Description
Creamy mini cheesecakes nestled on crisp vanilla wafer crusts deliver pure dessert bliss. Rich Philadelphia cream cheese and sweet simplicity make these bite-sized treats irresistible for quick indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crust Ingredient:
- 12 vanilla wafer cookies (like Nilla Wafers)
Topping Ingredients:
- Whipped cream
- Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries)
- Caramel or chocolate drizzle
Instructions
- Prepare the muffin tin by lining it with cupcake liners and positioning a single vanilla wafer at the base of each liner, ensuring the flat side is facing down.
- In a mixing bowl, thoroughly blend cream cheese and sugar until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Incorporate vanilla extract and egg into the cream cheese mixture, gently mixing until just combined to maintain a smooth texture.
- Carefully distribute the cheesecake filling across the 12 muffin cups, filling each approximately three-quarters full to allow room for slight rising during baking.
- Place the muffin tin in a preheated oven set to 350F (175C), allowing the mini cheesecakes to bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges appear firmly set while the centers retain a subtle wobble.
- Remove the tin from the oven and let the cheesecakes rest at room temperature for 10 minutes to begin cooling gradually.
- Transfer the muffin tin to the refrigerator and chill for a minimum of 2 hours, or ideally overnight, to enable complete setting and enhance flavor development.
- Before serving, personalize each mini cheesecake with optional toppings such as fluffy whipped cream, vibrant fresh berries, or a decadent drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce.
Notes
- Swap vanilla wafers with gluten-free alternatives like almond or graham crackers to create a celiac-friendly version.
- Reduce sugar content by using monk fruit sweetener or stevia for a low-carb, diabetic-friendly cheesecake option.
- Incorporate flavor variations by adding lemon zest, melted chocolate, or crushed nuts directly into the cheesecake mixture for custom taste profiles.
- Prevent cracking by avoiding overmixing the batter and using room temperature ingredients, which help create a smooth, creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg