On Christmas Day, Mr. Handsome and I opened gifts and had a relaxing morning and afternoon at home before heading over to another couple’s house for dinner. They cooked ham and sides, and we brought Caesar salad and dessert. The hostess has celiac disease and is gluten-free, so I settled on cheesecake for the dessert. (My cheesecake recipe can easily be converted to gluten-free just by using gluten-free cookies for the crust.)
Rather than make an entire cheesecake for four people, I decided to bake mini cheesecakes instead. That way, we could easily split up the leftovers between our two households. The mini cheesecakes turned out great and were easy to prepare. My recipe is below. Do you like cheesecake? If so, what is your favorite flavor? Feel free to experiment with different flavors using this recipe.
Mini Cheesecakes
Ingredients
- 20 creme-filled sandwich cookies, crushed Chocolate or vanilla Oreos or similar work well
- 16 ox cream cheese
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup sour cream
Instructions
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Firmly press crushed cookies into muffin pans lined with 18 liners (about 1-1/2 Tbsp per liner.) When you crush the cookies, make sure to crush the entire cookie. The creme filling helps the crumbs stick together.
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Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar and almond extract, and beat again until fluffy.
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Add eggs one at a time, and then add sour cream. Beat until smooth.
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Spoon cream cheese mixture into muffin pans.
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Bake 20 minutes at 350 (until cheesecakes are firm). Remove from oven, and allow pans to sit 5 minutes.
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Gently remove cheesecakes (with muffin liners) from muffin pans, and place on a cookie sheet. After sitting out for a few minutes, the centers will no longer be as puffed up as they were when they first came out of the oven, but this is to be expected.
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Cool cheesecakes in refrigerator for 1 hour, and then gently remove from muffin liners. Serve plain or covered in fruit or melted chocolate.
Recipe Notes
To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free cookies.
I usually do not comment here, but I am celiac. Please, everything in the recipe needs to be gluten free. Gluten is found in so many things including chocolate. It is not just substituting the starch though of course that is important. I just do not want readers following this and thinking it is that easy. Caution and care must also be used that cooking/baking utensils normally used for gluten recipes cannot transfer any gluten. Croutons cannot be used in the caesar salad and the dressing must also be gluten free. The dessert looks delicious though and thanks for sharing. As a Celiac I find it difficult to eat out at friends and people get offended very easily and what they think is my fussiness when it is actually a disease. People just do not understand. So thank you for taking the time to care enough to dishes suitable for your hostess.
You’re very welcome! 🙂 I agree, it’s crazy how many food items gluten is added to unnecessarily. In general, our food has way too many additives that are completely unnecessary. Spices are what shock me the most. When I started cooking on a regular basis, I was able to find brands of spices and spice mixtures that don’t contain additives, but it took some time.
Ellie
Maybe you could do a blog post on additive-free cooking sometime. I try to cook as cleanly as possible, and knowing which spices are free of additives would help immensely. Just an idea. Thanks!
Great idea, Michelle. I’ll add that to my list of posts to write after my baby comes. Have a happy new year!
Ellie
Baby update??
No baby yet. I’m due in 1 week, so I plan to start walking daily to try to get things moving. Happy New Year!
Ellie
Don’t rush him along! I have had three babies: one at 36 weeks; one at 42 and one at 40+3. Mr 42 weeks was a dream. Big, responsive and able to sleep long stretches from the word go. Don’t try to wrinkle him out (and definitely don’t let them induce you before 41+ 5, unless there’s a clear medical basis for doing so). A well cooked baby is an easy baby.
But daily walks sound nice, so carry on 🙂 xxxx
Thanks for sharing your experience, MarriedUK. It’s hard to think about another 3 weeks, but I definitely see what you’re saying. Hope he’s ready sooner than 42 weeks though. Lol
Ellie
It will happen! I have almost total amnesia about pregnancy (which is good because I intellectually understand how awful it was!) but I do remember how agonising those last few weeks can be! He’ll be here soon enough! Good luck. I had fabulous labours and hope the same happens for you!
Thanks so much for your well wishes!
Ellie
Thank you for the recipe! I love cheesecake! My favorite is graham cracker crust with cherry pie filling on top. Ellie your 3 blogs are always interesting never boring, I think that’s why I love them so much… Jane
That sounds tasty! And thank you for saying that–I’m very grateful to have you as a reader. Hope you and your family have a happy New Year’s celebration. What are your plans?
Ellie
My hubby and I always stay home and watch the ball drop in NYC Times Square on television and toast the New Year… Jane
Sounds fun! We will probably do that as well. Have a great evening.
Looks good! Another tip for the chocolate for an easy way would be just to sprinkle a few chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips on the top after it’s been baking awhile. I think I’ve waited till the tops were puffed up and still a little wet to sprinkle them on. That’s so they won’t get buried in the middle of the cheesecake but you can still see them on the top. Comes out looking pretty. The mini cheesecakes are a fun idea for a party, shower, or a special meal like you did, Ellie! (I keep looking on here everyday for some baby news 🙂 I think your readers are excited to hear something-I know I am!!!!)
Great ideas, Candi! Looking forward to sharing baby news when it happens. 🙂
Ellie
Praying for you and your son, and Mr. Handsome too😀Can’t wait for the news❤️‼️
Thank you for the prayers! Happy new year!
Ellie
I’ve enjoyed and appreciated your 2018 blog posts!
Thank-you and Mr Handsome for all of your social, communicative efforts! All the best in 2019 to you Mama and your baby and his ‘Dada’! What alot of new for you two!
I’m so glad to hear that, and I’m grateful to have you as a reader. Happy new year!
Ellie
Is you Mom and Dad going to be their for the birth their grandson and Mr. Handsome parents?
I hope you have him on January 8. My Birthday and my sister 25th wedding Anniversary.
They will come visit after the baby arrives. 🙂
Ellie
Hey Ellie, how are you doing? Any news on the baby front? Best of luck!
No baby yet, but I’m having lots of contractions, so he’s getting ready.
Ellie
Any baby yet?
No baby yet. 🙂
Ellie
Happy New year
Thank you so much for your blogs . I love reading about your adventures…Wishing you a healthy baby and easy delivery .
Take care ,rest well I’m sure it won’t be long before your holding him in your arms …
Thank you! Happy New Year to you, as well.
Ellie
Love your easy recipes that make cooking so much fun. If I had known about them I would have started cooking a few years ago.
I’m so glad to hear that, Dawn!