Since I made 7" cheesecakes, the red velvet cake batter will also be baked into 2- 7" cake pans. One layer will be for the base of the cheesecake (after cooling and unmolding) and the other will be for chunks to go into the batter- so be sure to prepare the red velvet cake recipe first. In the video I made a larger sized batch of red velvet cake, but realized I only needed a half recipe which is written below, for those who question why my recipe looks bigger on the video- It was!
First prepare the red velvet cake recipe by combining the ground flax seed with hot water and whisk smooth
Let stand for at least 5 minutes to thicken to a paste
In a large bowl place the sifted flour, Baking Soda, Salt and Cocoa Powder together
In another bowl combine all of the wet ingredients including the sugar and the red food color whisk smooth
Add the flax paste and then the dry ingredients and whisk smooth
Pour the batter into the greased and parchment lined cake pans and bake immediately at 350°F for 25 - 30 minutes or until springy to the touch when gently pressed in the centers or a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs
Once the red velvet cake is cooled take one layer and chop it up into ½" cubes, reserve them in the freezer or refrigerator to go into the cheesecake batter later.
The other layer of cake will go into the refrigerator (wrapped well) until after the cheesecake is completely set and ready to assemble
Place all cheesecake ingredients (except the red velvet cubes) into a food processor and process until smooth
Fold the red velvet cubes in by hand so they don't break up too much
Optional red food color swirl into a small portion of the batter (which actually made mine more pink, and I still can't decide if I like it or not! LOL)
Pour into a greased and parchment lined cake pan and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 1 hour.
After 1 hour turn the oven off and let the cheesecake stay inside to cool down for another hour,
Take out of the cooled oven and place in the refrigerator to cool and set for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Once completely firm and set unmold the cake onto a platter or cardboard cake circle, remove the parchment paper and adhere the red velvet cake layer onto the bottom (sometimes a little cream cheese icing helps as glue)
Ice the top and sides with more cream cheese icing then press the red velvet cake scraps that have been ground down to crumbs all over the top and sides, vegan white chocolate drizzle optional
Recipe by Gretchen's Vegan Bakery at https://www.gretchensveganbakery.com/red-velvet-cheesecake/