Small-Batch Vegan Cheesecake in a Jar (No-Bake, Naturally Sweetened)

This no-bake vegan cheesecake in a jar is made with soaked cashews, coconut milk, and date syrup, with a date-granola crumb crust. It's perfect for a small-batch treat.

If you've been craving cheesecake but don't want to commit to a full pan (or any dairy), this small-batch vegan cheesecake jar is exactly what you need. It's creamy, naturally sweetened with date syrup instead of refined sugar or even maple syrup, and comes together with a handful of pantry staples. And yes, no oven required.

I love this recipe because it's portioned for one or two, so there's no half-eaten cake sitting in your fridge tempting you all week. It's also easily adaptable: swap the crust mix-ins, add a fruit layer, or double it for a dinner party.

If you love easy, light desserts like this one, you'll also want to check out two more reader favorites from the blog, my Banana Almond Flour Brownies and my Banana Chia Pudding.

Why You'll Love This Vegan Cheesecake in a Jar

• No baking required! Just blend, layer, and chill.
• Naturally sweetened with date syrup, which has a deeper, more caramel-like flavor than maple syrup and a lower glycemic impact.
• Perfectly portioned, for one or two servings, so it's easy to make on a whim.
• Simple ingredients you likely already have if you bake or meal prep often (if not, you need to stock up!)
• Customizable crust! This version uses my recipe for 10-ingredient homemade granola for extra texture and a boost of fiber.

Ingredients for No-Bake Vegan Cheesecake

• Raw cashews are the base of the creamy filling. Soaking them softens them so they blend into a smooth, dairy-free "cream cheese" texture. 
• Full-fat coconut milk (the canned kind, not the carton beverage) keeps the filling rich without watering it down. 
• Date syrup swaps in beautifully for maple syrup here; it's slightly less sweet, so taste your filling before chilling and adjust if you prefer a sweeter cheesecake. 
• For the granola, feel free to use your own homemade batch or a store-bought variety, but I'd love for you to try my homemade granola recipe for this one, since it's what I used here and it holds up perfectly in the crust.
• You'll also need lemon juice, vanilla extract, pitted dates, and salt.

Step 1: Soak the cashews

Cover the cashews with hot water and let them sit for about 30 minutes to soften. (Short on time? Boil them for 10 minutes instead.)

Step 2: Make the crust

Pulse the pitted dates and granola in a food processor until sticky and crumbly. Press about two-thirds of the mixture into the bottom of a small jar.

Step 3: Blend the filling

Drain the cashews, then blend them with the coconut milk, date syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt until completely smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Assemble

Pour the filling over the crust, then top with the remaining date-granola crumbs.

Step 5: Chill and set

Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until firm.

How to Store No-Bake Vegan Cheesecake

• Refrigerator: Store covered in the jar for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze covered for up to 1 month. Let it thaw in the fridge for a few hours before eating. It softens back to a creamy texture as it defrosts.
• Make-ahead tip: This is a great dessert to prep a few jars of at once and freeze individually, so you always have a treat ready to thaw.

Vegan Cheesecake Dietary Notes

• Vegan and vegetarian: every ingredient here is plant-based.
• Gluten-free: Only if you use certified gluten-free oats in your granola, since regular oats are often cross-contaminated with gluten during processing.
• Paleo: No. The oat-based granola isn't paleo-friendly. For a paleo version, swap the granola for a nut-and-seed crumble instead.
• Made without refined sugar: This recipe is sweetened entirely with whole dates and date syrup instead of refined sugar.
• Kid-friendly: Yes, with mild, naturally sweet flavors kids tend to enjoy. Just keep in mind it contains cashews for anyone with a tree nut allergy.

Vegan Cheesecake FAQs

Looking for other tasty dessert recipes like this? Try these:

⭐ Have you tried this small-batch vegan cheesecake jar? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to tag your creations so I can see them! Find me on YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram or TikTok.