RAW Cheesecake - minus the cheese!

This recipe comes from Raw for Dessert by Jennifer Cornbleet
I doubled this recipe to make a 9" cheesecake

Cheesecake

Crust
1 c raw walnuts (unsoaked)
1/4 c unsweetened shredded dried coconut
1/2 c whole cane sugar (sucanat)
pinch salt
1/4 c raisins
4 pitted medjool dates

Filling:
1 c raw cashews (soaked 8 - 12 hours)
1/2 c young coconut meat (from 1 coconut)
1/2 c freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 c light agave syrup
1/4 c Date Paste (see below)
1/8 t salt
1/2 c virgin coconut oil
1 Tbsp soy lechithin powder (healthfood store)

Crust - place walnuts, coconut, sugar, and salt in food processor w/S blade. Process until finely ground. Add the raisins and dates and process until coarse crumbs begin to stick together. Press into bottom of 6 or 7" springform pan

Filling - place cashews, coconut meat, emon juice, agave syrum, Date Paste, and salt in a blender and process until very smooth. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the blender w/a rubber spatula. Add the coconut oil and optional soy lecithin powder and process until blended. Pour the filling into the crust and spread it evenly. . .

I like topping this with Jennifer's Raspberry Coulis. . . 2 - 10 oz pkgs of unsweetened frozen raspberries process these through a food mill or push through a strainer with the back of a spoon. This deseeds the raspberry mush, then wisk in the agave syrup and I put this into a squeeze bottle and can make the pretty swishes on the plate before plating the cheesecake. YUM!

Date Paste - ok this is kind of a bummer on this recipe. This makes a lot of date paste and is used in several of the recipes in the book. . . and unfortunately it doesn't work well when I cut it in 1/2 because there isn't enough volume for the dates to get whipped up nice and smooth. It can be kept in the freezer for a month or two. . . Use it for a natural sweetener

32 pitted medjool dates
3 c filtered water

Place the dates in a medium bowl, cover with water and let soak for 20 minutes. Drain the dates but reserve the water.

Place the dates and 1/2 c of the soaking water into a food processor fitted w/the S blade. Process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the processor and process. . . Now ready for use in other recipes or use as a natural sweetener.