• Add cashews to a bowl and pour hot or just boiled water until covered. Let them soak for at least 20 minutes.
• Make the grape juice:
• This can be done up to 3 days in advance. Wash, remove all of the stems, and add grapes to a blender. Blend on high for a good 30 seconds. You want to break down as much of the skins as possible- they have a lot of the flavor and color!
• Using a fine strainer or sieve, pour the grape mix in and use a wooden (or large) spoon to help move the contents around, pressing down and making a circular motion. We're aiming to get as much of the juice squeezed out as possible.
• Bonus: if you have a few minutes, I like to pick out some of the skins and add them to the juice (it's all getting blended again anyways) as to waste as little as possible and get as much of that flavor into the cheesecake.

Make the crust:

• Add oats, coconut sugar, and salt into a food processor. Pulse to mix well. Add the coconut oil, vanilla and dates. Mix again until combined. I typically also need to add about 1 tbsp of water to help it come together so add that and pulse again. The dough should be a bit sticky, but not wet.
• If making bars, press the crust into an 8x8 parchment-lined pan. Make sure the parchment is hanging over on at least two sides so you can pull the bars out later. If making a cake, use an 8-9inch springform pan. The parchment isn't necessary with this style of pan.

Make the filling:

• Drain the soaked cashews and add to your blender along with the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut milk, lemon juice, vanilla, generous pinch of salt and concord grape juice/skins.
• Blend, starting low and working your way up to high, until the mix is super creamy and smooth.
• Pour the filling over your crust and level it out. Freeze for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
• Remove from the freezer and let it sit out for about 10 minutes (both cake or bars) to let it start to soften. Once able, either pull your bars out, or remove the springform pan for your cake.
• See notes below about thawing options!
• If you want to make a whipped cream (vegan or not), you'll add that to the bars or cake once it's thawed, just before serving.