Strawberry coconut cheesecake bars | a vegan no-bake recipe
If you love coconuts and strawberries, you will fall in love with these strawberry coconut cheesecake bars. As you know I love everything with coconuts. I use a lot of coconut milk in my sweet desserts, but also in my main dishes. I make delicious homemade coconut milk, I love coconut water, as it’s so refreshing and healthy and the coconut meat is very tasty as well.
You can make so many delicious dishes with coconuts, from cocktails (think Piña Colada) to curry rice. Coconut improves the taste of almost every meal in my opinion. And it goes so well with strawberries, this combo is really amazing. Try it and you will understand what I am talking about.
This dessert is not only vegan it’s also:
- Gluten free
- Paleo friendly
- No-bake
- Creamy
- Fruity
- Dairy-free
- Egg-free
- Refined sugar-free
Easy to make fruity strawberry coconut cheesecake bars
This recipe not only tastes delicious, but it’s also very easy to make. I used five ingredients for the crust of these bars: Peanuts, dates, oats, maple syrup, and vanilla. You can use cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or almonds instead of peanuts. The coconut cream contains cashews, coconut milk, coconut meat, maple syrup (you can use any other liquid sweetener like raw agave), vanilla and fresh strawberries (in the pink layer). Decorate your vegan strawberry coconut cheesecake bars with strawberry slices.
Do you like using coconut in your desserts or maybe even in your savory dishes? Let me know if you are also a coconut lover. And if you try out these delicious bars, please report back and tell me if you liked them.
This dessert is a no-bake recipe which means it goes in the freezer and not in the oven. But it has to stay in the freezer for at least 3 hours until it’s completely set. I used a 4 x 8.5 inch (11 x 22 cm) baking pan for this dessert. I store these delicious bars in the freezer and let them thaw for about 15 minutes before I enjoy them.
Strawberry Coconut Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1/2 cup (80 g) whole peanuts (or any other nuts)
- 10-12 small (80 g) dates (deglet nour)
- 1/2 cup (45 g) oats (gluten-free if needed, or use almond flour for paleo version)
- 1/2 tbsp (10 g) maple syrup (or any other sweetener)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Coconut cream:
- 2/3 cup (100 g) cashews soaked
- 1/2 cup (120 g) coconut milk canned
- 1 cup (100 g) grated coconut meat
- 1/4 cup (80 g) maple syrup (or any other liquid sweetener)
- 1 cup (150 g) strawberries, halves
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Soak cashews overnight or for at least 3 hours. It's also possible to boil the cashews on low heat for about 15 minutes until they are soft.
- Blend the ingredients for the crust in your food processor (pulse about 10-20 seconds and spread the crust in a lined (or greased) 4 x 8.5 inch (11 x 22 cm) baking pan. Put it in the freezer.
- Now blend all ingredients, except the strawberries, of the coconut cream in your high-speed blender. Spread 1/3 of the cream on the crust and put it in the freezer for about half an hour.
- Put 1/3 of the coconut cream aside (you will need it later) and blend the remaining 1/3 of the coconut cream with the strawberries in your high-speed blender. Pour the strawberry cream over the first coconut layer. Add some chunks of strawberries on top (optional). Transfer it again to the freezer for about half an hour.
- Finally, pour the remaining coconut cream on top. Decorate with strawberry slices and transfer it to the freezer for at least 3 hours.
- Let the bars thaw (about 15 minutes) before you enjoy them.
Notes
- The recipe makes 8 strawberry coconut cheesecake bars. Nutrition facts are for one bar.
- The total time doesn't include chill time.
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
Simple and Delicious Vegan Cookbook by ElaVeganCLICK HERE to order!If you are using Pinterest, feel free to pin the following photo:
Hi Ela, I’m only new to veganism. I made these today, it’s the very first vegan dessert I’ve attempted to make. They were amazing! So soft, creamy and delicious (mine didn’t look as good as yours though lol)
Hey Jessica! So happy they turned out delicious. 🙂
Thanks for your great feedback!
I only have frozen strawberries…… I’m guessing these would be too wet?
Would another frozen fruit work? Like raspberries or blueberry?
Hi Alex, you can use frozen strawberries, raspberries or blueberries and simply add a little bit less coconut milk (e.g. 100 ml instead of 120 ml). That should do the trick 🙂
I made these and they are delicious! They took longer than 3 hours to set, but that’s probably just my freezer’s fault. Fresh coconut isn’t available where I live, so I used flakes which worked just fine.
That’s awesome Megan, I am so glad you like my recipe. Thanks for the feedback 🙂
This recipe is a keeper, thank you Ela. They were super easy to put together and looked beautiful. My family, including a one and four year old, loved them. Nice to know they’re a healthier, more natural sweet treat ????
Thank you Anna! Yay I am so happy you and your family like my strawberry coconut cheesecake bars, that’s awesome. Thanks for your positive feedback! 🙂
Hey ! This recipie looks sooo good !! Im.wondersing if i can put more coconut milk instead of the coconut meat. There is no coconut were i live hahahah
Hey Christine, thank you so much. I would recommend to use unsweetened shredded coconut or unsweetened coconut flakes which should be both available in your supermarket (most probably in the Asia section). If you use more coconut milk instead of the coconut meat then the cream will turn out too thin. Or maybe try a combination of the shredded coconut and a splash of coconut milk so that is has the same consistency of grated coconut meat. Hope this helps.
Hey Ela,
My daughter and me are Strawberry lovers and Coconut too…
Instead of Coconut Meat you say Shredded Coconut but Dessicated Coconut can do the trick?
Or thick part Coconut Milk? Coconut Butter…
Many thanks
Henri 😉
Hi Henri, I would mix shredded coconut with the thick part of coconut milk, so that it has a similar texture and moisture content to grated fresh coconut meat. 🙂
These strawberry coconut cheesecakes bars looks amazing Ela 🙂 Happy new year again lovely Ela <3
Thank you so much for your kind words Barbara. Happy new year my sweet friend
Ela!! LOVE your blog!! Sorry, it has taken me awhile to get on…but I love it! These bars look fabulous! xoxo
Hey Tara, thanks so much for visiting my blog. I am glad you like my bars. Big hug to you and all the best for 2017! ❤️
Hi Ela! Love love these fresh bars! Pinning now!! Dee xx.
Hello beautiful Dee! How sweet of you to pin my fruity bars. Thank you so much. Much love, Ela
Yes yes I do love strawberry and coconut a lot!! I want one of these perfect pink squares in my hands right now so I can fall in love with these wonderful ingredients all in one bite. I use coconut milk all the time, it’s awesome in just about everything, but the richness of adding in actual coconut meat is hard to beat. I bet these are so creamy and dreamy <3 Love your fruity simple style Ela, as always!
Awww Natalie, thank you very much for your sweet comment. I would love to share these bars with you. And yes I agree, coconut is so amazing, I am glad you love it too.