Raw blueberry and macadamia cheesecake
<p>No oven? No worries! This decadent dessert is a deceptively easy win for those who aren’t usually gifted in the baking department. Vibrantly hued blueberries create two distinctive colour layers, for a knockout presentation and flavour.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span></strong> 10</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>2 cups raw macadamias</li>
<li>1/2 cup maple syrup</li>
<li>Juice of 1 lemon</li>
<li>3/4 cup coconut oil, melted</li>
<li>1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</li>
<li>1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries</li>
<li>Fresh blueberries or raspberries, to garnish (optional)</li>
</ul>
<p><em>For the nutty coconut base</em></p>
<ul>
<li>1 1/2 cups raw walnuts or almonds</li>
<li>5 dates, pitted</li>
<li>1/4 cup desiccated coconut</li>
<li>1 tablespoon maple syrup</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Soak the macadamias in water for at least two hours, or preferably overnight.</li>
<li>Grease a 20 cm spring-form cake tin with coconut oil.</li>
<li>Put all the coconut base ingredients in a food processor and grind together until the mixture resembles a sticky crumble. Press the mixture firmly into the cake tin and set aside.</li>
<li>Drain the macadamia nuts and place in a high-speed blender with the maple syrup, lemon juice, coconut oil and vanilla. Blend to a thick, creamy consistency, then pour half the macadamia mixture into the cake tin.</li>
<li>Add the blueberries to the remaining mixture in the blender.</li>
<li>Blend on high speed until the mixture is a vibrant purple colour and the blueberries have dissolved. Pour the mixture into the cake tin, smoothing and levelling the top with a spatula.</li>
<li>Cover with plastic wrap and leave to set in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Decorate with extra blueberries or raspberries, if desired. Cut into slices to serve.</li>
<li>This cheesecake will keep for a few days in the fridge.</li>
</ol>
<p><img width="191" height="238" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36264/taste-for-life-animals-australia-book-cover_191x238.jpg" alt="Taste For Life (Animals Australia ) - Book Cover (2)" style="float: right;"/></p>
<p><em>Recipe and image courtesy of </em>Taste for Life<em> by Animals Australia. Published by ABC Books, available in store or <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/taste-for-life-pbk" target="_blank">online</a></strong></span>.</em></p>
