"The Very Vegan Vixen" Cheesecake

Made with just a handful of simple, plant-based ingredients, this cheesecake has all the tang and creaminess of this classic recipe — without the cheese. Set on a crisp vegan graham cracker crust, it’s proof that indulgence doesn’t need dairy.

East Side Cheesecakes is a love story between Julia Tokarz and Gregory Lay, who met in New York City in 2014. The pair, both actors and filmmakers, grew tired of the daily grind, so in 2019 they moved to LA. Greg became head baker at a now-famous bagel shop and Julia took on catering jobs, and when the Covid pandemic hit Julia found herself out of work and they saw the opportunity to launch their own business. They combined the fresh cream cheese that Greg had been making at the bagel shop with Julia’s mom’s Christmas cheesecake recipe, and East Side Cheesecakes was born.