No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies
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No-bake strawberry cheesecake brownies are a healthy raw dessert recipe! The fudgy brownie layer is topped with a creamy strawberry cheesecake filling. It’s vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and made with no refined sugar. The recipe uses plant-based ingredients like dates, walnuts, coconut milk, almond flour, and cashews. This chocolate strawberry dessert is a great idea for Valentine’s Day!
Everyone loves a bouquet of roses, but chocolate covered strawberries make Valentine’s Day extra sweet! And when you want to get a little more fancy with it, these No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies are exactly what you need.
They contain the same delicious flavor of chocolate and strawberries, but elevated for an even tastier experience. It starts with a fudgy layer of raw brownies – made with wholesome ingredients like dates, almond flour, walnuts, and cocoa. Then, a creamy dairy-free strawberry cheesecake filling is poured on top. Lastly, they’re decorated with a cup of juicy diced strawberries.
Not only is this a healthy treat for Valentine’s Day, but it’s also perfect for summer months when the weather is warmer. Since it’s a no-bake dessert, there’s no oven needed! Plus, they’re freezer-friendly and you can store them for up to 3 months with no problem.
These strawberry cheesecake brownies are:
- No-bake, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free friendly
- Rich, sweet, tart, and creamy
- An easy raw dessert recipe
- Flourless & made with healthy ingredients
- Naturally sweetened with medjool dates & maple syrup
Ingredients in vegan strawberry cheesecake brownies
- Medjool dates: Dates are the main ingredient for the no-bake brownies. Soft dates will create a sticky dough and give you the best results. Don’t forget to remove the pits.
- Almond flour: This “flour” is made from finely ground almonds. It’s a healthy alternative to traditional refined flour.
- Walnuts: Use raw walnuts, not a salted or roasted variety.
- Cashews: Raw cashews are a key ingredient for the no-bake strawberry cheesecake layer. Make sure you soak them in water in order to help them blend easily.
- Coconut milk: Be sure to use canned full-fat coconut milk. You can find it in the Asian cuisine section of the grocery store.
- Cocoa powder: Cocoa creates the rich chocolate flavor for the raw brownies.
- Strawberries: Fresh strawberries are blended into the cheesecake filling and used as a topping. Ripe, deep red strawberries will create the best flavor and color.
- Maple syrup: The strawberry cheesecake filling is naturally sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar.
- Coconut oil: You can use a refined or unrefined variety. Unrefined coconut oil will have a subtle coconut flavor. Melt this ingredient before measuring it.
- Lemon juice: A splash of lemon juice creates a subtle tangy flavor that mimics real cheesecake.
- Vanilla extract: Add a dash of vanilla to sweeten both the raw brownies and raw cheesecake.
- Salt: Salt elevates the flavor of all other ingredients.
How to make raw strawberry cheesecake brownies
For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Prepare the no-bake brownies
First, line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Leave some of the paper hanging over the edges.
Prepare the no-bake strawberry cheesecake filling
In a bowl, add the raw cashews. Pour hot water over the cashews. Soak for 30 minutes, then drain the water.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Yes, this is an important step so don’t skip it. The cashews will absorb some of the water and become plump in size. This helps them blend smoothly, creating a creamy cheesecake layer.
Yes! If you don’t have any walnuts, you can swap them with raw almonds instead.
The cheesecake layer will naturally take on a light pink color if you use ripe, deep red strawberries. However, if you want a richer color, you can add 1 tsp red food coloring, 1 tbsp pitaya powder, or 1 tbsp beet root powder.
Let the brownies thaw for about 30 minutes. I recommend running a sharp knife under hot water for 15 seconds, then wiping it dry with a paper towel. The warmth of the knife will help you slice into the brownies.
How to store no-bake strawberry cheesecake brownies
After slicing the brownies, store them inside a tightly-sealed container in the freezer. You can enjoy them for up to 3 months.
If you try these No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!
PrintNo-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 5 hours
- Yield: 16 brownies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
No-bake strawberry cheesecake brownies are a healthy raw dessert recipe! The fudgy no-bake brownies are topped with a layer of dairy-free strawberry cheesecake. They’re vegan, gluten-free, flourless, and refined sugar-free. The recipe is made with medjool dates, cocoa, walnuts, almond flour, and coconut milk. These chocolate strawberry brownies are a fun Valentine’s Day dessert!
Ingredients
Brownies
- 2 cups medjool dates, tightly packed
- 1 and 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
Strawberry Cheesecake
- 2 cups raw cashews, soaked
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 cup strawberries, diced
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Strawberry Topping
- 1 cup strawberries, diced
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Leave some of the paper hanging over the edges.
- In a bowl, add the raw cashews. Pour hot water over the cashews. Soak for 30 minutes, then drain the water.
- In a food processor, add pitted medjool dates, almond flour, walnuts, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and salt. Blend until a crumbled, sticky dough is formed. You should be able to pinch the dough together with your fingers. If it is not sticky enough, add 1 tbsp maple syrup (or a few extra medjool dates) and blend again.
- Transfer brownie dough to the baking dish. Using clean hands or a silicone spatula, press the dough across the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
- In a food processor or blender, add soaked cashews, coconut milk, strawberries, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour strawberry cheesecake over the brownie dough. Add the diced strawberries on top.
- Chill brownies in the freezer for 4 hours (or overnight). Remove from the freezer and let thaw for 30 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!
Notes
- How to store: Store the brownies inside a sealed container in the freezer. Let thaw before enjoying. They will keep for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 398
- Sugar: 26g
- Fat: 26g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
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Hi there – the no-bake strawberry cheesecake brownies look delicious!
Do you think I can substitute cacao powder for the cocoa powder? If so, would I have to make any changes?
Thx
Hi Kathryn! Yes, you can use cacao powder ๐ No changes are necessary. Enjoy!