TURTLE NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE

This was a nice cool and pretty simple treat we had last night.  I like cool and simple both, together, especially on a hot day.  Didn't have to bake this, except for the crust. That was quickly baked for about 10 minutes, not too bad.  The filling was simply the recipe for no-bake cheesecake from the side of the Knox Gelatin box using my sweetener in place of sugar and I used more vanilla. Most cheesecakes are pretty simple to low-carb. Ingredients are already low-carb except the sugar, so normally that's all that needs to be changed in any cheesecake recipe. They are mostly pretty basic.

I'm not a good decorator, nor am I that great of a photographer, but this didn't fail at all in taste! I have to say the longer the whole thing chills together, the better the flavors. It tasted even better this morning for breakfast. Yes, I eat pie for breakfast sometimes.  Why not? I'ts a healthy one. I would love to do this with quark if I had any or kefir cheese for a probiotic boost. If you count calories AND carbs, this will be a treat for another day, as it is a bit higher in calories for a dessert added onto a meal.  But something great for a special treat. Most low-carbers do not count calories but only carbs.  It has 7g net carbs, lots of fiber in the crust which is the kind of fiber I feel free to subtract because it's flaxseed, which, for me anyway, actually lowers my blood sugar when I use it, so truly for me I never count the carbs in flax at all.  I did not add carb or calorie count for the xylitol I used in the nutrition info, because many will use a different sweetener, so I just left out any carb count the sweeteners would have.  Truvia has none, but xylitol has some, if you use that, you have to take that into consideration.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

TURTLE NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE                    

Filling:                        
1 envelope  Knox Gelatine, unflavored
1/2 cup  sweetener of choice -- (I used 1/4 cup xylitol, and 6 packets of Truvia, or 1 Tbsp + 2 tsp.)
1 cup  boiling water
16 ounces  Neufchatel cheese -- softened, (or you can use regular cream cheese)
1 tablespoon  vanilla -- (or less if you like. I like lots of vanilla flavor)

Crust:
1 cup  golden flaxseed meal
1/3 cup  whey protein, Pure Protein, Vanilla Creme -- (brand I used, nutrition info is according to this)
1/4 cup  almond flour - Honeyville
2 1/2 teaspoons  truvia -- or 2 tbsp equivalent
1/4 cup  coconut oil -- melted, (OR butter)

Caramel Topping:
1/4 cup  butter
1/4 cup  granulated sweetener of choice -- (I used half xylitol and half Truvia)
1/4 teaspoon  blackstrap molasses
1/4 cup  half and half -- (OR heavy cream)

Chocolate Topping:
7 5/8 ounces  Nestle Media Crema (Table Cream) -- 1 can, (available in the Mexican food section at Walmart)
1/4 cup  sweetener of your choice, powdered -- (I used 6 packets or 1 tbsp + 2 tsp Truvia)
1/4 teaspoon  liquid sweetener -- (such as Stevia or Sucralose) - optional, if you like to add more sweetness.
2 tablespoons  coconut oil
8 squares  Lindt 85% Cocoa Bar -- chopped into small pieces
1 teaspoon  vanilla

Filling: In a small bowl combine gelatin, sweetener, and boiling water. Stir until completely melted. Set aside

In a large bowl, combine Neufchatel OR regular cream cheese and vanilla. Beat until smooth and creamy. Slowly, add a little at a time of the gelatin mixture while beating.  Continue beating until smooth. Pour into prepared cooled crust (below) and chill for 3 hours. Add cooled Caramel and Chocolate toppings (below), by first spreading the cooled caramel onto top of pie, then Place chocolate in a decorator tube or in a ziploc bag with a small hole cut in the corner and squeeze lines across the caramel topping criss-crossing if you wish, or decorate how you like. Chill another hour before serving.

Crust: In a 9 or 10-inch pie plate, add flaxseed meal, whey protein, almond flour, and Truvia.  Mix together with a fork.  Add melted coconut oil OR butter.  Mix with fork and press into bottom and up the sides of the pie plate.

Bake in preheated 350F oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes or more.

Caramel Topping: In heavy medium saucepan, add butter, granulated sweeteners, and blackstrap molasses. Stir, over high heat, until butter is melted and mixture is very bubbly.  Turn down heat to medium and very very slowly, just a little at a time, add the half and half, OR cream, while whisking vigorously.  When all cream is added, keep whisking and cooking for about 2 more minutes.  Pour into another container and cool to room temp and then chill.

Chocolate Topping: In a small saucepan, combine Nestle Table Cream, sweeteners, and coconut oil. Bring just to a slight boil, and add Lindt bar.  Add vanilla and stir with a wire whisk until smooth, creamy, and thickened. Let cool and use to decorate.  You may not use all of this but the nutrition info uses the entire amount of chocolate. So the actual count may be less than what I have here according to how much you use.

Copyright:
  "© Ginny Larsen, 7/10/2014"
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Per Serving (8 servings): 532 Calories; 48g Fat (79.3% calories from fat); 15g Protein; 13g Carbohydrate; 6g Dietary Fiber
NOTES : 7g net carbs

Helpful hints: Make the caramel and chocolate toppings ahead and let them completely cool before adding to pie.  Caramel thickens as it cools. Double the caramel recipe if you want a thicker caramel layer.