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- 19 December 2016 < Back to gossip

Strawberry cheesecake

Oh. MY! I love this!!! I used to make my cheesecake base with shop-bought biscuits, but they all contain loads of refined sugar, so I find that this oatcake version is a godsend – and it tastes good too. The rest is a doddle and it is beyond gorgeous for an occasional treat. Ideally, leave the cheesecake to chill overnight in the fridge so it is properly set when you serve it.

Serves 8

  • 400 calories per serving
  • 400g full-fat cream cheese
  • 3 tbsp orange blossom honey
  • finely grated zest of 1 orange
  • seeds scraped from 1 vanilla pod
  • or 1 tsp vanilla powder
  • 100g Greek yoghurt
  • 400g strawberries, hulled and quartered

Base

  • 200g oatcakes
  • 75g butter, plus extra for greasing
  • 75g orange blossom honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla powder

Time check

  • Prep: 20 minutes, plus chilling
  • Cooking: 5 minutes

1. Start by making the base. Put the oatcakes in a blender and blitz until they resemble breadcrumbs. Melt the butter with the honey and vanilla in a small pan, add the crushed oatcakes and mix everything together well.

2. Lightly grease a 20cm loose-bottomed springform cake tin. Spoon the oatcake mixture into the base of the tin and press it down with a potato masher to make an even layer. Pop it in the fridge to chill while you make the topping.

3. Put the cream cheese, honey, half the orange zest, the vanilla and yoghurt into a blender and blitz until smooth. Add 200g of the strawberries and blitz a few times until they’re coarsely chopped. Pour the strawberry mixture over the top of the oatcake base and smooth the surface. Chill for 3 hours or ideally overnight.

4. To serve, decorate the top with the remaining strawberries and grated orange zest and cut into wedges.

A little tip...

I always used to use vanilla extract in cakes and puds, but it does contain sugar so then I found that vanilla pods weren’t as scary as I thought and got into the habit of using them. Now I’ve also discovered vanilla powder, which is really easy. It seems a bit pricy but a tub does last for ages. Up to you.

Sugar Free in a Hurry is a great way to eat less sugar and feel fantastic even if you're short on time! Delicious and healthy family recipes that help you balance blood sugar, lose weight and feel amazing!! Available now on Amazon, Waterstones and WHSmith.