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Four 4.5-Inch Cheesecakes With Nine Stir-In Variations

Here's how you make Four 4.5-Inch Cheesecakes With Nine Stir-In Variations
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  • Servings: 8-16
  • Prep: 30m
  • Cook: 50m
    • The following recipe serves 8-16 people.

Ingredients

The ingredients are:
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (chocolate graham cracker crumbs, or chocolate wafer cookie crumbs may also be used)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
  • 24 ounces cream cheese (3 three 8-ounce packages at room temperature)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs (at room temperature)
We recommend you get your ingredients ready before you start cooking. Once you're ready, here are the steps to making this delicious recipe

How to Make

  • Step 1: Preheat oven to 300F.

  • Step 2: Mix crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar and butter; press scant 1/3 cup crumb mixture onto bottom of each of 4 mini (4-1/2-inch) springform pans.

  • Step 3: Bake at 300F (150C) for 7 minutes.

  • Step 4: Mix cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.

  • Step 5: Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended.

  • Step 6: Decide what variations you'll make and pour 1/4 of the batter (about 1 cup) into each of 4 bowls.

  • Step 7: Add one of the stir-In variations to each bowl of batter, as desired. Pour over crusts. Place pans on cookie sheet.

  • Step 8: Bake at 300F (150C) for 40 to 45 minutes, or until centers are almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rims of pans to loosen cakes; cool before removing rims of pans. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

  • Step 9: Topping Ideas to garnish: Fresh fruits, such as strawberry halves, slices of kiwi, whole raspberries, sliced peaches, or chocolate curls can be placed in the middle of cheesecakes, for garnish, before serving.

  • Step 10: STIR-IN VARIATIONS ~ For each 1/4 portion of batter (approximately 1 cup), stir in one of the following:.

  • Step 11: APPLE PIE MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1/8 teaspoon. ground cinnamon; pour over crust. Bake as directed. Top cheesecake with combined 1/2 cup warmed apple pie filling and 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar.

  • Step 12: NEW YORK MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1/4 cup sour cream and 1 tablespoon flour.

  • Step 13: CHOCOLATE CHUNK MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1/4 cup milk chocolate chunks.

  • Step 14: CITRUS MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1 teaspoon lemon, orange, or lime juice; 1 teaspoon flour and 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon, orange. or lime zest.

  • Step 15: S'MORES MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 3 tablespoons milk chocolate chunks; pour over crust. Top with 1/4 cup miniature marshmallows and 1 tablespoon broken graham crackers.

  • Step 16: COOKIES AND CREAM MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped cookies, such as Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies or Chips Ahoy! Chocolate Chip Cookies.

  • Step 17: CHOCOLATE ROYALE MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted.

  • Step 18: PEANUT BUTTER MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 2 tablespoons peanut butter and 1 tablespoon milk.

  • Step 19: MOCHA MINI CHEESECAKE: Mix 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules with 2 teaspoons hot water. Stir into batter along with 2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted.

Tips & Variations

Don't forget the following tips and variations.
  • Four 4.5-inch springform cheesecake pans, or
  • Five 4x2-inch ramekins (7-ounce)
  • Large rimmed cookie sheet

We hope you enjoy this recipe!

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