Low Carb Vanilla CheeseCake (w/ a nut free crust!)

Make this...just do it. I've perfected it by making it at least 10 times and it never lasts long. With my ingredients, I calculate 50 net grams of carbs for the whole cheese cake...that's less than than one piece at the cheesecake factory, and we typically get 12 GENEROUS slices out of this recipe. For an extra special treat, serve topped with a raspberry puree or a small portion of melted dark chocolate. (No one will know this is low carb...promise!)


Crust:
1/2 c pork rind flour (food processed until finely ground)
1 c. coconut flakes
2 Tbsp coconut flour
3 Tbsp coconut oil or melted butter
1 dropper full (approximately 20 drops) vanilla stevia


Add coconut flakes to a food processor or high powered blender first. Allow to run until coconut is ground finely, but not until it's coconut butter. Add remaining ingredients and process until well combined.  Press into the bottom of a springform pan (I use a 12 inch) and set aside.


Heat the oven to 425 and put about 1 inch of water in a pan that can hold your springform in the oven to preheat as well. (This is a water bath, for those of you who don't often make cheesecake. You can omit this step, but your cheesecake will crack on the top...it will still taste delicious, but may not look like it came from the Cheesecake Factory. Your call :) Prepare your filling as described below.


If your springform is not waterproof, or you aren't sure, wrap foil around it, going up over the top edge. It might take 2 pieces.


Filling:
1 cup full fat ricotta (read labels...mine has 2 g carb per 1/4 c serving)
24 oz full fat cream cheese (buy name brand...1 g carb per 1 oz serving)
4 large eggs
1/2 c + 2 Tbsp erythritol, or 1/2 c birch xylitol
5 droppers full (100 drops) English Toffee Stevia (NO SUBS...gives it the perfect carmel-ly flavor)
3 Tbsp canned, full fat coconut milk or heavy whipping cream
1/4 c vanilla extract*


Blend all ingredients in a high powered blender or food processor until well combined. Pour into prepared pan and drop a couple inches on the counter a couple times to get all the air bubbles out.


Place your cheesecake in your prepared water bath (or just in the oven) and turn the oven (which should be at 425) down to 325 and bake your cheesecake for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Turn the oven off and allow your cheesecake to remain in the warm oven for an hour or so. Remove and chill.


DON'T TAKE THE EDGE OFF OF YOUR PAN UNTIL IT'S COOL!!! It will collapse. I tell you this from experience. It's not pretty folks...but it sure does taste good! Waiting is hard, I know. If you must...just take a spoonful from the piece that will be yours. Don't ruin the whole cake because of your impatience :)


Second note...when you place this in the fridge make sure it's stable, preferably not balancing on a head of cabbage and a pyrex dish, because (again, from experience) if you accidently hit said head of cabbage and your cheesecake loses it's balance, it will come flying out of the fridge and land top side down on the floor. You will look slightly pathetic scooping it off the floor and then getting up the remainder with a spoon, however, I won't judge you...because I've been there...


Third note...this freezes beautifully, and will also keep in the fridge for about a week.


*I make my own vanilla by purchasing vanilla beans in bulk, cutting them in half lengthwise and sticking them in a cheap bottle of vodka or bourbon. Let them hang out for about a month, or longer and you have super affordable vanilla extract with no fillers :) I also made homemade vanilla as gifts one Christmas by buying airplane liquor bottles and putting one bean in each bottle - HUGE HIT!


(Lindsey Slattery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This costs you nothing, but if you purchase items that I recommend, I will receive a small percentage of the item's cost.)

Chocolate Coconut Butter (BONUS Recipe for sugar free, low carb coconut clusters)

2 c toasted coconut flakes (unsweetened)
2 c unsweetened coconut flakes
1/3 c coconut oil
3 droppers English toffee stevia
2 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 c raw cacao powder (or cocoa)
1/2 tsp stevia glycerite

In a powerful blender or food processor, process the coconut oil and coconut flakes until they are liquefied. Depending on your blending method this will take awhile.  Add remaining ingredients and process.

To make EASY Coconut Clusters - 
Mix equal parts of the chocolate coconut butter and unsweetened flakes coconut. Drop by rounded spoonfuls on a piece of parchment and freeze until set. Will keep in the fridge for a few weeks. May un-solidify if left out above 74 degrees.

Coconut Cranberry Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (gluten free)

3/4 c coconut oil
1/2 c applesauce (homemade, thick...)
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp almond extract
 
3/4 c sorghum flour
 1/4 c potato starch
 1/4 c tapioca starch
 1/2 tsp baking soda
 1/2 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)
 1 tsp xanthum gum
 1 (scant) tsp kosher salt
 
 3/4 c cranberries
 1 c chocolate chips
 3/4 c unsweetened coconut + more for dipping bottom of cookies

Cream coconut oil and brown sugar. Add applesauce, eggs and extract. Mix well. (My applesauce was hot, right out of the microwave and melted the coconut oil slightly. This seemed to work well.)

Add the dry ingrediants and mix well. Add cranberries, chocolate chips and coconut. Roll into balls (doesn't have to be perfect) and dip bottoms in additional coconut.
 
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. smush a little when you take them out to make them flatter.

Gluten Free Carrot Cake Cookies

Carrot cake cookies

1 cup almond flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 (scant) teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 c unsalted butter at room temperature

1/3 cup truvia baking mix or 2/3 c sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup grated carrots

1/4 cup raisins

1/3 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 c unsweetened coconut, plus more for rolling

Beat butter and truvia. Add eggs and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients. Add mix ins.

Roll into balls (a little smaller than golf balls) and then roll in coconut.  

Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Store in the fridge...they start very cookie-like, but get more cake-like everyday.

Soooooooooo good!

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