactly what I had been craving all along: Cheesecake.

Not just any cheesecake, of course.

Unlike most vegan cheesecakes, this one is easier, healthier, and just plain tastier. It’s…

Soy-free (no tofu!)
More affordable (skip those expensive dairy-free cream cheeses)
Low-sugar (lightly sweetened to bring out delicate nuances of the kefir)
Sophisticated but simple enough for any occasion

You could certainly dress it up with a vibrant fresh fruit sauce or decadent drizzle of ganache, but I’m happy enough with a light border of whipped coconut creme and some toasted coconut flakes on top.

Can’t Find Coconut Kefir?

A great substitute for coconut kefir is vegan coconut yogurt (plain, unsweetened) thinned with a little bit of water. It depends on the thickness of you brand; you want to aim for the viscosity of pancake batter.

Like all no-bake cheesecakes, the texture is perhaps not what you would first expect from such a treat, but I find that it’s instead much lighter and more refreshing than the traditional version.

Yield: Makes 10 - 12 Servings

No-Bake Coconut Kefir Cheesecake

Tart, tangy, light, and refreshing, this no-bake cheesecake is packed with healthy probiotics thanks to whole coconut kefit and yogurt.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 3 hours

Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

Cookie Crust:

10 Ounces Vegan Wafer Cookies*, to Make About 2 Cup Crumbs
6 Tablespoons Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil, Melted
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon (Optional)

Kefir Cheesecake Filling:

3/4 Cup Vanilla Coconut Milk Yogurt
2 Cups Plain, Unsweetened Coconut Kefir
1 Cup Full-Fat Coconut Milk
1 Tablespoon Agar Agar Powder
3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Arrowroot
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

First, finely crush your cookies so that they’re about the texture of almond meal, and mixing in the cinnamon if using. I find that a food processor helps to get a better texture, but you can also smash them in a sealed plastic bag with a rolling pin. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl, and stir in the melted vegan butter or coconut oil, making sure that you moisten all of the crumbs and leave no dry patches in the mixture.
Lightly grease a 10-inch round springform pan, and press the crumb mixture into the bottom, smoothing it out evenly with the bottom of a measuring cup or glass. Place it in the refrigerator for the time being.
In a medium saucepan, combine the coconut yogurt, coconut kefir, and coconut milk. Separately, mix together the agar, sugar, and arrowroot in a small dish, being careful to evenly distribute all of the dry ingredients. This will help to prevent lumps from forming. Slowly sprinkle this dry mixture into the saucepan while vigorously whisking, until you’re certain that it’s all been incorporated, and there are no clumps lurking on the bottom of the pan, too.
Turn on the stove to medium heat, and whisk occasionally (but don’t walk away!) as it comes up to temperature, until bubbles break on the surface and it feels significantly thickened. Turn off the heat, whisk in the vanilla, and retrieve your chilled crust. Pour the cooked filling into your springform pan, and tap it a few times on the counter to release any air bubbles and to even out the top.
Let cool COMPLETELY at room temperature before moving the cheesecake into your fridge to chill; Hastening this process will weaken the gel, and lead to weeping (from the filling, but you may feel like it too.) Chill for at least 3 hours before serving.