No-Bake Vegan Carrot Halwa Cheesecake (grain-free!)

This carrot halwa cheesecake is grain-free and doesn’t need to be baked at all! You make the carrot halwa crust with cardamom spiced shredded carrots on the stove and the cheesecake mixture in your blender. Then chill this cake to set it up, then slice and serve. Nut-free option

close-up of carrot cake cheesecake cut into slices

Table of Contents

The crust for this cake is based on gajar halwa( carrot halwa). This is made with shredded carrots that are cooked down and caramelized on the stovetop with toasted nuts and cardamom to boost the flavor. Then it is topped with a creamy cheesecake layer. Think cardamom scented flourless carrot cake cheesecake!

Carrot halwa is absolutely delicious and makes an amazing, grain-free base for this vegan carrot cake cheesecake topped with a simple, blender cheesecake mixture. Caramelized carrots topped with creamy vegan cheesecake cream and topped with pistachios, is decadent and festive!

Indian festive season is in full swing with navratri right now and Diwali coming up. This fusion dessert is a crowd pleaser for an Indian dinner party or a holiday party! Change up the spices and flavor to compliment your menu.

slice of carrot cake cheesecake on a plate next to the full cake

Why You’ll Love Carrot Halwa Cheesecake

no-bake dessert
melt-in-your-mouth grain free carrot cake crust
easy, creamy blender cheesecake
naturally grain-free and soy-free
nut-free option

slice of carrot halwa cheesecake with a bite taken out

More Vegan Carrot Cake Recipes

I’m slightly obsessed with carrot cake flavors! Try my other carrot cake-inspired recipes:

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Print Recipe

No-Bake Carrot Halwa Cheesecake

This carrot halwa cheesecake is grain-free and doesn’t need to be baked! You make the carrot halwa crust with cardamom spiced shredded carrots on the stove and the cheesecake mixture in your blender. Then chill this cake to set it up, then slice and serve. Nut-free option

Prep Time20 minutes

Cook Time40 minutes

Chilling Time1 hour

Total Time2 hours

Course: cake, Dessert

Cuisine: Indian Fusion

Keyword: carrot cake cheesecake, carrot halwa cheesecake, indian gajar halwa cheesecake

Servings: 10

Calories: 282kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

For the carrot halwa layer:

1 tablespoon vegan butter or use oil
4 cups (512 g) grated carrots
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 cup (59.15 g) almond flour
1 tablespoon flax meal
2 tablespoons raisins, soaked in warm water for at least 10 minutes and then drained

For the cheesecake layer:

1 cup (129 g) raw cashews soaked in hot water for at least 15 minutes
15- ounce (425.24 ml) can of full fat coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 drops of almond extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon refined coconut oil optional

For topping:

2 tablespoons pistachios chopped very finely
1 tablespoon pecans chopped very finely

Equipment

blender
8- or 9-inch baking pan

Instructions

Make the carrot halwa:

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the vegan butter, then add the grated carrots and 1/8 teaspoon of salt and mix well. Cook for 3 minutes, until the carrots start o change color. Then mix in the maple syrup, sugar, and cardamom. Continue to cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add in the almond flour and mix in. If the carrots are drying out too much, cover the with the lid for a minute at a time, then open the lid, mix, and continue to cook uncovered. Continue to cook for another 7 to 8 minutes. The time depends on the carrots, your skillet, and your stove. Taste and see if the carrots are cooked and starting to get browned and caramelized on some edges.
Mix in the drained raisins, and switch off the heat, then mix in the flax meal. Let this mixture sit for a few minutes to cool.
Line and 8- or 9-inch cake pan with parchment so that you can easily lift the whole cheesecake out, or use a springform pan. Then, add the carrot mixture to the lined pan and spread it out with a spatula. Set this aside.

Make the cheesecake layer:

Add the drained cashews and all of the other cheesecake ingredients to a blender and blend for a minute. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, and blend again for a minute. Repeat until the mixture is very smooth. Taste adjust sweetness(sugar) and flavor. Add in a little bit more tang(lemon juice), if you want.

Assemble the carrot cake cheesecake:

Drop that smooth, creamy cheesecake mixture over the carrot mixture and spread it with a spatula. Then top it with some chopped pistachios and pecans. Dress as you like.
Chill in the freezer for about an hour, so that the cheesecake layer sets. Depending on your freezer, you might need to keep it in for another hour or so to get it to set and produce nice, smooth slices.
Remove the cheesecake from the freezer, slice with a sharp warm knife and serve or store.
Storage: You can keep the sliced cake in the freezer for up to 2 months. To serve, take your slice out of the freezer, then let it sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes, so the cheesecake becomes soft and creamy before serving.

Notes

This is a gluten-free, soy-free recipe, as long as you use a soy-free vegan butter.
Nutfree, omit the almond flour from the carrots and use 1 cup of coconut cream instead of cashews in the cheesecake layer. You can also use a mix of 1/2 cup coconut cream and 1/2 cup nondairy yogurt. Omit the nuts in the topping.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

No-Bake Carrot Halwa Cheesecake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 282
Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Sodium 111mg5%

Potassium 406mg12%

Carbohydrates 24g8%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 8614IU172%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 45mg5%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

cheesecake ingredients in bowls on a kitchen counter

Ingredients and Substitutions

vegan butter or oil – To caramelize the carrots.
grated carrots – This is the base for the carrot halwa crust.
maple syrup and sugar – To sweeten and help the carrots caramelize.
cardamom – The iconic spice used in carrot halwa.
almond flour – Adds texture and a nutty flavor. Omit for nut-free.
flax meal – Helps hold the crust layer together.
raisins – Soaked raisins add sweetness.
cashews and coconut milk – This is the base for the cheesecake layer. You can use add coconut cream or a mix of coconut cream and non-dairy yogurt instead of cashews for the nut-free option.
vanilla and almond extracts – To boost the flavor of the cheesecake layer.
lemon juice – Gives the cheesecake layer that signature zing.
sugar – For sweetness.
salt – Brings out the cheesecake-y flavor and balances the sweet
coconut oil – Adds richness, but you can omit it.
pistachios and pecans – For topping. Omit for nut-free.

Tips

You want to really caramelize those carrots well! That will give you the best flavor and the most cohesive crust.
To reduce total prep time, start the cashews soaking before you make the carrot halwa layer.
Make it into Carrot cake cheesecake: Use 1 teaspoon vanilla instead of cardamom.

carrots in the food processor before blending

carrots in the food processor after blending

How to Make Carrot Cake Cheesecake – Step pictures

First, make the carrot halwa.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the vegan butter, then add the grated carrots and 1/8 teaspoon of salt and mix well. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the carrots are starting to change color.

Mix in the maple syrup, sugar, and cardamom. Continue to cook for another four to five minutes, stirring occasionally.

adding maple syrup to the pan of grated carrots

Then add in the almond flour and mix in. If the carrots are drying out too much, cover the with the lid for a minute at a time, then open the lid, mix, and continue to cook with the lid off again.

adding almond flour to the pan of grated carrots

Continue to cook for another seven to eight minutes. The time depends on the carrots, your skillet, and your stove. Taste and see if the carrots are cooked down and starting to get browned and caramelized on some edges.

Mix in the drained raisins, and switch off the heat, then mix in the flax meal. Let this mixture sit for a few minutes to cool.

adding raisins and flax meal to the pan of grated carrots

Line and 8- or 9-inch cake pan with parchment so that you can easily lift the whole cheesecake out, or use a springform pan. Then, add the carrot mixture to the lined pan and spread it out with a spatula. Set this aside.

pressing carrot halwa layer into the pan

Then, make the cheesecake layer.

Add the drained cashews and all of the other cheesecake ingredients to a blender and blend for a minute. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, and blend again for a minute. Repeat until the mixture is very smooth.

adding coconut milk to the cheesecake layer ingredients to the blender

Taste adjust sweetness(sugar) and flavor. Add in a little bit more tang(lemon) , if you want, or a pinch of salt.

Now, assemble the carrot cake cheesecake.

Drop that smooth, creamy cheesecake mixture over the carrot mixture and spread it with a spatula. Then top it with chopped pistachios and pecans.

cheesecake layer after spreading into the pan and topping with nuts

Chill in the freezer for about an hour, so that the cheesecake layer sets. Depending on your freezer, you might need to keep it in for another hour or so to get it to set and produce nice, smooth slices.

carrot cake cheesecake on a serving plate

Remove the cheesecake from the freezer, slice and serve or store in the fridge or freezer.

slice of carrot cake cheesecake with a bite taken out

Frequently Asked Questions

What is carrot halwa?

Carrot halwa – also called gajar halwa or gajar ka halwa – is an Indian dessert that has a fudgy carrot cake-like flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s amazing on its own or as the grain-free base for this carrot cake cheesecake!

Is this recipe allergy friendly?

This carrot cake cheesecake is naturally gluten-free, grain-free, and soy-free.

To make this without nuts, omit the almond flour from the carrots. use 1 cup of coconut cream instead of cashews in the cheesecake layer. You can also use a mix of 1/2 cup coconut cream and 1/2 cup nondairy yogurt. Omit the nuts in the topping.

Is the cheesecake freezer friendly?

You can keep the sliced cake in the freezer for up to 2 months or fridge for upto 4 days.
To serve, take your slice out of the freezer, then let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, so the cheesecake becomes soft and creamy before serving.