A rich and creamy, no-bake vegan cheesecake with fresh Meyer lemon juice, a cashew filling and a simple almond-coconut crust. Equipment needed:food processor, blender and 9-inch springform pan; if making the whipped topping you'll also need a mixer
Place the cashews in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Soak 30 minutes to 1 hour, then drain and pat dry.
Make the crust:
Combine the dates, almonds, coconut, coconut oil, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the ingredients are a uniform, coarse crumb texture. Stop to scrape down the sides as needed.
Lightly oil the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (leak-proof) springform pan. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the pan, packing it down firmly. Refrigerate crust until the filling is ready.
Make the filling:
Combine all of the filling ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until completely smooth. **If you don't have a high speed blender, try blending the filling in batches, or see note above in post about substituting raw cashew butter.
Taste for sweetness and lemon and adjust as desired. Pour onto the prepared crust. Freeze, uncovered, until completely cool. Then cover and freeze several more hours or overnight.
Straight from the freezer the cheesecake will be very firm. It needs to soften before serving. Let sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes or in the refrigerator for an hour.
Make the aquafaba whipped topping:
Just before serving:Combine the aquafaba and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. With the mixer running, slowly add the sugar one spoonful at a time. Then add the vegan jell-o, if using. Spoon the whipped aquafaba onto the cheesecake just before serving. See Notes for tips on working with aquafaba.
Notes
If left to stand at room temperature, moisture will weep from the whipped aquafaba. This is why it's best to dollop it onto the cheesecake just before serving or onto individual slices, just as you would with whipped cream.
Avoid freezing the whipped topping.
Leftover cheesecake can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days or re-frozen for a longer period.