Encounters of the Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake Kind

I grew up eating Jell-O brand box cheesecake mixes.  I loved it and I thought that was what a cheesecake was all about.  Now... fastforward to the day I ate some REAL cheesecake, it was like being hit with a photon torpedo!

I've made cheesecake a few times and my hubby even took a crack at it once.  Needless to say you really have to work at getting the cream cheese and egg well blended or you come out with something that is like a big baked egg thing with lumps of cream cheese! This is no longer a problem, thank you Vitamix!!!!

So let's get to it, you don't want to read and endless ramble do you?  You just want to know how to make this delicious wheatfree confection of AMAZING!

I apologize for the photo.  Also I didn't use a springform pan so it got a little mangled when I was trying to get it out of the baking dish!  I didn't get pictures of the process of making it, I just didn't think of grabbing the camera or posting it online at the time.  It truly is wonderful though.  Enjoy!

Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake

Crust

1 1/2 cups - ground pecans (or walnuts)
4 Tablespoons - melted coconut oil (or butter)
2 teaspoons - xylitol or 1 drop liquid stevia ( I used Truvia baking mix at less then 2teaspoons)
2 teaspoons - unsweetened cocoa powder

Filling

16 oz. - cream cheese at room temp
3/4 cup - sour cream
3 eggs
1 Tablespoon - vanilla extract
1/2 cup - xylitol or 1/4 teaspoon liquid stevia or to desired sweetness ( Ok I did less then a 1/2 cup of Truvia baking mix and eyballed it)
1 1/4 cup - frozen sugar-free raspberries, pureed and strained*
1/4 cup - raspberries for garnish

Chocolate Glaze

1/4 cup - bittersweet (85% cocao) I just used dark chocolate Hershey's Morsels
2 Tablespoons - butter
1 teaspoon - milk or half & half ( I just used some canned coconut milk I had leftover from something else)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Make the crust by chopping the nuts and mix the butter or oil, sweetener and cocoa.  Press into the bottom of a 9" springform pan. Then bake for 10 minutes.

To make the filling.  With an electric mixer, beat all the ingredients (except raspberries) until smooth then stir in the pureed raspberries. Pour into the crust and bake for 40 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.

Cool completely on rack then refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove from springform pan an place on serving plate.  Glaze.

To make the glaze I placed chocolate chips, butter and coconut milk in a dish and melted it down in another pan of boiling water. Drizzle over the cooled cake.  Refrigerate for 30 mins or until glaze is set. Garnish with raspberries.

* Personal notes: I didn't puree or strain the raspberries since I threw everything for the filling into the Vitamix starting with liquids first and then hit the puree option. I also didn't drizzle the glaze I just smeared it on the top in a layer. I didn't have parchment paper to place under the cheesecake so I made the cheesecake in a round glass baking dish. Of course you can imagine how fun it is getting out the first piece without a proper pie server.  The picture may not show a beautiful, perfect piece BUT it was delicious!

The Vitamix Expanse

We have found ourselves adrift in the "Vitamix Expanse". 

After a meeting with the crew ( yeah ok it was my husband and I, but that doesn't really sound as fun now does it?), we decided to take the plunge.  He made the final call on the model and put an end to my almost OCD obsession with finding just the right one for the cheapest price.  I'm so happy he did, I'm a penny pincher and I admit that I can drive myself crazy and yes... I had made a spreadsheet.  Oh yes, yes I did. 

With a health scare too horrible to even talk about, I've been making changes over the last year and a half.  The Vitamix is going to help me build my immune system back up by helping me get more leafy greens, veggies and nutrients in my body.  A healthy immune system can heal the body on its own... without it, you will see all manner of symptoms pop up (which are categorized as different diseases).  I wont trip off into all that, I've learned a lot and it's easy to want go on about it!

Another GREAT reason for a Vitamix is the fact my hubby doesn't take the time to eat breakfast. To remedy that situation I've been mixing him up hearty smoothies in the mornings to get the nutrients and calories in him!  Take that! 

So far the journey into The Vitamix Expanse has us exploring smoothie options, but we've recently discovered gazpacho, guacamole, cheesecake and I've made some nut meal.  Oh the possibilities!

See next post for a wonderful Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake!