This is the classic vegan cheesecake recipe of dinner party legend.  Try to find the non-hydrogenated Tofutti cream cheese or a similar brand.  Hydrogenated oils should, arguably, not be in the food supply.




1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 crackers)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, melted
1 Tablespoon brown rice syrup

¾ cup, + 1 Tablespoon sugar
¾ cup soy yogurt
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons soy milk
1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt

24 oz Tofutti (or similar brand) imitation cream cheese (3, 8oz containers)

Crust:

1)
Break the graham crackers into small pieces and place them in a food processor or blender with the cinnamon.  Pulse them until they are fine crumbs.  Add the crumbs to a medium size mixing bowl.

2)
In a small saucepan, whisk together the melted margarine and brown rice syrup on low heat until well combined.

3)
Add the melted margarine to the bowl containing the graham cracker crumbs and thoroughly hand mix with a fork until they are evenly saturated. 

4)
If possible, turn an empty medium mixing bowl upside-down and place the spring form on top of it.  This will allow you to compress the crumbs with greater force, without risking the spring form 'popping' and ejecting all of your crumbs.  Being able to compress the crumbs more will make a better crust.  Compress the crumbs into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan using the flat bottom of a drinking glass.

Filling:

1)
Preheat oven to 325F (163C).  In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the sugar, soy yogurt, all-purpose flour, soy milk, lemon juice, vanilla extract and salt.  Set aside.

2)
In another medium mixing bowl, beat the imitation cream cheese until it's slightly fluffy.  Mix in the turbinado sugar and soy yogurt mixture from step 1.  Beat the batter until it's smooth.

3)
Pour the mixture into the 9 inch spring form pan.  Jostle the spring form back and forth and side to side to get excess air bubbles to escape. 

4)
Bake for 1 hour, 30 minutes.  It is important not to open the oven or else the cheesecake will cave in.  Let the cheesecake cool overnight.

5)
When the cheesecake has cooled, use a small knife to go around the edges carefully to free the remaining cheesecake from the spring form pan.  Open up the spring form pan as far as you can and shake it slightly to get it to let go.    Lift the spring form siding away.  Place in the refrigerator. 

Top it with your favorite high-quality preserves, and enjoy!