Raw Rose Pomegranate Dream Cake
I imagined a pale pink tinted cake accented with bright red pomegranate arils, but it ended up a little different than that. I was making my usual coconut base for a cheesecake, but I did not quite have enough coconut meat. No worries though, since I am resourceful I substituted red beet for one of the cups of coconut. I was going to use about 1 Tbsp of beet originally just to color the cake to make it a light pink color, but the cup of beet made it the most beautiful deep pink color! You could not taste the beet, and there is nothing wrong with getting a little extra veggies in even if it is dessert so it was a win all around.
Raw Rose Pomegranate Dream Cake
Makes one 6 inch cake
Crust:
1/2 cup raw sprouted buckwheat groats, dried in the dehydrator (or you may use 1/2 cup raw walnuts instead)
3/4 cup dried finely shredded coconut
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 tsp cardamom
2/3 cup soft medjool dates, pitted and chopped
Filling:
3 cups young coconut meat*
1 cup chopped raw red beet
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 cup raw coconut nectar or your choice of raw liquid sweetener
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract and seeds from half a vanilla bean
1 1/2 tsp rosewater
1/2 cup plus 3 Tbsp raw coconut butter (warmed to liquid)1 1/2 cups pomegranate seeds (divided)
dried roses for garnish
Lightly coat a 6 inch spring form removable bottom pans with coconut oil. To prepare the crust, process buckwheat, coconut and sea salt in a food processor until it is fine crumbs, then add the dates and process until the mixture holds together when squeezed between your fingers (if not holding together, add more dates). Firmly press crust into the bottom of the prepared pan, and set aside.
To make the filling, in a food processor combine coconut, beet, coconut water, coconut nectar, sea salt vanilla, rose, and blend until smooth and creamy. With the processor running, add the coconut butter, and process for a minute until blended.
To assemble cheesecake, pour half the filling over the crust, then sprinkle with a cup of the pomegranate seeds. Pour over the remaining filling then place the cheesecake in the freezer to firm up for about 4 hours until set before un-molding.
Garnish the top of the cake with the remaining pomegranate seeds around the top and bottom of the cake on the plate. Scatter a few dried roses around it as well. Store cake in the fridge.
*If you do not have access to young coconut meat, you can substitute 3 cups raw cashews soaked for 4 hours and drained for the coconut and filtered water for the coconut water.
