Healthy “Cheesecake” Grahamwich Snacks
When I was challenged to come up with a healthy snack recipe this month, all of my thoughts went to sweet things. I do enjoy savories, but my afternoon snack is almost always a hybrid of afternoon-pick-me-up and dessert. I do my best to keep it nutritious, but… who doesn’t love a little treat mid-day?
I decided to go with mini organic graham cracker sandwiches. Two crisp pieces of “bread” smooshing an all-natural spread. The filling isn’t exactly like cheesecake (hence the quotes!), but is definitely cheesecake-inspired. There are notes of savory, sour, and of course, sweet … but I kept the sugar quite light, this is a healthy snack and not a full on dessert, after all! You can adjust all of the seasonings to taste, if desired – more lemon to up the contrast, more sugar to soothe a sweet tooth, or more cashews+water for a creamier and softer texture.
Now graham-wiches lend themselves to all kinds of creativity. You can simply enjoy them plain, for a not-so-classic dairy-free “cheese” and cracker snack, or slather both sides with the spread, and sandwich something delicious in the middle.
How about some probiotic chocolate in this healthy snack? …
And how could I ignore the heavenly combination of “cheesecake” & strawberries? …
Warning: I like to eat messy things. I really am a neat and tidy girl by nature, but when it comes to food, the sloppier, the better. Extra barbecue sauce – yes, please. Ice cream melting in the hot sun – is there any other way to enjoy it? A soft sweet spread oozing out of graham cracker sandwiches – I think you and your children will agree that this is the way it should be …
Healthy “Cheesecake” Grahamwich Snacks
Please note that this is a very quick recipe to make, but I like to make the spread a day ahead, so it has time to set-up and gain flavor in the refrigerator. The spread will keep for a few days when chilled.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Diet type: Vegetarian, Dairy free, Egg free, Peanut free, Soy free, Refined Sugar free (optional)
Number of servings (yield): 4
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar (can sub evaporated cane juice
or cane sugar) - Scant 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 10 drops vanilla stevia, or to taste, optional
- 4 whole Erewhon Organic Graham Crackers
- 4 sliced strawberries or 2 bars of attune probiotic dark chocolate
broken into chunks, optional
Instructions
- Place the cashews, sugar, and salt in a spice grinder, and whiz for 60 seconds to finely grind.
- Place the cashew mixture, lemon juice, water, coconut oil, and vanilla in a blender or food processor (I use a small personal blender) and process until smooth.
- Taste test and blend in the stevia or additional sweetener as desired. You can also add more lemon if you like a more tart spread.
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to set-up. You can enjoy it immediately, but it will be quite soft. I like to make it the night before, allowing it to thicken and meld the flavors overnight.
- Break the graham crackers in quarters, and spread half or all of the graham quarters with the cashew spread.
- Sandwich two cracker pieces together with the filling in the middle, or eat open-faced.
- If desired, place sliced strawberries or pieces of probiotic chocolate in the middle of each graham-wich.
Be well!
Alisa
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Aug 07, 2012 @ 06:49:00
What a fun snack to satisfy my sweet tooth that also still craves that creaminess of dairy. Just a switch to a gluten-free graham cracker and I’d be all over this recipe, especially with the chocolate.
Aug 07, 2012 @ 07:01:00
Geez, you really came up with a winner with this combination! I love graham crackers and a local bakery here in CO just happens to make GF graham crackers, so this is going on my “to make” list. Having said that, I’ve got family members who don’t need to go the GF route, so I’ll tip them off about the Erewhon organic crackers. I can’t wait to get my hands on that probiotic dark chocolate. Wow, probiotics and antioxidants in the same chocolate treat?! Really? That’s perfect. =)
Aug 07, 2012 @ 07:31:00
Melissa, you would LOVE that chocolate. It is my favorite. It’s usually sold by the yogurt to keep that healthy bacteria alive. Glad you like the recipe!
Aug 07, 2012 @ 07:18:00
Love the “cheesecake” filling!! So creative and way healthier than regular ol’ cheesecake.
Aug 07, 2012 @ 08:04:00
I can totally imagine the flavors and textures in this one! The first version is super lovely, but as usual I’ll vote for the chocolate version. Either way … this recipe is worth buying (or making) some gluten-free graham crackers.
Thanks!
Shirley
Aug 07, 2012 @ 10:18:00
Is this recipe really nut free with cashews?
Aug 07, 2012 @ 15:24:00
Hi glanghaus, no, it is peanut-free, but not nut-free. If you want nut-free, you can sub sunflower seeds for the cashews.
Aug 07, 2012 @ 12:13:00
Oh gosh this spread sounds delectable! I think I’d have a hard time saving enough to spread on anything – it sounds like something I’d just want to eat with a spoon.
Aug 07, 2012 @ 13:04:00
I didn’t even know that Erewhon made graham crackers, thanks for the heads up! Although I guess this means I can’t just eat the “Cheesecake” with a spoon? Darn
Aug 07, 2012 @ 15:23:00
Well, no one said that!
Aug 07, 2012 @ 13:52:00
I am with you on sloppy foods – especially dessert
Now you have me craving dessert Alisa! I’ll be trying this with the kids.
Aug 07, 2012 @ 19:16:00
Clearly these fall in the “must be sloppy” category. I mean, they resemble s’mores, and if you eat a S’more without getting something sticky all over your face, you’re obviously doing it wrong!
*Remind self to get cashews at the store next time I go.*
Aug 08, 2012 @ 06:26:00
Agreed, on all accounts!
Aug 08, 2012 @ 03:02:00
Adorable!
Aug 08, 2012 @ 08:06:00
AHHHHH!!!! OHHHHHH!!!! These look fantastic. And so darn easy to make gluten free, either by using commercial GF cookies (Trader Joe’s has good ginger cookies that would work and Midel also has a GF ginger cookie – even though not graham crackers). Definitely gonna be on my list of “must try recipes”. Thanks Alisa!
Aug 08, 2012 @ 08:22:00
Erewhon Organic Graham Crackers have a kosher dairy symbol on the package so I how can they be dairy-free?
Aug 08, 2012 @ 09:15:00
Hi Christina, I’m not seeing a kosher dairy symbol on the package. But also, kosher dairy doesn’t mean there are dairy ingredients. It can mean that the product is made in a shared facility or on a shared line with other dairy-containing products. Erewhon Grahams are in fact dairy-free by ingredients, but if you are dealing with a severe food allergy, always contact the company about their manufacturing processes. I know Erewhon is very involved in their manufacturing and can give you all of the details on allergy testing needed.
Here’s a post on kosher symbols to explain – it can be confusing! – http://www.godairyfree.org/food-and-grocery/food-label-info/understanding-kosher
Aug 08, 2012 @ 14:46:00
If you go to the Attune Foods website the product is listed as U and D which by the link you sent says ” A “D,” or the word dairy, on a label next to a “K” or “U” symbol
(usually found near the product name) indicates the presence of milk
ingredients.” The package has the U and D located above the “H” on the word “Honey” on the front of the package. You need to look closely to see it if you have the crackers on your shelf at home.
Aug 12, 2012 @ 16:05:00
Hi Christina, from that page, “An “OU-D” symbol indicates that the product contains a dairy ingredient or a dairy derivative, or that it was made on equipment also used for making dairy products.” These grahams don’t have any dairy ingredients, I can confirm that. If they do have a “D” (the package I have doesn’t) then it would be referring to the processing. If cross-contamination is a worry for you, then I would contact attune about their allergy processes for the grahams. Hopefully they are ones that you can enjoy!
Aug 09, 2012 @ 07:49:00
what a great recipe!! they look so good! i could eating the filling by itself! yum!
Aug 10, 2012 @ 06:09:00
Divine! I love the use of several Attune products (my favorite brand!) and adding even more wonderful to the mix. The ingredients for these are healthy, too- which is always good when you have a sweet-tooth.
Thanks for the recipe! This might even be good (and maybe a little lighter) if made with tofu in replace of the cashews… or avocado or young coconut meat! Yum! Although, then they would be Healthy GREEN “Cheesecake” Grahamwich Snacks.
Trying this now!
-www.whatrunslori.com
Aug 10, 2012 @ 09:15:00
Oh my! Yes please!! And they are so easy to make gluten-free as well…I love this idea. Perfect for my kids.
Aug 13, 2012 @ 17:56:00
I miss smores! Would love to bite into one that is probiotic (minus the marshmellow – looks like your ‘cheesecake’ spread will do beautifully!). So smart to use a cashew-base to make this yummy, healthy snack!