I’ve wanted to make a vegan cheesecake for a while now. My Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cheesecake is one of my most popular non-vegan recipes on my blog, so I thought it was only fair that I made a Vegan Chocolate Orange Cheesecake so everybody can enjoy this delicious treat! Most vegan recipes are super healthy, which is great, but I decided to make this more of a indulgent treat by adding a bourbon biscuit base!
For those not residing in the UK, a bourbon biscuit is a chocolate biscuit filled with a chocolate creme. They are also vegan friendly! (Do check the label before you buy, but most bourbons are free from animal products.) I also made my own chocolate orange segments using dark chocolate, orange extract and a segment shaped mould – it was easy to do and really made the Vegan Chocolate Orange Cheesecake extra special!
How to make a Vegan Chocolate Orange Cheesecake…
I started with the bourbon biscuit base. Using my food processor, I whizzed up the biscuits into crumbs, added melted dairy free butter, and pressed the mixture into the bottom of the tin. It went into the fridge to set.
To make the filling I mixed together the cashews (which I’d soaked in water for 2 hours), orange juice, orange extract, cocoa powder, maple syrup and coconut milk. You really need a good food processor to make the filling super smooth. I blended it in my NutriBullet in two batches, then mixed it all together in a bowl. Then I added the melted coconut oil in stages, mixing it well between each addition.
I poured the filling into the tin and smoothed it on top. It went in the freezer to set overnight.
I made the chocolate orange segments by melting the dark chocolate, then stirring in the orange extract and golden syrup, and pouring it into the mould. I left it to set in the fridge, then popped them out when they were done. I’m far too lazy to temper chocolate, but if you did it would give them a lovely shine!
Once the Vegan Chocolate Orange Cheesecake was set, I let it come to fridge temperature so it was easier to slice. Then I decorated it with some melted dark chocolate. I added the chocolate orange segments and some orange zest and it was ready to serve.
Tips for making the Vegan Chocolate Orange Cheesecake:
- If you can’t find bourbon biscuits for the base, you can use oreos instead, or vegan suitable digestive biscuits. If you are using a biscuit that doesn’t have a creme centre, you may need extra dairy free butter.
- The cheesecake can be re-frozen after it has set – I recommended slicing it into portions beforehand – then you can defrost as required!
- Instead of maple syrup, you could use agave nectar or another liquid sweetener.
Recommended equipment & ingredients*
| 23cm Springform tin | Mixing bowls | Cooling rack |
| Kitchen scales | Citrus juicer | Zester |
| Orange segment mould | Food processor |
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The Vegan Chocolate Orange Cheesecake was super creamy, packed with chocolate orange flavour and super fresh and delicious! The dark chocolate segments were really yummy too, with lots of orange flavour! I was so pleased with how this turned out, and I think it would really impress at a dinner party. It’d also be sooo delicious with a dollop of coconut cream! I’ve tested this out on non-vegans and they loved it too!
More vegan cheesecake recipes…
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| Vanilla Cheesecake | Vegan Neapolitan Cheesecake Bars |
Ingredients
For the base
- 300 g Bourbon chocolate biscuits or Oreos if not available
- 90 g Dairy free butter
For the filling
- 500 g Cashews soaked in water for 2 hours
- 200 g Maple Syrup
- 235 ml Coconut milk
- 40 g Cocoa Powder
- 100 ml Orange juice (1 orange)
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Orange extract
- 140 g Coconut oil melted
For the chocolate orange segments (makes 12)
- 150 g Dark chocolate melted
- 1 1/2 tsp Orange extract
- 1 tsp Golden syrup
For decoration
- 1 Orange zest only
- 40 g Dark chocolate melted
Instructions
- Start with the biscuit base. Whiz up the biscuits into crumbs, add melted dairy free butter to the crumbs and mix together
- Press the mixture into the bottom of a 23cm springform tin using the back of a spoon. Put it in the fridge to set
- To make the filling, mix together the cashews, orange juice, orange extract, cocoa powder, maple syrup and coconut milk
- Use a food processor to make the ingredients into a super smooth mixture
- Add the melted coconut oil in stages, mixing it well between each addition
- Pour the filling into the tin and smooth it on top. Put it in the freezer to set overnight or for at least 4 hours
- Make the chocolate orange segments by stirring the orange extract and golden syrup into the melted dark chocolate and pouring it into the mould. Set in the fridge, then pop out and store until ready to decorate
- Once the cheesecake is set, decorate it with some melted dark chocolate drizzled on top, the chocolate orange segments and some orange zest
- To serve, let it come to fridge temperature so it is easier to slice, it's also nicer to eat at fridge temperature. It must be stored in the fridge to keep it set. Portions can be frozen and eaten within a month
If you like this, check out more of my Vegan recipes!
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What can I say? Not only healthy and vegan, but also stunningly presented! When I looked at the first photo I thought ‘chocolate orange’s have changed?!’ Then I read you had made your own! How clever are you?!
Haha thank you!
This looks beautiful and sounds amazing! We’re not vegan but eat loads of vegan food. I look forward to giving this a go! x
Let me know how it goes!
Looks quite tasty!!! Thanks for bringing this recipe to Fiesta Friday.
Thank you!
Such a pretty looking cheesecake. Chocolate and orange is always a good combination. Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare
I agree, thank you!
Chocolate and orange are one my favorite sweet combinations. Thank you for sharing your delicious cake at Fiesta Friday!
Me too, thank you!
I think I have only made one vegan cake in my life. This looks great and I love the orange and chocolate combination, the chocolate segments looks great 🙂
Thank you Petra!
So beautiful! I would have to save up all my fats for the day for a slice of this baby! I love the orange segments!
Thank you so much!
Chocolate and Orange is one of my fave combinations, looks delish ?
Me too Helen, thank you!
I’ve been wanting to try vegan cheesecake for a while and yours is the first recipe that sounds simple to make as well as looking delicious of course! I hope my blender is up to the job! Will be giving it a go soon.
Thank you Lucy! It was really simple to make, let me know how it goes!
Wow, I can’t believe you made your own chocolate orange segments – looks store-bought (that’s a compliment) Your cheesecake looks delicious and beautifully decorated as usual.
Thank you so much Lily!
Your cheesecake sounds super scrummilicious Kat. And I’m super impressed that you made your own chocolate orange segments too. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa.
Thank you! 🙂
Oh gosh Kat, your cheesecake looks absolutely divine! I had no idea Oreos and Bourbons were dairy and egg-free! You learn every day 🙂 I love the fact you even made your cute little chocolate orange slices – it’s all in the little touches, isn’t it? xx Thanks for joining in with #FreeFromFridays.
Thank you so much Mel! I’m so glad making my own segments was worth it 😀
Wow Kat!! When I saw your pictures the other day I wondered where on earth you’d found the vegan chocolate orange segments – but now I know that you made your own! Genius! I love this it sounds amazing !
Angela x
Thank you Angela!
Right! first of all I need that chocolate mould in my life! Secondly I need to make this cake…just for me. I love, love, LOVE chocolate and orange and you have made me one happy lassy!
Oh I’m so glad Rebecca! I hope you get to make this for yourself soon 🙂