When L. C. Finns contacted me and asked if I would like to try their line of flavor extracts I was excited. I looked on their website and discovered that they make all of their extracts small batch by hand, and they are made with real ingredients! Heck yes I wanted to try them. And even better, they are located very close to where I live! I am always up for supporting local companies, especially ones like this one that use real stuff in their products.
Another thing that caught my eye was the flavors that they make. Of course there was the vanilla extract, but they also have coffee, cardamom, anise, hibiscus, cinnamon, and ginger. I don’t think I have ever seen these flavors in natural form elsewhere. When the box arrived I could not wait to open it. I immediately had to smell them. They smelled amazing. The beautiful aromas making my nose happy. And, they were all full sized bottles, how generous! I was very grateful to receive such a gift.
I had to test them out in a few recipes, my Vegan Mocha Pumpkin Bread, and my Vegan Hazelnut Cardamom Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They contributed lovely flavors to both! I decided that I needed to create something even more spectacular with them, so I made a Vegan Gingerbread Cheesecake! About 10 years ago, I had made a gingerbread cheesecake for Christmas, and it was so good. I have never attempted to veganize it until now.
I was excited about this. I could use four of the flavor extracts in it, the vanilla, the cinnamon, the ginger and the anise. I made little vegan gingerbread cookies, then used those as the base of the cheesecake, then made a luscious cheesecake filling from coconut milk flavored with the same aromatic ingredients. This was going to be sooo good!
The extracts added a special little aromatic note to the cake, it was beautiful! Are you intrigued yet about these lovely extracts? Well, guess what? L. C. Finns was kind enough to let me do a giveaway of their products. One lucky winner will get a set of all seven extracts! So, scroll to the bottom of the page to enter (US residents only please)! Or, if you would like, you can purchase the extracts for yourself L. C. Finns website HERE. These would be perfect for Christmas presents or Christmas baking.
Vegan Gingerbread Cheesecake
Makes one 6 inch cake
Crust:
1 cup crushed vegan gingerbread cookies (recipe follows)
1 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
Filling:
1 cup gingerbread crumbs
2 15 oz cans full fat coconut milk
2/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tsp each L.C. Finns cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and anise extracts
2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1 1/2 cups coconut butter (not oil), warmed to liquid
Preheat the oven to 375F degrees. To make the crust, place the 2 cups gingerbread cookies in a food processor, and process until crumbs. Add the coconut oil, and pulse until it is well incorporated. Press the crust into the bottom of a 6 inch round deep springform cake pan. Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes until it is browning a little and set. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
Meanwhile, to make the filling, combine all ingredients but the coconut butter, in a high speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth. With the motor running, add the coconut butter and process a minute more (if it starts to get lumpy at all during the process it is just the fat separating because it is 2 different temperatures. Just continue to blend until it is smooth, and it will get warm so it will just have to chill longer). Pour the filling over the prepared crust, and place in the freezer to set for about 4 hours. Decorate with extra gingerbread cookies.
Mini Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
Makes about 50 mini cookies
1 Tbsp ground flax seed
3 Tbsp filtered water
2 1/4 cups gluten free all purpose flour
1/3 cup coconut sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1 tsp each L.C. Finns cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and anise extracts
In a small bowl, whisk together the flax seed and water and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and sea salt.
Whisk in the remaining ingredients, and the flax mixture until smooth. Scoop dough onto a piece of parchment, and sort of flatten with your hands. Place in the freezer for about 30-45 minutes, or until it is more firm and rollable.
Pre-heat the oven to 350F When ready to roll, flour a rolling pin, and roll the dough out 1/8 inch thick on a sheet of parchment. Cut into small shapes with a cookie cutter and place on two parchment lined baking sheets. Re-roll any scraps and cut them out as well (if at any time it gets too warm and sticky, place back in the freezer for 5-10 min).
Place cookies in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes until set, a little crispy, and starting to brown at the edges. Let cool completely. You will need to crush up 2 cups for the recipe, but reserve the rest for decorating or eating.
I have so many recipes that require coffee extract that I haven’t been able to try because I can’t find it! But I’m even more interested in the cardamom and hibiscus extracts. Those are two of my favorite flavors! With the cardamom extract I’d make vegan Earl Grey chocolate chip cookies or add it to a pear orange upside-down cake, and with the hibiscus I’d try adding it to one of your pretty fruity raw cheesecakes.
Love those ideas! That pear orange upside down cake sounds wonderful :)!
Hello Jacky,
Thanks for your interest in l.c. finns! You can get that coffee extract online…not sure where your located, but it may be in a store nearby. If not ask your favorite retailer to carry it.
I’d add them to everything! They sound wonderful for adding a twist to simple smoothies and baked goods. I’d especially like to use the cardamom one in a mango lassi.
That’s a great idea :)!
I am a very recent Vegan although I have been vegetarian for 30 years. Your Blog is beautiful and inspiring! This is the first I have seen of the L.C. Finns extracts but being a avid baker I will certainly be looking for them! They sound incredible as does your beautiful cheesecake! Thanks!
Thank you so much :)! These extracts are definitely worth checking out!
Unusual extracts! I’d be tempted to use the cardamom in a diffuser, because it smells so fresh. Fresh is the only word I’ve ever been able to come up with for it. I’d love a set to try ut! Thank you, Amy, for the recipe and the offer.
I love cardamom too, it smells clean ;). You are so welcome!
i think they sound wonderful! I think i would try the Vegan Gingerbread Cookies first and see how they turn out. Eventually I would try the cheesecake recipe Amy posted.
The cookies would be good just as is as well. You can always make them a little bigger too, just bake a little longer.
Yum! I am definitely going to make this for X-mas!! Thank you!!! You always make the best stuff!!! 🙂
Awesome! Thank you so much :)!
These extracts sound divine!! And your photos are just absolutely beautiful!! I love, love, love using extracts in my cooking, especially since I am sensitive to the starches in many spices. I would LOVE to win this giveaway!! And the first thing I make would be my favorite grain-free gingerbread cake. Though your gingerbread cheesecake is looking super tempting too! xx
Thank you so much Andrea! 🙂
I would use them when baking muffins and cakes!
That would be perfect!
i can’t believe i haven’t heard of lc finns extracts. i use extracts daily in my smoothies and baking. i would absolutely love to try these!! my first recipe would have to be a smoothie because i have one every day and i love different flavors.
i’d make cookies
It is wonderful in cookies!
I would try it in my flax oatmeal to add a little zing to it.
I should try that :)!
I’ve never heard of this brand and it sounds amazing! I’d use them in everything sweet, starting with vegan ice creams, and even in savory soups later.
It is an awesome brand :)!
Oh my goodness, this cheesecake looks amazing! Love the sound of these extracts too – I have a raw liquorice recipe that would be even better with some of this anise extract added 🙂
The anise would be perfect with those :)!
Looks like some great products and some baking time.
Vanilla extract -carrot cake loaf and banana nut muffins
Cardamom &Ginger extract -mom’s scones
Hibiscus -seems like it would be great to put in a smoothie or next thanksgiving’s cranberry sauce.
Thanks
Those are great ideas!
This recipe looks incredible. The extract giveaway is a nice bonus! Happy Holidays to you.
Thank you :)!Happy Holidays to you too!
Wow, these all look so good! I’d love to try them in my favorite Christmas cookie, my Italian grandmother’s spiced chocolate balls.
That sounds wonderful :)!
This cake looks amazing. Can’t wait to try. And thanks for sharing about the products!
Thank you :)!
I would love to make some tasty muffins for my family.
Ooh now I am hungry for muffins!
I’d make delicious flavored coconut water!!! 🙂
Sounds refreshing!
I would love to try these is some granola recipes !!! 😀
Sounds wonderful :)!
I might have to semi steal your idea, make a chai spiced cheesecake using those cardamom and cinnamon extracts!
That would be perfect :)!
What would you suggest to use since I do not yet have these extracts?
Just use a little more of each of the spices.
I would love to bake this cheesecake! Thanks.
I would use it to make raw crackers.
Lots of different cookies!
If you get your order in at lcfinns.com, I can get your extracts out quickly so you can get all of your holiday creations made!! Thanks Amy for doing such a wonderful job with the extracts! All your recipes look amazing and I’m sure taste even better!
You are welcome Lee, your extracts add something special to baked goods :)!
HONESTLY, I would give them to my 15yo son. He’s the cook in the house. ^_^ Ever since he saw your blog, cooking has become his favorite thing to do. I’d like him to make this cheescake!!! (Soon! ^_^)
That’s awesome! I did not cook at that age, very impressive that he enjoys it :)!
Wow! These extracts look amazing! I love your recipes Amy. That gingerbread cheesecake and ginger biscuits look too good not to try. 🙂
Thank you :)!
I’d love to use the extracts for the Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes that are my biggest addiction. For the holidays, I’ll jazz up the frosting to Gingerbread frosting.