vegan cream cheese – Vegan Rescue

Quesitos ~ Vegan & Puerto Rican
vegan ~ dairy-free

Makes: 12
Total Time: 40 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Author/Credit: Jessica Williams/Vegan Rescue

Quesitos ~ Sweet, Simple, Luxurious.

My my my, here is another Puerto Rican dessert/pastry for you to try. So good! These Quesitos are delightfully vegan. Like Donuts or Danishes, Quesitos complement coffee or tea perfectly. These are so quick to make, about ten to fifteen minutes to prep and twenty minutes to bake. They also make a nice after dinner treat.
Quesitos are a popular dessert in Puerto Rican bakeries; they have such a nostalgic quality about them too. This treat has the perfect balance of sweet and salty. I certainly use Tofutti’s cream cheese in so many recipes, but I prefer Mikoyo’s for this recipe. Mikoyo’s has the perfect saltiness that really holds up to the sweetness, offering a perfect balance. This cream cheese also has a wonderfully fluffy texture. The soft texture of Miyoko’s takes this delicate pastry to the next level.
There are so many variations of Quesitos, some have a glaze made with sugar/corn syrup or are topped with powdered sugar or honey. I know honey is a hot topic for vegans, but if you are a vegan who eats honey – be sure to buy your honey locally.
The simplicity of this Puerto Rican cream cheese pastry is sure to satisfy.
Estilo Boricua ~ Enjoy!

Check out Vegan Rescue on Instagram (@veganrescue) for a video of this recipe ~ Remember to Like/Share/Follow.

Ingredients:
1 (17.3 oz) Package Puff Pastry (contains 2 sheets)
1 (8oz container) Vegan Cream Cheese (I use Miyoko’s)
1/4 Cup Raw Cane Sugar
1/4 Cup Raw Honey/Agave (or Glaze-Corn Syrup/Sugar)

Directions:
-Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
-Remove thawed puff pastry from wrapper onto a lightly floured surface or onto parchment paper. The package I use comes with two sheets (I use both in this recipe).
-Lightly flour pastry sheet and roll out into a thin sheet. I will typically do a few passes with the rolling pin to bring the thickness down about half.
-Cut the sheet into thirds, then cut each third into half. Makes six pieces per sheet. This recipe makes twelve in total.
-Towards the base of the cut pastry, add about a tablespoon of cream cheese lengthwise. Note: Since I’m using Miyoko’s cream cheese, which is a bit softer, I typically score the cream cheese in the container to be sure I end up with even portions. If you are using a firmer cream cheese you can empty the container and cut it into twelve even portions for the filling.
-Beside the cream cheese (towards the center of the cut pastry), add about one teaspoon of raw cane sugar lengthwise. -See pictures below.
-Fold up the base over top of the cream cheese/sugar and roll up, folding the sides along the way.
-Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
-Place rolled Quesitos on lined baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
-Allow Quesitos to cool for about 5-10 minutes. -Then add about a teaspoon of glaze to the top of each Quesito, whether using honey/agave or a sugar glaze.
-Enjoy! The Quesitos should still be nice and warm.

Puerto Rican Vegan Quesitos

Makes: 12
Total Time: 40 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Author/Credit: Jessica Williams/Vegan Rescue

Ingredients:
1 (17.3 oz) Package Puff Pastry (contains 2 sheets)
1 (8oz container) Vegan Cream Cheese (I use Miyoko’s)
1/4 Cup Raw Cane Sugar
1/4 Cup Raw Honey/Agave (or Glaze-Corn Syrup/Sugar)

Directions:
-In-Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
-Remove thawed puff pastry from wrapper onto a lightly floured surface or onto parchment paper. The package I use comes with two sheets (I use both in this recipe).
-Lightly flour pastry sheet and roll out into a thin sheet. I will typically do a few passes with the rolling pin to bring the thickness down about half.
-Cut the sheet into thirds, then cut each third into half. Makes six pieces per sheet. This recipe makes twelve in total.
-Towards the base of the cut pastry, add about a tablespoon of cream cheese lengthwise. Note: Since I’m using Miyoko’s cream cheese, which is a bit softer, I typically score the cream cheese in the container to be sure I end up with even portions. If you are using a firmer cream cheese you can empty the container and cut it into twelve even portions for the filling.
-Beside the cream cheese (towards the center of the cut pastry), add about one teaspoon of raw cane sugar lengthwise.
-Fold up the base over top of the cream cheese/sugar and roll up, folding the sides along the way.
-Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
-Place rolled Quesitos on lined baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
-Allow Quesitos to cool for about 5-10 minutes. -Then add about a teaspoon of glaze to the top of each Quesito, whether using honey/agave or a sugar glaze.
-Enjoy! The Quesitos should still be nice and warm.

Carrot Coconut Cake Balls with “Cream Cheese” Macadamia/Brazil Nut Icing
(Makes 32-36 1-inch balls)

With Easter around the corner I was inspired to share this Carrot Cake recipe in celebration of the letter “C” today. I reinvented my very own layered carrot cake recipe and created carrot cake balls! These are easy for parties and kid-friendly! This recipe is incredibly delicious! My mom has a fantastic carrot cake recipe that she’s made for years, decades even. I took similar ingredients – basically the ‘normal/standard’ Carrot Cake add-ins (Carrots, Walnuts, Cinnamon, Pinapple) and created this vegan version. I will go so far as to say my recipe is even better! Sorry mommy. I’ve actually kept this recipe secret for years and was reluctant to share it. Please give credit back if you plan on making or sharing this recipe, I truly cherish it. It’s world famous and award winning in my eyes. I’ve gotten many compliments on this recipe over the years. Even the skeptics that frown upon the idea of carrot cake give it a try and have fallen in love. Hope you do too.

Ingredients:
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 Tsp Baking Soda
3 Tsp Cinnamon
½ Tsp Salt
2 Cups Sugar
1/3 Cup Coconut, shredded finely
3 Tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer, (powder only – no water)
2 Cups Carrots, shredded finely
2 Tbsp Warm Water
1 Cup Crushed Pineapple
¼ Cup Applesauce
1 Cup Canola Oil
¼ Cup Coconut Milk
1 Cup Walnuts, crushed
Additional shredded coconut for topping

Directions:
-Preheat oven 350 degrees.
-Grease two (9-inch) pans – Earth Balance (Vegan Butter) or cooking spray, if you prefer.
-Combine all Dry (First 7) ingredients – I just whisk together the dry items.
-Ditch the whisk and combine the remaining ingredients (Final 7) with a spoon.

-Bake for 30 minutes and let cool before handling. At this point you can serve up and ice like a regular cake.

-Once cooled mix together with ¾ of prepared icing (recipe to follow). Roll into balls. Then roll into coconut shreds or place a dollop of cream cheese icing on top. Keep refrigerated. They are actually best served cold.

“Cream Cheese” Icing

Ingredients:
1 ½ Cups Macadamia Nuts (6.5 oz), soaked 5-8 hours
½ Cup Brazil Nuts
¼ Cup Coconut Milk
¼ Cup Water
3 Tbsp Earth Balance (Vegan Butter)
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
Juice of (1) Lime, divided

Directions:
-Drain and rinse Macadamia nuts after soaking.
-In a high-speed blender (I just used my Nutribullet a Vitamix would work well too) combine: Macadamia Nuts, Brazil Nuts, Coconut Milk, Water and juice of half a Lime until “cream cheese” has been formed.

-In a bowl with a hand mixer combine “cream cheese” Earth Balance, Powdered Sugar and 2^nd half of Lime – juiced. -Refrigerate and Enjoy!!