Jack-O-Lantern Mini Cheesecakes
This mini cheesecake recipe is so much fun to make! It's a fast and simple way to get a sweet treat on the table.
Servings: 18 servings
Ingredients
To make the crust:
- 2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs about 15 graham crackers
- 8 Tbsp butter melted
- 1/3 cup sugar
To make the filling:
- 16 ounces cream cheese 2 blocks, softened
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cups sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- orange gel food coloring
How to make Chocolate Ganache
- 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 3 Tbsp heavy ceam
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
- In a medium size bowl stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter, and 1/3 cup sugar. Spoon about 2 tbsp of crust mixture into each muffin pan and firmly press to create the crust.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, add in sugar and continue to stir until well mixed.
- Add in vanilla and eggs one at a time mixing after each addition. Add in sour cream and mix until well incorporated. Add in a few drops of food coloring and mix. Add more and mix until desired color is achieved.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the crusts filling each muffin wrapper about ¾ of the way full.
- Gently tap the muffin pan on the table or counter several times to help any bubbles come to the surface. Jiggle the pan to help the top of the filling settle and smooth out. If necessary you can use a toothpick or point of a bamboo skewer to gently smooth the surface and pop any bubbles. The flatter the surface of these cheesecakes the easier they are to decorate.
- Place pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until they no longer look wet and the centers still jiggle.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- To make the ganache combine the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds and allow to sit for 3 minutes.
- Stir until smooth. If necessary heat in 10 second increments stirring between each until smooth.
- Place the chocolate mixture in a piping bag and decorate cheesecakes with jack o lantern faces.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.