🎄 Christmas Mini Cheesecakes (Makes 12)

🧾 Ingredients

Crust

• 1 cup (120 g) graham cracker crumbs
  (or digestive biscuits)

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 4 tbsp (60 g) unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake Filling

• 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened

• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream

• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour (optional, for stability)

Christmas Toppings (Choose Any)

• Cherry pie filling

• Cranberry sauce

• Mini candy canes (crushed)

• Chocolate ganache

• Whipped cream + festive sprinkles

• Mini gingerbread cookies

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prep

• Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C)

• Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners

2️⃣ Make the Crust

1. Mix graham crumbs, sugar, and melted butter

2. Spoon 1½ tbsp into each liner

3. Press firmly with a spoon or glass

4. Bake 5 minutes, then cool slightly

3️⃣ Cheesecake Filling

1. Beat cream cheese until smooth (no lumps!)

2. Add sugar and mix well

3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing gently

4. Mix in vanilla, sour cream, and flour

5. Do not overmix

4️⃣ Assemble & Bake

• Spoon filling over crusts (about ¾ full)

• Bake 18–22 minutes

• Centers should be slightly jiggly

5️⃣ Cool Properly

1. Turn oven off, crack door open, cool 10 minutes

2. Remove and cool at room temp 30 minutes

3. Refrigerate at least 2 hours (overnight best)

6️⃣ Decorate

Add toppings just before serving for best texture 🎅

❄️ Storage

• Refrigerator: up to 4 days

• Freezer (without toppings): up to 2 months

❓ Q & A – Christmas Mini Cheesecakes

Q: Can I make these ahead of time?

✅ Yes! Make them 1–2 days in advance and decorate on serving day.

Q: Can I freeze mini cheesecakes?

✅ Absolutely. Freeze without toppings. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Q: Why did my cheesecakes crack?

Common causes:

• Overmixing

• Oven too hot

• Cooling too fast
  💡 Don’t worry—toppings hide cracks perfectly!

Q: Can I make them without an oven?

⚠️ This recipe is baked. For a no-bake version, let me know and I’ll share one!

Q: Can I change the crust?

✅ Yes! Try:

• Oreo crumbs

• Gingerbread cookies (very Christmas-y 🎄)

• Biscoff biscuits

Q: How do I make them extra festive?

🎅 Add:

• Red & green sprinkles

• White chocolate drizzle

• Sugared cranberries

• Mini Santa or snowflake toppers

Q: Can I make them gluten-free?

✅ Yes! Use gluten-free cookies for the crust.