Vegan Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

Perfect for a healthy Halloween treat, these brownies are rich and gooey and full of goodness! They are vegan and gluten free and contain no grains, making them paleo! I have used Honest to Goodness’s Red Velvet Latte blend, which is made of raw cacao, beetroot powder and cranberry powder. Bursting with antioxidants, it not only adds nutritional value and colour to these brownies, but it also adds the most delicious flavour! These brownies are quick and simple to make. Just take note that you will have to soak the cashews for 4 hours or overnight to ensure they blend into a smooth ‘cheesecake’ mixture. Enjoy these indulgent brownies for a healthy afternoon snack or even as a nourishing dessert!

Makes 12

Brownie Layer:

2 flax eggs (2 tbsps. flaxseed meal + 5 tbsps. water)

20 dates

4 tbsps. natural peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)

¼ cup coconut oil, melted

¼ cup maple syrup or raw honey

¾ cup almond meal

Pinch Himalayan rock salt

½ tsp. baking powder

½ cup raw cacao powder

¼ cup red velvet latte powder (can be replaced with a mixture of beetroot powder and more cacao powder, or simply just cacao powder, which will make it chocolate rather than red velvet. My latte blend is from Honest to Goodness).

Cheesecake Layer:

1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 4 hours or overnight

1 cup (250mL) coconut cream (try to get a pure coconut cream without additives, such as the one from Honest to Goodness or Ayam)

2 tbsps. lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 tbsps. arrowroot or potato starch

2 tbsps. maple syrup or raw honey

Pinch Himalayan rock salt

1 tbsp. red velvet latte powder

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celius (160 degrees fan-forced) and line a slice tin/square cake tin/oven proof dish (I used a 2.6L glass pyrex dish) with baking paper.

2. Make the flax eggs by combining the flaxseed meal and water in a small bowl. Set aside for 5-10 minutes. Place the dates into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside for 5 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, sift the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl (almond meal, raw cacao, red velvet powder, baking powder and salt).

4. Drain the dates and add them to a blender with the flax eggs, peanut butter, coconut oil and maple syrup or honey. Blend until completely smooth.

5. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir to combine. Scoop the mixture into the lined tin or dish and using a damp spatula, smooth out evenly.

6. Rinse out the blender and add the drained cashews and all other cheesecake ingredients. Blend until completely smooth.

7. Scoop out ¼ cup of the cheesecake mix and place it into a bowl with the extra 1 tbsp. of red velvet powder. Stir with a fork until combined and set aside.

8. Pour the rest of the cheesecake mixture over the chocolate brownie. Then dollop drops of the red velvet mix over the top. Using a chopstick/skewer/butter knife, swirl the red mix through the white cheesecake.

9. Place the dish into the oven to bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheesecake layer sets. Remove from the oven and cool in the dish for 5 minutes before removing it to cool for a at least a further 30 minutes before serving (this will ensure the cheesecake layer is set enough for you to be able to cut it). Enjoy warm or once cooled, store in an airtight container.