a dessert challenge for someone with dietary restrictions

So, I've been wanting to create some kind of cheesecake-like cake that's free of dairy or soy (stuff I'm allergic to), something kind of custardy and creamy...I was thinking maybe coconut cream mixed with rice milk or something of that nature (with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg, or swirled with fruit jam or something like that), kind of made into a "custard" type thing and held together with fruit pectin? I'm not sure where to even begin...usually I'm really good at coming up with recipes on-the-fly, but this one is challenging...I wanted to pick the HipForum-ers' brains and see if anyone has worked with pectin (not gelatin...my intent is for my Jewish roomie to be able to eat this as well, and gelatin ain't Kosher) and has some advice with how to make it jell, or how it works...I'm for once at kind of a loss...

cross-posted in the Food Allergies forum (sorry if that's not good...I just want to pick the brains of many people and get perspectives from those who post in the food allergies forum as well as this one)...

Thanks in advance!