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Candy Cane Creme Sandwich Cheesecakes

Candy cane + creme sandwich cookies + cheesecake = delicious and festive holiday dessert.
Course Dessert
Servings 12 mini-cheesecakes
Author Tiffani Wells

Equipment

  • High-speed blender (or see notes for using a standard blender)
  • 12-cup muffin tin (standard sized)
  • 12 paper (or foil) cupcake-liners
  • Double boiler (or see notes for alternate options)
  • Food processor (or use pulse/chop option on blender)

Ingredients

For the crust...

  • 3/4 cup raw almonds or more as needed
  • 1/2 cup + 1/8 cup dates or more as needed
  • 2 Tbsp dairy-free chocolate chips or more to taste
  • 1 organic candy cane
  • pinch sea salt

For the filling...

  • 2 cups raw cashews soaked overnight *or at least four hours
  • 15 candy cane creme sandwich cookies (gluten-free if necessary) chopped *Ensure vegan
  • 1 can full fat coconut milk refrigerated for at least 24 hours
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice (start with less if using juice from fresh lemons) or more to taste
  • 1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup or more to taste
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch sea salt

For topping...

  • 1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp almond milk or non-dairy milk of choice
  • 1 Tbsp 100% pure maple syrup
  • 12 candy cane creme sandwich cookies, gluten-free if necessary ensure vegan
  • 1 organic candy cane

Instructions

  • Add both candy canes to your food processor fitted with the s-blade. Mix on high until broken into fine to small pieces (some will be powder). Transfer to a separate bowl or container.
  • Now add the remaining crust ingredients to your food processor. Pulse until mixture can be formed into a "dough" when pressed between two fingers. If the mixture is too dry, add more dates and if the mixture is too moist, add more almonds. Add one to two tablespoons of the blended candy cane to the crust mixture and pulse a few times. Taste mixture, if desired, and more chocolate chips or blended candy cane to taste.
  • Line muffin tin with cupcake liners. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup to form a firm bottom (you may have a little leftover). Transfer muffin tin with formed crusts into the fridge or freezer.
  • Set the chopped cookies aside. Open the can of refrigerated coconut milk and scoop out 3/4 cup of the cream (the solid part is the cream, save the rest for smoothies), add it to your blender along with all remaining filling ingredients. Blend on high until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Taste mixture. If more tartness is desired, add more lemon, if more sweetness is desired, add more maple syrup.
  • Remove the muffin tin from the fridge/freezer. Using a spoon, mix cookies into cheesecake filling. Pour filling into muffin cups. Place cheesecakes in the freezer overnight.
  • After cheesecakes have frozen, remove from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Carefully peel off cupcake liners.
  • Heat water in the bottom pan of a double boiler. Once boiling, turn heat to low and in the top pan add chocolate chips, milk, and maple syrup. Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
  • Glue a cookie to the top of each mini-cheesecake with a small spoonful of chocolate drizzle. Next, using a spoon, pastry bag, or squeeze bottle, drizzle more chocolate over the top of each cheesecake, then sprinkle with remaining candy cane.
  • Place cheesecakes in the fridge to let the chocolate set and the cheesecakes defrost completely (about one to two hours, or about 15 to 30 minutes at room temperature for defrosting).

Notes

*If using a standard blender, rather than high-speed, be sure to soak your cashews overnight. It will take several minutes for your mixture to get smooth. Be sure to scrape sides of blender often.
*If you do not have a double boiler, you can set a skillet over a similar sized sauce pan with added water, or float a metal mixing bowl into a sauce pan with water, hold in place with a pot holder. 
*For candy cane creme sandwich cookies, if gluten is not an issue, try Trader Joe's Joe-Joes or Walmart's Twist & Shouts, these are the two brands I have found. If gluten is an issue, try Mi-Del Candy Cane Cremes (I found these at Whole Foods). If trying brands other than these, be sure to check ingredients to ensure vegan, many gluten-free options are not. I've noticed some brands package less cookies than others (like the Mi-Del gluten-free cookies), and you will need two packs for a full batch of cheesecakes.