Lemon Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Lemon Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Makes 9 bars | 1 hour, chill 4 hours

Directions:

1. Soak the cashews in hot water for 10 minutes then drain and discard the water. Set aside.
2. Make the lemon curd. Combine the sugar and lemon zest in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. In another small bowl, mix the arrowroot powder with 4 tbsp of water. Set aside.
4. Add the lemon-sugar mixture, arrowroot mixture and lemon juice to a small pot and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the vegan butter and turmeric for colour, if desired. Start with a very small amount of turmeric and add more if needed; this small amount will not change the flavour of the lemon curd.
5. Transfer the lemon curd to a small heatproof bowl and press a piece of cling wrap onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
6. Make the crust. Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8″ square pan with parchment paper.
7. In a large bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter together.
8. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to press it into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
9. Make the filling. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
10. Blend the drained cashews, coconut cream, cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar and arrowroot powder in high-speed blender until thick and smooth; you will need to use the tamper.
11. Pour the filling onto the crust. Bake for 30 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and the middle is slightly jiggly. Turn the oven off and open the oven door slightly. Let the cheesecake sit in the warm oven for 1 hour.
12. Spread the lemon curd onto the cheesecake in an even layer. If you’d like a “swirl” pattern, use the back of a spoon to swirl 1–2 tbsp of coconut cream into the lemon curd. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
13. Let the cheesecake sit outside the fridge for 20 minutes to soften before serving.

Robin is the creator of the blog Greens, Eggs and Yams. Her passion is creating vegan and gluten-free foods that don’t compromise on taste. She loves being in the kitchen, creating recipes that everybody can enjoy!
IG: @greenseggsandyams