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Blackberry Lemon Cheesecake (vegan & paleo)

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End of Summer Series, continues.

It’s the first week of September with Labor Day Weekend right around the corner. And although you may be celebrating a little differently than you imagined at the beginning of the summer, a civic holiday is always the perfect moment to take a little extra time and make a dessert that’s slightly more intricate than your basic drop cookie or classic tray bake, regardless of how you’ll be celebrating. Not that there’s anything wrong with the basic stuff. I’m down for a good healthy-ish brownie with some red, white, and blue sprinkles anyyyyy day. But, I also love an excuse to create something extra exciting. And these Blackberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars are that exactly.

Imagine a generous serving of lemony blackberry puree swirled into a light and velvety cheesecake. All nestled atop a soft but chewy simple crust. I don’t know about you, but to me, that sounds like a bite of pure bliss. The contrast of tart and sweet, light and creamy, soft and chewy, it hits all the spots. And of course, because it’s a recipe from yours truly, I’ve put a healthy spin on it. The crust is primarily made of raw almonds and coconut flour. And while I prefer it baked, you can absolutely keep it raw/no-bake if that’s more your speed. I find that the flavors in the crust are more pronounced once baked, namely the cinnamon and maple syrup.

The cheesecake layer is made of soaked raw cashews to give it the creamy texture and coconut milk for that smooth lusciousness you’d expect from a traditional cheesecake. The cheesecake is spiked with a healthy dose of lemon juice for a light tartness that goes so well with the blackberries. The blackberry swirl is simply blackberries blended with a touch of maple syrup and some lemon zest. I give two options for creating the blackberry swirl, one that has glorious chunks of fruit (and is easier) and another for a smooth puree. (The above is the chunky version and below is the smooth version). And because I love options, if you want to go the easiest route, make the blackberry mixture per your preference and just layer if on top of the cheesecake mixture for a layered look. Either way you go with the blackberry puree, when you put everything together, it’s just magical. To me, these bars are the perfect dessert for this “baking shoulder season” we are in the midst of. It’s bright and light, highlights the in-season blackberry, but still a little decadent from the creamy cheesecake. And, hopefully, it’s passed the point of being too hot to turn on the oven should you elect to bake the crust.

More than anything, I love a good recipe that seems as if it is more intricate to create than in actuality. This Blackberry Lemon Cheesecake is made almost entirely in a food processor, so no need for multiple tools or bowls. And while the recipe’s ingredient list may appear to be long, it’s made with only 11 ingredients (including the salt). Several of the ingredients repeat in the different sections. These cheesecake bars are made better-for-you by containing no refined flours, sugars, or oils. It’s paleo-friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free) and is sweetened naturally with maple syrup! But still, these Blackberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars are incredibly delicious and the perfect dessert to help send off summer.

paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), naturally sweetened, vegan (raw option)

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Blackberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars

This easy and delicious cheesecake is layered with a lemony blackberry swirl. The perfect combination of tart and sweet, creamy and light, and cozy and refreshing.

vegan (raw option), paleo-friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), & naturally sweetened

Course Dessert

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw almonds
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 5 tbsp coconut oil melted
  • 5 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Cheesecake Layer

  • 2 cups cashews raw
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted and cooled
  • 4 tbsp lemon juice about 1 juicy lemon
  • 1 tbsp vanilla

Blackberry Swirl

  • 1 cup blackberries
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Soak cashews in filtered water for at least 2 hours (or if you're short on time, soak in boiled water for 20 minutes).

  2. Line a square (8 or 9 inch) baking dish with parchment paper.

  3. Blend all crust ingredients together in a blender or food processor until everything is damp and starting to form a coarse dough. Dough should stick together when pressed.

  4. Pour crust ingredients into the baking dish and press down firmly with a rubber spatula into an even layer. You can use a piece of parchment paper to press on top of the dough to ensure an even layer.

  5. Bake the crust in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. This step is optional if you prefer to keep it raw/no-bake. If baking, remove from oven and let cool.

  6. Wipe the interior of the blender/food processor.

  7. Drain the cashews. Make the filling by blending all the filling ingredients together until it is creamy and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Taste and add more lemon juice and/or maple syrup to your liking.

  8. Pour the filling over the crust and spread into an even layer using a rubber spatula. Don't wipe down the food processor before making the blackberry puree.

  9. Blackberry Swirl Options:

    Easy Chunky Version: Pulse the the Blackberry Swirl ingredients in the food processor a 2-3 times until juicy but still chunky. Spoon all over cheesecake layer.

    Smooth Version: Blend the Blackberry Swirl ingredients together in the food processor until thin. Pour mixture over a fine mesh strainer and use the back of a rubber spatula to push through the mixture, separating the seeds from the puree. For a swirl, pour small pools over the cheesecake and swirl with a knife. Or just pour over the cheesecake and leave as a top layer.

    Add additional lemon zest to the top of the blackberry layer if you like!

  10. Place in the freezer to set until firm, about 2-3 hours. Once solid, slice and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Store in an airtight container in the freezer. If stored long term, it may need to temper at room temperature for a few minutes before soft enough to enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please feel free to leave a review or rating down below. And I’d LOVE to see your creation! Please tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna.

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Lemon Blueberry Bread (paleo)

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If you ask me, the classic lemon + blueberry combination is the most perfect spring treat. It is a delicious blending point of the recently departed winter citrus season and the soon approaching summer berry season. And to me, it is a marriage of flavors that truly represents springtime. It is bright freshness like lemons but with hints of sweet juiciness like blueberries. Yep, this Lemon Blueberry Bread is spring in loaf form.This sweet bread is simple enough to make and in just one bowl! Because I am always in favor or less dishes. Honestly, the most labor-intensive part is juicing and zesting the lemons. And trust me, you do not want to skip this part, the fresh flavor from the lemon juice is worth the squeeze. I really believe that you will be able to taste the difference at first bite. And the zesting, well, I always find that it is one of those things that sounds more annoying than it actually is. The zest really adds that next level of lemony brightness. This loaf is paleo-friendly. Meaning it’s gluten, grain, and dairy free. Sweetened with coconut sugar, it has no refined sugars! Made with real ingredients that you can feel good about! This is a sweet and delicious treat that tastes amazing and will keep you feeling great. Plus it freezes brilliantly so you can enjoy this on the go or have it ready for a quick no-fuss breakfast.paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), no refined sugar

If you make this, I’d LOVE to see your creation! Please tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna.

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Lemon Blueberry Bread

The perfect sweet treat for spring. This is light, zesty, sweet, and juicy. Made in just one bowl with only good-for-you ingredients. This is a delicious baked good that you can feel great about eating!

paleo (gluten/grain/dairy free), refined sugar free

Course Breakfast, Snack

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • zest from 2 lemons
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups almond flour
  • 1/2 cup tapioca flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • additional blueberries for topping optional
  • 1 tbsp turbinado sugar for topping optional (omit for strict paleo)

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and prepare loaf pan by lining with parchment paper or greasing with additional oil.

  2. In a large bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the eggs, sugar, and oil until well mixed and bubbly.

  3. Add the lemon juice, zest, and vanilla and stir until well combined.

  4. Then add the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet mixture and mix until just fully incorporated.

  5. Gently stir in 1 cup of blueberries.

  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly into one layer.

  7. If you like, decorate with additional blueberries on top of the batter and/or sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

  8. Bake for 58-60 minutes or until top is lightly cracked and edges are turning brown. Pierce with a toothpick if you are unsure.

  9. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 15-20 minutes before removing from the pan and slicing.

Recipe Notes

This will keep stored in an air tight container for a day or so. Afterwards, move to the freezer pre-sliced!

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Classic Creamy Hummus (vegan, gluten free)

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With the world stocking up on all the dry goods and everyone doing all the snacking, it felt high time to share my favorite recipe for a Classic Creamy Hummus. This recipe, like all traditional hummus, uses dried garbanzo beans and tastes exactly like what you’d expect to find at a hummus or deli stall in an outdoor market in Israel. It’s made with just the basic, traditional ingredients and becomes a hummus that is wonderfully balanced between fluffy, creamy, and lemony. And it’s the perfect thing to make if you’re not wanting to make a run to the market to buy your favorite hummus, trying to buy less packaged goods, or just want the best hummus you’ve had in your life! Okay, that’s a bit unfair. I don’t know where you’ve been, what you like, and what you’ve eaten. But I can say, with certainty, that this hummus is very good and will not disappoint.

You will need a food processor for this, while I’m sure this can be made in a high powered blender or even possibly with an immersion blender, I do not recommend them unless you simply do not have the option. I promise it’s worth the extra dishes. The food processor will give the hummus the most even blend, at an appropriate speed that cannot be replicated from another machine.

We like our hummus topped with a bit more whole garbanzo beans if we have them around, lots of good quality olive oil, and a healthy smattering of za’atar or paprika (for the more traditional route). Don’t want to wait to soak the beans or just prefer to use canned? I have a recipe for that here!

vegan, gluten free, grain free

If you make this, I’d LOVE to see your creation! Please tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna.

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Classic Creamy Hummus

This is a traditional hummus recipe that will not disappoint! Made from dried garbanzo beans but simple to make and utterly delicious. It's the perfect balance of creamy, fluffy, and lemony. Use as a delicious dip or spread on your favorite sandwich!

vegan, gluten free, grain free

adapted from Ottolenghi's recipe in Jerusalem.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup dried garbanzo beans
  • 1 tbsp baking soda
  • 1 cup tahini plain sesame seed paste
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup filtered water
  • toppings of your choice: olive oil, paprika, za'atar, z'hug.

Instructions

  1. Place the dried beans in a large bowl and add enough water (filtered if possible) so that the beans are covered with a few inches of water. Soak overnight or at least 8 hours.

  2. After the beans have soaked, drain and rinse well.

  3. Place the garbanzo beans in a large sauce pot, add the baking soda, and cook on high for 3 minutes.

  4. Add about 6 cups of water to the pot, the beans should be well covered with water, and bring to a boil.

  5. Let the garbanzo beans cook, scooping off any froth or skins that float to the top of the pot. Cook the beans until they are soft but not mushy. This will depend on how long you soaked the beans and can be anywhere from 15-30 minutes.

  6. Once the beans are done cooking, carefully strain them.

  7. Place the beans into a food processor and blend for about 1 minute or until a thick paste is formed.

  8. With the food processor on, add the tahini, lemon juice, and salt to the garbanzo bean paste. and blend until smooth.

  9. Then add the water and continue to blend for another 2-3 minutes or until hummus is smooth and fluffy.

  10. Place in an airtight container and let set up in the fridge for 30 minutes. The mixture will thicken a bit once refrigerated.

  11. When ready to eat, top with a healthy dose of good quality olive oil, paprika or za'atar, spicy z'hug or whatever your heart desires! Use as a spread for a sandwich or classic dip!

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Lemon Poppy Seed Bread (paleo, dairy free)

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Spring is here and this season is all about joy and renewal as leaves start to fill in tree branches, new grass growth, longer kinder days, and an abundance of fresh ingredients. Springtime eats are packed with fresh and bright flavors.  And to me, nothing screams spring more than the classic flavor combination of lemon and poppy seed. Carrot cake is another major spring baked good classic and I have included a recipe for a healthified, simple, and delicious one in my most recent spring ebook (which you can download for free here). This Lemon Poppy Seed Bread is springtime in a fluffy loaf. The bread is perfectly sweet, using coconut sugar, that beams with delicious lemony goodness while the poppy seeds add a subtle but oh so satisfying crunch. The top is dressed up with a simple four ingredient Lemon Honey Glaze. This bread whips up quick, has only good-for-you ingredients, is paleo-friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free),  and will put an immediate smile on your face!

paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), no refined sugar

If you make this, I’d LOVE to see your creation! Please tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna.

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Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

This bread is springtime in loaf form! It's bright and zesty, light and flavorful, and is sure to put an immediate smile on your face!

paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), naturally sweetened

Course Breakfast, Snack

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups almond flour
  • 1/2 cup tapioca flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp poppy seeds

Wet Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup olive oil melted & cooled coconut oil is a fine sub
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • zest from 2 lemons
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Lemon Honey Glaze

  • 1/4 cup coconut butter
  • 1-2 tbsp milk of choice
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • zest for decoration (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and prepare loaf pan by lining with parchment paper or greasing with additional oil.

  2. In a medium bowl mix together all the dry ingredients (except the poppy seeds) until well incorporated.

  3. In a large bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together the eggs, sugar, and oil until well mixed and bubbly.

  4. Add the lemon juice, zest, and vanilla and stir until well combined.

  5. Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir until flour is just fully incorporated.

  6. Then stir in the poppy seeds.

  7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly into one layer.

  8. Bake for 50 minutes or until top is golden brown.

  9. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.

  10. Meanwhile, make the glaze by melting the coconut butter in a microwave in short 5 second bursts. Add 1 tbsp milk, honey, and lemon juice to the coconut butter and stir well. Add more milk if the mixture is too thick. Glaze should be thin and spreadable but not runny.

  11. Once cooled, remove the loaf from the pan, drizzle with the Lemon Honey Glaze and use a rubber spatula to spread evenly. Top with additional lemon zest if desired. Let drizzle set slightly (either outside or in the fridge) slice and enjoy!

  12. This will keep stored in an air tight container for a day or so, afterwards, move to the freezer pre-sliced!

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Lemon Turmeric Bliss Balls (paleo, vegan, keto)

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This might be one of my favorite bliss ball recipes to date! These little babies will satisfy your sweet tooth and are packed with a refreshing lemon zing. Make a batch and store them in your fridge or freezer for post-work outs or afternoon snack attacks! These can be made sugar free as well with any liquid sweetener you like! I use and love stevia drops.

paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, vegan, good fats, keto

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Lemon Turmeric Bliss Balls

gluten free, grain free, dairy free, vegan, good fats, keto

These are great, quick and easy snacks with a refreshing lemony twist! Store these in the fridge or freezer to save for later.

Course Snack

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup coconut shreds
  • 1/3 cup pepitas pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup flaxmeal
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp zest from lemon
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1-2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1/8 tsp lemon flavor optional, I love Frontier Co-op
  • dash sea salt
  • Sweetener of choice: dates maple, coconut syrup, or stevia

Instructions

  1. Blend all together in food processor until a sticky dough combines and preferred texture is achieved.

  2. Adjust flavor to your liking by adding more sweetness, turmeric, or lemon juice.

  3. Blend again, roll into balls (wear gloves if you're worried about your hands staining - mine were yellow but washed off quickly due to the coconut oil).

  4. Coat with something fun if you want. I used coconut shreds but crushed nuts like pistachio would be awesome too!

  5. Store in fridge or freezer.

Earl Grey Scones with Lemon Honey Glaze (paleo, vegan option)

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Scones are the kind of thing that seem super fancy, but are actually super easy to make! These Early Grey Scones are mixed up in  just one bowl and take only 15 minutes to bake! The scones are flavored with earl grey tea leaves that gives easy depth of flavor with hints of lavender and complemented with a light and bright Honey Lemon Glaze. These are perfect if you’re hosting a nice brunch or if you want a healthy baked breakfast on-the-go!

These scones are paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), refined sugar free, with simple ingredient. They are pretty low in sugar with just 5 tbsp of coconut sugar in the scones and only 2 tsp of honey in the glaze (for the entire batch)! Making these healthified scones a complete win. The honey is very easily substituted if you want to make these vegan friendly!

If you make these I’d love to see! Share a pic or comment below or tag a photo on instagram @freshlydafna with #freshlydafna

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Earl Grey Scones with Lemon Honey Glaze

paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, vegan-friendly option

These scones are mixed in just one bowl and bake up in just 15 minutes! Have a perfect crisp crust and moist inside with a hint of early grey tea. The scones are lightly sweetened and perfectly complimented with the lemon honey glaze. These little breakfast/brunch delights are easy to make but will have everything enjoying feeling super fancy.

The scones are already vegan, so you can just sub the honey for agave or maple to make these full on vegan friendly.

Course Breakfast

Ingredients

Scones

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup almond flour
  • 3/4 cup tapioca flour
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 5 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 bags early grey tea (make sure it's finely chopped, I used Tazo Tea)
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • 1/4 tsp coarse or kosher salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 6 tbsp coconut oil (solid state, if warm out and oil is in liquid form place in fridge for a mins to firm up)
  • 2/3 cup dairy free milk of choice

Honey Lemon Glaze

  • 3 tbsp coconut butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp + 1 tsp non-dairy milk
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 2 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Add all dry ingredients to a medium bowl and mix together with a whisk or fork until all well combined until you get a coarse damp, sand texture.

  3. Next add your milk of choice and stir everything gently with your hands or a plastic spatula and gently mix together until you have a soft, wet dough.

  4. Gather into a large mass and turn out onto cutting board.

  5. Form the dough into a 1 inch tall disc.

  6. Cut the disc into 6 or 8 wedges, place wedges on parchment lined baking sheet, bake for 15 minutes, reduce temp to 350 and bake for 5 more minutes.

  7. If eating the scones right away, make the Honey Lemon Glaze while the scones are baking by mixing everything together in a small bowl, then top those golden scones once they've cooled a bit.

Recipe Notes

These scones are best eaten the day of, shortly after coming out of the oven, but will keep for another day in a sealed container. After that, I recommend storing them in the freezer (without any glaze). 

*To make these scones vegan-friendly, just sub the honey for another liquid sweetener of your choice like agave, maple, or coconut syrup!