Miniature Cheesecake Recipes

MINI CHERRY CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Line 24 regular-size muffin cups with paper liners. Place 1 vanilla wafer cookie in bottom of each cup.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and almond extract with electric mixer on medium-high speed 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is light and fluffy. Spoon evenly into muffin cups (about 2/3 full).
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from muffin cups to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours before serving.
• Just before serving, top each cheesecake with generous tablespoon pie filling; sprinkle with almonds.

EASY MINI CHEESECAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
• Make the graham cracker crust: Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press about 2-2 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of each muffin liner and press to compact.
• Beat room temperature cream cheese with a hand mixer until fluffy. Beat in room temperature sour cream. Beat in egg, sugar, and vanilla extract. (Room temperature ingredients are a must to avoid lumps!)
• Evenly divide (about 2-2 1/2 tablespoons each) cheesecake among crusts. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until they just begin to brown. Cool completely and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Serve plain or topped with whipped cream and berries. See notes for additional serving suggestions.

MINI CHERRY CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine crumbs and butter; press gently onto bottoms of 12 foil-lined muffin cups. In another bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Add egg; beat on low speed just until combined. Spoon over crusts. , Bake until centers are almost set, 12-15 minutes. Cool completely. , For topping, drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice in a saucepan; discard remaining juice. To reserved juice, add cherries, sugar, cornstarch and, if desired, food coloring. Bring to a boil; cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Cool; spoon over cheesecakes. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours.

MINI LEMON CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Mix all of the cheesecake ingredients together (the cream cheese, lemon, icing sugar and double cream) make sure it is well mixed, and you are getting lots of air into the mixture. Also make sure the lemon juice and rind is mixed in evenly into the mixture.
• Heat up your butter until it is melted (either on the hob or in the microwave).
• Mash up your biscuits into tiny pieces and put them in a bowl and mix in your melted butter.
• Press your biscuit base into moulds (you can use cake cases or no mould, but I find it easier to use one than not).
• Pile your cheesecake mix on top of the biscuit base in each mould, smoothing down the mixture on top and then leave in the fridge until serving (leave in the fridge for a minimum of half an hour, as the cheesecake is much better when served cool). When they are ready to serve, simply pop them out of the moulds, and enjoy!

MINI CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F). Line two 12-mold muffin tins with paper liners. Spray liners lightly with non-stick spray and set aside until needed.
• Place the cookies in the body of a small food processor - or blender - and pulse until the cookies are very fine crumbs. In a large bowl, combine the cookie crumbs with the melted butter and stir well to combine.
• Divide the mixture between the cupcake liners and press it firmly into the bottom of each mold.
• Bake crusts in preheated oven for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and place the tins on a wire rack to cool while you make the filling.
• Reduce oven to 300°F.
• Fill a medium pot one-third full with water and bring it to a low simmer over medium heat. Place a heatproof bowl that will fit on top of the pan snugly, but will not touch the simmering water, on top of the pan. Reduce the heat to low and add the chopped chocolate into the bowl over the pot. Heat until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula. Remove the pot from the heat, leaving the bowl of chocolate over the hot water. Set aside until needed.
• In the bowl of a food processor (or high-powered blender), pulse the cream cheese and sour cream until completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, about 2 minutes. Add in the sugar and cocoa powder and beat smooth. Add in the eggs, egg yolks, and heavy cream and mix until just combined, about 20 seconds. Fold in the chocolate. Finally add in the vanilla and pulse for another 20 seconds.
• Remove the bowl from the food processor and, using a rubber spatula, stir the filling several times to ensure it's evenly blended.
• Divide the filling evenly among the cupcake liners, pouring the batter over the crust, and filling each mold until it's almost full.
• Bake cheesecakes for 15 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave the door closed for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the cheesecake pans from the oven and place the pans on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool to the touch, place the pans in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours. Once the cheesecakes are completely cool, you can remove them from the pan.
• Add the chopped chocolate to a medium-sized heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan over medium-heat, heat the heavy cream just until it begins to boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and vigorously whisk until melted and completely smooth. Add a little chocolate ganache to the top of each cooled cheesecake, then top with grated chocolate, if using.
• Refrigerate cheesecakes until ready to serve. Cheesecakes will keep, stored in the fridge and covered, for 3 days.

MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Line muffin tins with 12 paper baking cups. Place a vanilla wafer in each one.
• In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add eggs, lemon juice, and sugar. Beat until smooth and thoroughly combined.
• Fill each baking cup 2/3 full with cream cheese mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes. Cool on a rack. Top with fruit pie filling. Pipe whipped cream or sweetened cream cheese into a rosette on top of each cheesecake just prior to serving, if desired.

PHILADELPHIA MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine graham crumbs, 2 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottoms of 18 paper-lined muffin cups.
• Beat cream cheese, vanilla and remaining sugar with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Spoon over crusts.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or until centers are almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 2 hours.
• Beat whipping cream with mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form; spread onto cheesecakes. Top with blueberries and zest.

MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Set your ingredients (cream cheese, eggs, sour cream) out on the counter to come to room temperature at least 1 hour, preferably 2 hours before you plan to bake your mini cheeseccakes.
• Preheat your oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
• Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter.
• Press about 2 tablespoons of the crumbs into 18 paper-lined muffin cups.
• Beat cream cheese on low speed, scraping down the bowl, as needed, until smooth.
• Add sugar and beat until smooth.
• Add egg and vanilla just until combined. Do not overmix at this point.
• Stir in the sour cream.
• Equally divide cheesecake filling among the 18 muffin cups, spooning about 2 tablespoons of filling into each.
• Bake on the middle rack in the oven for 15-18 minutes until the cheesecakes no longer look wet, but the center still jiggles.
• Remove and set on a cooling rack.
• Allow to cool for about 45 minutes then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Before serving, pop the cheesecakes into the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Remove and immediately peel away the paper liners.
• Set on a serving dish or individual dessert plates and serve plain or add your favorite topping.

MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 12-count muffin pan with cupcake liners and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Add the melted butter and mix until all of the crumbs are moistened. Evenly distribute the mixture between all 12 liners and firmly press it down into one even layer.
• Bake at 325°F (163°C) for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside. Keep oven temperature at 325°F (163°C).
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, on low speed until just combined.
• Evenly distribute the batter between all 12 liners in the cupcake pan, filling each one almost all the way to the top.
• Bake at 325°F (163°C) for 17-20 minutes or until the tops of the cheesecakes are set.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 1 hour. Carefully remove from the pan and chill in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours or overnight.

MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 12-cavity (regular size) muffin/cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, white sugar, and melted (but not hot) butter. Divide the mixture between the cupcake liners (about 1 tablespoon per cup) and press into the bottoms. I like to use the lid of a milk container to press the crust into the bottoms evenly.
• Bake crusts for 5 minutes and then remove from oven. Set aside to cool.
• Make sure your cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs are all at room temperature. Reduce the heat to 300 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, combine the 12 ounces cream cheese and 1/2 cup white sugar using a hand mixer. Beat at low speeds and in the same direction to reduce beating air into the mixture (which will result in cracks later on). Add the 1/2 cup sour cream, vanilla bean seeds (or paste or extract), and 1/8 teaspoon sea salt. Beat on low speed until completely combined.
• Scrape down the sides and add in the 2 tablespoons white flour. Beat on low speed until combined. Add the first egg and make sure to beat until the egg is completely incorporated. Add the second egg and again, still beating slowly, beat until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners and nearly to the top. Disperse all of the batter evenly between the 12 cupcake liners.
• Bake cheesecakes for 13 minutes, then turn off oven and leave the door closed for another 10 minutes. Crack the oven door open and allow cheesecakes to cool for 25 minutes; then pull out an place on the counter at room temperature. We are slowly lowering the temperature of the cheesecakes to keep the rising and falling (and resulting cracks) to a minimum.
• Once the cheesecakes are at room temperature, transfer to the fridge to chill for 2-3 hours.
• STRAWBERRY SAUCE: Add the 1 cup coarsely chopped strawberries, 2 tablespoons white sugar, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice to a small saucepan. Simmer on low for 10 minutes, mashing up strawberries with the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth. (if the strawberry seeds bother you, strain the sauce here by pressing the mixture through a fine mesh sieve.) Place in the fridge to chill before topping cheesecakes.
• SERVE: When ready to serve, add a spoonful of the strawberry sauce and a fresh strawberry (if desired) to the tops of the mini cheesecakes. Store any leftovers (sauce separate from the cheesecakes) in the fridge.

THE BEST NO BAKE MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• If using a mini cheesecake pan with removable bottom, lightly grease sides and bottom of each cavity. If using a cupcake pan, line the pan with cupcake liners. Set aside (see notes).
• In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients for the crust until evenly moist.
• Scoop a heaping tablespoon into each cavity or cupcake cup and press firmly down into the bottom of the pan (see notes). Chill while preparing the filling.
• In another large bowl, beat 2 blocks of cream cheese, 1 tsp vanilla and 1 cup sugar until smooth and incorporated (about 2-3 minutes on medium speed).
• In a separate bowl, whisk mascarpone cheese and 1 cup heavy cream until they form stiff peaks (about 2-3 minutes on medium/high speed).
• Fold this into your cream cheese mixture.
• Transfer the filling into your prepared pan, smoothen the tops and chill for at least 6 hours or until set (preferably overnight). Serve with your favourite toppings (optional).

MINI NO-BAKE CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Line two standard 12-count muffin pans with cupcake liners. Make sure you have room in your refrigerator for both pans. (You refrigerate them in step 6.)
• If your graham crackers aren't crumbs yet, use a food processor to pulse them into fine crumbs. Pour crumbs into a medium bowl and stir in the brown sugar and melted butter until combined. Mixture will have the consistency of wet sand. Spoon 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons of the crust mixture into each muffin liner and use the back of the spoon to pack it down tightly.
• The next step is optional. Though it's not required, I recommend baking the crusts for a quick 5 minutes in a 350°F (177°C) oven. The crusts are a little sturdier this way. However, if you can't use an oven or simply don't want to, you can skip this step. The crust will just be a bit crumblier. If baking, let the warm crusts cool for 10 minutes before adding the filling on top.
• Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the cold heavy cream into stiff peaks on medium-high speed, about 3 minutes. Set aside. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth and combined, about 1 minute. Make sure there are no large lumps of cream cheese. If there are lumps, keep beating until smooth. Using your mixer on low speed or a rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream into the cheesecake filling until combined. This takes several turns of your rubber spatula. Combine slowly as you don't want to deflate all the air in the whipped cream.
• You can use a spoon or piping bag to transfer the filling on top of the crusts. Spoon or pipe about 2 Tablespoons of filling over each crust. I prefer piping the filling because it's a little easier and neater. Fit your piping bag with a large star or round piping tip, then transfer the filling to the bag and pipe. (You could also use a plastic zipped-top bag. Spoon the filling inside, snip an end off a corner, and pipe.) Use the back of a spoon to smooth the tops so they are flat.
• Refrigerate the mini cheesecakes in the pans for at least 3 hours and up to 2 days. If refrigerating for longer than 3 hours, I recommend covering with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
• Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Serve with optional toppings (see recipe Note). The cheesecakes begin to soften and stick to the liners after about 30-60 minutes at room temperature.
• Cover and store leftover mini cheesecakes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

MINIATURE CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper or foil baking liners. Place one vanilla wafer in each cup.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the nutmeg and vanilla. Pour mixture evenly into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until set. Cool completely, then top with cherry pie filling. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.