These Raspberry No-Bake Paleo Cheesecake Bites are an easy, naturally sweetened dairy-free dessert!
A nutty, chewy crust is topped with a sweet, creamy raspberry filling.
You can even make a chocolate crust if you want!
Plus these Paleo cheesecake bites are vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free.
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I’ll automatically receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
Raspberry No-Bake Paleo Cheesecake Bites
It might seem impossible to make a “cheese”cake without any cheese.
And unlike some other dairy-free/vegan version, this doesn’t use tofu or vegan cream cheese.
Instead, all you have to do is blend up some cashews, coconut oil, raspberries and maple syrup. It’s amazing how once they set in the fridge, it becomes a sweet, creamy, slightly soft filling reminiscent of cheesecake – even people who eat dairy like these Paleo cheesecake bites!
The crust just needs almonds and dates but if you want a chocolate crust, you can also add some cacao powder.
What you need for Raspberry No-Bake Paleo Cheesecake Bites
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup almonds
- 3/4 cup pitted dates
- 1 cup cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours, then drained and rinsed (I tested this recipe with Anthony’s cashews)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled (I use refined coconut oil; if you use unrefined it might have a subtle coconut flavor)
- 1/2 cup packed fresh raspberries
- 1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons warm water
- 2 tablespoons cacao powder (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon total fine sea salt
Equipment:
- a food processor
- a small (1 tablespoon) ice cream/cookie scoop with a lever (optional but helpful; you could also just use a regular tablespoon)
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
- a measuring glass
- a silicone muffin pan (you can use a regular metal muffin pan but it might be harder to remove the cheesecake bites)
How to make Raspberry No-Bake Paleo Cheesecake Bites
Step 1: Soak the cashews. This makes them softer and easier to blend (and may make them easier to digest and more healthful). Just add them to a bowl and cover with about an inch of water. Let them soak for at least 2 hours but up to 4 hours is fine. Then drain and rinse well.
Step 2: Make the crust: Add the almonds and salt to the bowl of a food processor and blitz until you have fine crumbs. Then start adding the pitted dates, 3-4 at a time, down the feed tube and blitz until each batch is blended in before adding more. The mixture should end up somewhat sticky.
If you want a chocolate crust, you can also add 2 tablespoons of cacao powder to the almonds (do not use cocoa powder, it’s too bitter).
Step 3: Scoop 1 tablespoon* of the crust into each muffin cup and use your fingers to spread into an even layer. If you have any crust left over, you can use it like granola and sprinkle it over yogurt, ice cream, pancakes, waffles, etc.
Step 4: Wash the blade and wipe out the bowl.
Step 5: Make the filling. Add the soaked and drained cashews, melted and cooled coconut oil, raspberries, maple syrup, warm water, lemon juice and fine sea salt to the food processor. Blitz until you have a smooth, creamy mixture, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl every once in a while. It may take a few minutes to get the mixture totally smooth but have faith!
Step 6: Scoop about 3 tablespoons* of the filling into each muffin cup and spread into an even layer if necessary.
* This amount of crust and filling per muffin cup is what works for my muffin pan. You may need more or less depending on the dimensions of your muffin cups.
Step 7: Place the muffin pan in the fridge (if it’s silicone, place it on a baking sheet first to stabilize it) and let chill for at least 4 hours. Then just pop them out and enjoy! These are best eaten directly from the fridge but they can sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before they start to soften and get sticky.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I haven’t made these cheesecake bites with very many ingredients other than what’s listed in the recipe, but you have some options:
You can use honey instead of maple syrup.
You can use lime juice instead of lemon juice.
You can try other nuts in the crust like cashews or walnuts but I haven’t tried alternatives myself so I can’t guarantee the results.
These Paleo cheesecake bites can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Once you take the cheesecake bites out of the fridge, they’re fine for about 30 minutes or so before they start to soften. If you want to serve them at a party, you can freeze them first and then set them out in their frozen state so they last longer at room temperature.
To freeze them, remove the bites from the muffin pan. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, place the bites on the paper and place the whole sheet in the freezer. Once the bites are frozen (takes about 3-4 hours), wrap each one in plastic wrap and then place them all in a freezer-safe baggie or container.
You can eat the cheesecakes directly from the fridge (they won’t be hard, just a little firmer) but it’s best if you let them thaw in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
Once you take the cheesecake bites out of the fridge, they’re fine for about 30 minutes or so before they start to soften. If you want to serve them at a party, you can freeze them first and then set them out in their frozen state so they last longer at room temperature.
Other recipes you might like:
- No-Bake Key Lime Pie (Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)
- PB&J No-Bake Energy Bites (Paleo, vegan, nut-free)
- Blueberry Snack Cake (Paleo, gluten-free)
- 5-Ingredient Crumb Bars (Paleo, vegan, gluten-free)
Raspberry No-Bake Paleo Cheesecake Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews
- ¾ cup unsalted almonds
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, plus ¼ teaspoon, divided
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder (optional, for chocolate crust)
- ¾ cup pitted dates
- ½ cup raspberries
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
- ¼ cup 100% pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons warm water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Soak the cashews: add them to a bowl and cover with about an inch of water. Let them soak for at least 2 hours but up to 4 hours is fine. Then drain and rinse well.
- Make the crust: Add the almonds and salt to the bowl of a food processor and blitz until you have fine crumbs. Then start adding the pitted dates, 3-4 at a time, down the feed tube and blitz until each batch is blended in before adding more. The mixture should end up somewhat sticky.If you want a chocolate crust, you can also add 2 tablespoons of cacao powder to the almonds (do not use cocoa powder, it's too bitter).
- Scoop 1 tablespoon* of the crust into each muffin cup of a 12-cup silicone muffin pan (see notes) and use your fingers to spread into an even layer. Set the pan aside.(If you have any crust left over, you can use it like granola and sprinkle it over yogurt, ice cream, pancakes, waffles, etc.)
- Wash the blade and wipe out the bowl.
- Make the filling: Add the soaked and drained cashews, melted and cooled coconut oil, raspberries, maple syrup, warm water, lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt to the food processor. Blitz until you have a smooth, creamy mixture, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl every once in a while. It may take a few minutes to get the mixture totally smooth but have faith!
- Scoop about 3 tablespoons* of the filling into each muffin cup and spread into an even layer if necessary.
- Place the muffin pan in the fridge (if it's a silicone pan, place it on a baking sheet first to stabilize it) and let chill for at least 4 hours. Then just pop them out and enjoy! These are best eaten directly from the fridge but they can sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before they start to soften and get sticky.
Notes
- You can use honey instead of maple syrup.
- You can use lime juice instead of lemon juice.
- You can try other nuts in the crust like cashews or walnuts but I haven’t tried alternatives myself so I can’t guarantee the results.
- Do not use cocoa powder instead of cacao powder in the crust – it’ll be too bitter
Loren says
Perfect snack and dessert! Amazing and easy!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Thanks!
Stacey Crawford says
These are sweet & creamy bites of heaven! I’m wondering if I could try this with strawberries, as I have a bunch leftover right now?
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
I think that would be ok. I would suggest roughly chopping the strawberries so they’re about the same size as raspberries and then measuring out 1/2 cup. Let me know if you try it!
ChihYu says
Such delicious delightful bites! I LOVE the raspberry and especially the almond and date crust!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Thanks! Yeah, the crust is so easy but so good. 🙂