CHOCOLATE & MINT RAW VEGAN CHEESECAKE BITES

These chocolate & mint raw vegan cheesecake bites will blow you away with the perfectly paired flavours of dark chocolate and mint. The raw chocolate cups have just enough bite to them and melt the moment they hit your tongue, while the mint filling is incredibly creamy and decadent. Super easy to make, these vegan cheesecake bites are gluten, dairy, egg, soy and refined sugar free.

Regardless of what you want to call them, these chocolate & mint raw vegan cheesecake bites are a revelation. They have everything going for them. Taste. Texture. Appearance. It’s all there.
The chocolate cups have a satisfying snap to them and they melt the moment they hit your tongue. The “cheesecake” filling is actually made from blended cashew nuts, coconut oil, maple syrup and a whole lot of fresh mint.

Ingredients
For chocolate cups:

• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder

For mint "cheesecake" filling:

• 2 cups cashews soaked in 3 cups of water for at least 2 hours and drained
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup packed mint leaves (leaves from about 15 to 20 sprigs of mint) (Note 1)
• 1/2 tsp spirulina (optional, for colour)
• 1/2 tsp wheatgrass powder (optional, for colour, avoid if it causes you problems due to gluten intolerance)

Instructions
For chocolate cups:

1. Combine all chocolate cups ingredients in a bowl and whisk until you obtain a smooth mixture with the consistency of melted chocolate.
2. Leave to cool until only slightly warm.
3. Spoon about 2 tbsp of the mixture into a cupcake case and swirl it around so that the whole case is coated. You might need to swirl the mixture around several times, especially along the cupcake walls (can take a few minutes per chocolate cup).
4. When sufficiently coated, turn the cupcake case on its head above the bowl and let the excess chocolate drip into the bowl.
5. After all cupcake cases are coated, place them onto a tray and freeze for at least 1/2 hour.

For mint "cheesecake" filling:

1. Combine all mint "cheesecake" filling ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer the mixture into a piping bag and pipe into the frozen chocolate cups, until each cup is full up to its edge. (You can also use a spoon to transfer the filling into the cups.)
3. Freeze the vegan cheesecake bites for at least 1/2 hour.
4. Carefully remove the cupcake cases. I've found it easiest to first tear away the sides and then remove the cupcake case bottom at the end. Freeze again.
5. Take the vegan cheesecake bites out of the freezer for at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy drizzled with more chocolate, with whipped coconut cream, or as they are.
6. The vegan cheesecake bites keep well in the freezer for up to about 2 weeks. (No way, I give them a day.)

Recipe Notes
 It's entirely up to you what type of mint (or which combination) you choose. Moroccan mint, peppermint and lemon balm work well.

Recipe Source : CHOCOLATE & MINT RAW VEGAN CHEESECAKE BITES @ theloopywhisk