Cheesecake has always been a firm favourite when it comes to dessert, there’s just something very satisfying about the combination of a crunchy base with a thick, creamy layer with a sweet, fruity topping. But cheesecake is unhealthy right? Well, this isn’t any cheesecake, this is a gluten-free protein cheesecake!
Being wheat intolerant and a health nut when it comes to food, plus with it being autumn now, I wanted to utilise my love for pumpkin and create a clean eating version of this traditional treat. The miracle ingredient of tofu in this filling mix results in a creamy texture but much higher in protein, lower in carbs and works fantastically with pumpkin. With the addition of a cheeky but guilt-free chocolate caramel sauce swirled in, the result is a pretty dessert ideal for the colder, darker months ahead!
We love to see your versions of our recipes – be sure to share your photos of this protein cheesecake recipe with us via Twitter (@TrainEatGain).
[separator style_type=’single’ top_margin=’15’ bottom_margin=’30’ sep_color=’#ededed’ icon=” width=” class=” id=”]
Ingredients
Servings: 8-10 slices
Macros*: Calories 135 kcal, Protein 7.7g, Carbs 6.8g, Fat 8.5g
Base:
- ¾ cup gluten-free oats
- ½ cup ground almonds
- 2 tbsp Sweet Freedom (or agave syrup)
- Pinch of ground cinnamon and mixed spice
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
Filling:
- 1 x pack of silken tofu (about 300g)
- 1 x can unsweetened pumpkin puree
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tbsp coconut flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup stevia
- ¼ tsp each of cinnamon, mixed spice and nutmeg
- 2 eggs
Chocolate Swirl Sauce:
- 2 tbsp Walden Farms caramel syrup
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
[separator style_type=’single’ top_margin=’15’ bottom_margin=’30’ sep_color=’#ededed’ icon=” width=” class=” id=”]
Method
- Preheat the oven to 190°C (375F) and grease a loose-bottomed spring-form cake tin with coconut oil.
- Make the base: Put the oats, ground almonds and spices in a bowl. Melt the coconut oil and Sweet Freedom then stir until you get a sticky mixture that holds together. Press into the tin evenly then bake for 5-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile put all of the filling ingredients into a blender and whizz until well combined.
- For the chocolate swirl mixture, simply whisk together the Walden Farms syrup with the cacao powder until you get a smooth sauce and it’s a nice chocolate colour.
- Remove your base from the oven, pour in the pumpkin mixture then add dollops of the chocolate mixture and swirl to create a pattern. Return to the oven and continue baking for another 25-30 minutes until set.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool, then keep in the fridge until needed. When ready to serve, remove from tin, slice up and enjoy!
[separator style_type=’single’ top_margin=’15’ bottom_margin=’30’ sep_color=’#ededed’ icon=” width=” class=” id=”]
*Note: Macros are given per slice assuming 10 slices per cheesecake