Raspberries are high on my list of favorite fruit.
My favorite are the local farmers market berries I inhale by the pint, and I cannot wait for those. In the meantime, I buy them every so often from the co-op.
This next recipe for Vegan Valentines – raspberry cheesecake cookies – is one I have had in my head for a bit. I have wanted to add fresh fruit to a cookie, and a cheesecake component just naturally fits with raspberry, doesn’t it?
These cookies are at their best warm fresh from the oven, which is why this recipe is a small batch. I store them in the refrigerator, and put them in the toaster oven for a bit – bringing back their warm freshness.
My go to dessert is rarely a cookie, but this recipe may change that – everyone who tasted these loved them! The cookie dough has a mild sweetness, with raspberries adding that natural tart sweetness throughout. The cream cheese brings the dense cheesecake aspect to this dough, which might be my favorite part.
I will be making these often once summer hits – blackberries, blueberries, even strawberries.
raspberry lemon cheesecake cookies
dairy, egg, and gluten free, vegan
makes 12-15 cookies
1 tablespoon flax seed, freshly ground
2 tablespoons warm water
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup dairy free cream cheese (non hydrogenated), softened
1/2 cup sugar (agave, coconut nectar, raw sugar)
1 cup gluten free all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
pinch salt
3/4 pint fresh raspberries
zest of 1/2 small lemon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grind flax seed in blender, coffee grinder. Place 1 tablespoon ground flax in a bowl, add water and stir. Place in refrigerator to set into gel (this equals / replaces one egg).
Cream together coconut oil, cream cheese, and sugar; stir in flax mixture. Add flour to the top of this mixture, do not stir. Add baking powder, xanthan gum and salt, stirring into the flour before combining flour with coconut cream cheese. Fold in raspberries and lemon zest. Drop cookies by spoonful onto prepared (silpat, parchment) baking sheet, bake at 350 for approximately 15 minutes.
What is your favorite berry? Would you add it to a cookie?
