Raw Pretty in Pink Birthday Cheesecake

Yesterday, I turned 27.  However, I still feel as if I should be 21…as 27 is getting so close to 30!  This will not stop me however from acting younger than my age.  I never want to be boring, and I still like to do things like wear hello kitty kitty band-aids, run through sprinklers and have a pink birthday cake.

Yes, I had to have a pink Birthday cake!  I have been asked by so many people in the last week, “Shouldn’t someone else make your cake?”  or “You shouldn’t have to bake on your Birthday!”  My answer to that was, no one I know would be able to create the cake I wanted the exact way I wanted it.  Plus, making cakes is something I enjoy and shouldn’t I enjoy myself on my birthday?  Plus…technically I wasn’t baking it because it was a raw cheesecake.
I didn’t spend my entire day on it however, I also took the time to celebrate with family and a good friend going out to dinner at La Belle Vie, one of my favorite restaurants!

Because although I made my cake, I didn’t want to cook dinner on my birthday, and their food is excellent!  It was a wonderful time, and we all had a lot of fun!

Back to the birthday cheesecake…it had a pistachio crust, and the filling was vanilla rosewater scented with a layer of vanilla with lavender, then strawberry, and last raspberry.  It was beautiful naked, but since it was a birthday cake, I decided to pipe cashew coconut frosting around the cake to make it even more beautiful!

It was delicious as well, fragrant and rich…just as cheesecake should be.  I much enjoyed it, and it made me happy just looking at it knowing it was exactly the birthday cake I had dreamed of creating, plus even better!  Since I am not the type of person who wants a boring white birthday cake full of bleached flour and white sugar.  Real ingredients are what I find truly delicious.
Whoever made the rule that you can’t make your own birthday cake probably just didn’t feel like making one or didn’t know how to…making my own birthday cake is an experience I much enjoy, and will repeat for many years to come!

Raw Pretty in Pink Birthday Cheesecake
Makes one 6 inch cake

Crust:
3/4 cup shelled pistachios
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
3-4 soft medjool dates, pitted and chopped
Filling:
2 1/2 cups raw cashews (preferably soaked overnight and drained)
1/2 cup young coconut meat (or additional soaked cashews)
1/2 cup coconut water (or filtered water)
1 tsp rosewater
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup plus 3 Tbsp raw coconut nectar or maple syrup
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp coconut oil (warmed to liquid)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract and seeds from half a vanilla bean (other half reserved for topping)
1/2 cup fresh organic strawberries
1/2 cup fresh organic red raspberries
1 Tbsp organic lavender
Cream Topping:
3/4 cup raw cashew pieces (preferably soaked overnight)
1/2 cup coconut water
3/4 cup fresh young coconut meat (or additional soaked cashews if not available)
2 tablespoons raw coconut nectar or maple syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and seeds of half a vanilla bean (reserved from filling)
1/4 cup raw coconut oil (warmed to liquid)4-6 fresh organic raspberries

Lightly coat a 6 inch spring form removable bottom pans with coconut oil. To prepare the crust, process pistachios and sea salt in a food processor until the pistachios are fine crumbs, then add the dates and process until the mixture holds together when squeezed between your fingers. Firmly press crust into the bottom of the prepared pan, and set aside.
To make the filling, drain the cashews and combine them with coconut meat, coconut water, lemon juice, rosewater, nectar, coconut oil, sea salt and vanilla in a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Remove the filling from the food processor, and divide evenly between 3 bowls. Place 1/3 into the food processor and add 1/2 cup of strawberries. Puree until smooth and scrape back in the bowl. Add another 3rd of the filling to the food processor and add 1/2 cup raspberries, and puree until smooth. Add the lavender to the third bowl and stir in until combined.
To assemble the cheesecake, pour the vanilla lavender filling over the crust, then smooth to the sides.  Then the strawberry, then the raspberry. Place in the freezer until it is set, 4 to 6 hours, then once set store in the fridge.
To make topping, drain cashews and blend all ingredients until smooth in a food processor, then divide into 2 bowls.  Place one half back in the food processor and throw in about 4-6 raspberries, and blend (to tint pink).  Place back in the bowl and set bowls in the freezer about 30 minutes until a frosting consistency. Place the two frostings in pastry bags and pipe decoratively around the top and bottom of the cheesecake. Store leftover cake in the fridge.

 

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Comments

56 responses to “Raw Pretty in Pink Birthday Cheesecake”

  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    OMG. That looks AMAZING!! Happy Birthday!!!

  2. Ellen B Cookery Avatar

    Happy Birthday! Remember, you’re never to old to have fun and do the things you enjoy! I love the cake!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you :)! I completely agree!

  3. Starr Avatar

    Gorgeous cake! I love raw cheesecake and will definitely be trying your recipe.

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you :)! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

  4. Anita at Hungry Couple Avatar

    Happy birthday! The cake is certainly stunning.

  5. Javelin Warrior Avatar

    Wow, you made your own birthday cake! It’s so beautiful (as ever) and the cream topping is so lovely, Amy… Happy Birthday and it looks like it was a marvelous day!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks so much :)! I can say it tasted just as good as it looked as well ;)!

  6. Richa Avatar

    Happy Birthday! Hope you are having an amazing day! that is another yummylicious cake!
    Please keep your calendar empty for third week of October, coz you have to either send me the cake or come over and make me one!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks Richa! I did have an amazing day :)! I wish I could send you a cake ;)!

  7. Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} Avatar

    Happy belated birthday Amy. The cheesecake is so pretty and love that you added a pistashio crust. All the flavour combos sound amazing too, lavender, strawberries, raspberries, coconut oil & water, rosewater, lemon juice… wow! I can imagine it to certainly be a fragrant cake!

    -Lisa.
    Sweet 2 Eat Baking

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks Lisa :)! It was wonderful, and smelled amazing! Wish you could try some ;)!

  8. Heather Pace Avatar

    Happy Birthday! What a beautiful cake. I’ve made my own raw cakes before too since there was no where to a buy a raw one. And yeah, gotta stay forever young!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you :)! Home made is best anyhow ;)! I completely agree!

  9. Sweet Faery Avatar

    What an amazing raw cake! I so want to try it now, thanks for sharing!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you, and thanks for visiting :)!

  10. Note Etc. Avatar

    HI Amy.. your Birthday Cake looks Darn Cute!! the color gradations so fabulous and you look so lovely wit h your floral dress so glad to be your newest folower 🙂

    Cheers

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks so much :)! Thanks for the follow as well, happy to have you!

  11. Jill @ MadAboutMacarons Avatar

    Happy Birthday to you, Amy! Gosh, no wonder you wanted to make your own cake when you see this beauty. What a filling and with all the extras. What a masterpiece. Cheers to many more of your sweet adventures!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks so much Jill :)!

  12. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Just wondering where you have been able to find young coconut meat?

    1. Amy Avatar

      I bought mine at Whole Foods, but you can find it at many natural foods stores, or at Asian Markets.

  13. stang05 Avatar

    A very Happy Birthday to you…looks like a wonderful time! I also make my own B’day cake,,,first because none of my family bake or uncoook and second none are raw/vegan. And also like you I get what I want and I love doing it. Your B’day cheesecake looks absolutely wonderful 🙂

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you :)! Glad to hear you make your own as well, so much fun!

  14. Awkward Kitchenette Avatar

    It’s beautiful, happy birthday!

  15. Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking Avatar

    The cake is absolutely stunning Amy! Once again, happy birthday! Enjoy your 20’s as much as you can. 30’s are even better!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks Roxana :)! I know I will be able to enjoy myself whatever the age ;)!

  16. Monet Avatar

    Hi sweet girl…what a beautiful looking cake for a beautiful girl. I hope you are having a wonderful start to your new year.

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks Monet :)! I certainly am!

  17. Kim - Liv Life Avatar

    Happy, Happy Birthday to my friend across the country! We are exactly 20 years and one day apart in birth.
    I’m with you on making our own cakes… I do that almost yearly, except when my cake maker neighbor steps up and brings me my favorite coconut cake… or lemon cake… or chocolate lined with raspberries for that matter.
    As I share my birthday with my son though, the last 16 years have been his choice, and this year it was cheesecake too, though his was cooked and vanilla and chocolate.
    Love the raw version here, and I’m loving the colors you have. So brilliant and beautiful.
    Happy Birthday Amy!!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks Kim :)! Awesome that our B-days are so close! I have to cool neighbors like you to bring me cakes, you are lucky ;). Your son has good tastes in B-day cake! Thank you for the lovely compliments :)!

  18. Baker Street Avatar

    Ooh! My birthday is coming up in a few months and you’re invited! (I’m expecting you to make me a cheesecake! This decadent pink one is a treat to the eyes too!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you :)! You deserve a wonderful cake on your B-day too!

  19. Guru Uru Avatar

    Happy Birthday my friend 😀
    This cake looks absolutely incredible – but everything you make does 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  20. Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. Avatar

    It is so so pretty!! Happy Belated Birthday!

  21. Happy When Not Hungry Avatar

    What a beautiful cheesecake! Looks delicious!

  22. Emily Avatar

    Happy Birthday! Your cake is beautiful!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks Emily :)!

  23. Foodie Stuntman Avatar

    Sounds like you had a great time on your birthday and I’m impressed by this cake!

  24. Katharina Avatar

    Wow! Happy belated birthday. On top of this being such a lovely cake (and could totally be appropriate for Marie Antoinette as well), I love that you created this on your birthday 😀 I like to prepare things for my birthday as well, and it mostly comes from being able to share delicious and special things with other people 🙂

    xoxo!

    p.s. came across your blog looking for a raw vegan cream recipe, and so glad I stumbled upon it!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you :)! Also, thanks for visiting! I am glad you came across my blog, I have lots of raw vegan cakes here!

  25. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    you are truly a culinary artist! Thank you for offering such RAWfully delicious gifts to us!

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thanks so much Stephanie :)!

  26. Amy Avatar

    Thank you, and thanks for visiting :)! Me too! I am addicted to them ;)!

  27. Kathy Avatar

    My birthday is in August; I can’t wait to try this! Oh, and I’ll be 57 but still feel 21. What is it about that age? I would never want to BE 21 again, but don’t feel 50-something at all.

    1. Amy Avatar

      This cake is good for any woman 5 t0 105 ;). I still feel 21 as well, I hope I do when I am 57 like you :)! I hope you do try the cake!

  28. Celeste Avatar

    I love this cake! I am trying it for my birthday 🙂 I have a awful sweet tooth but I am trying to do more things raw! Its a beautiful cake. I love the girly pink colors and the decorating.

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you :)! You should make it for your B-day!

  29. Anna James Avatar

    You ares so talented! Happy Birthday and if you make it to 30 don’t regret it, it only gets better as you age. By the way where can I find young coconut meat? You should make videos to show how to do all these wonderful cakes.

    1. Amy Avatar

      Thank you :)! My Birthday is actually tomorrow, this is from last year ;). You can get it at Asian markets. But if you can’t find it use additional soaked cashews.

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