Thursday, November 19, 2009

Mini Cheesecakes with Fruit & a Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my Gourmet Cheese Tasting Party Giveaway last week. I enjoyed reading all the ways you slow down & savor the moments in your life. Hopefully, I will put a few of them into play. I am happy to say that Reeni from Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice is the winner!!!

But no one loses today. Not with these adorable desserts. I've been making these mini cheesecake tarts for a long time now & everyone loves them. They're so quick & simple to make & delicious to boot! I like to make a variety of blueberry, cherry & either strawberry or apple.



MINI CHEESECAKES WITH FRUIT from Paula Deen


(2) 8oz pkgs 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
(1) cup sugar
(1) tsp vanilla extract
(2) eggs
(12) vanilla wafers
Pie filling or fresh fruit - blueberry, cherry, apple
(1) pkg cupcake holders

Preheat over to 350. Line each cup of a 12 muffin pan with a cupcake liner & lay a wafer flat side down in each.



Beat cream cheese with mixer until fluffy. Add sugar & vanilla. Beat well. Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wafers. It should almost come up to the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes.



Check with toothpick after 20. Allow to cool completely on a rack.



The middle will collapse a bit & this is perfect to hold the fruit. Fill each tart with fruit. Cool in fridge until ready to serve. I like to take them out 10 minutes prior to serving just to get some of the chill out.



{Food for Thought}

I like to make these a day ahead of time so I'll put the cheesecakes in the fridge & fill them with fruit the day of serving.

I have found that pie filling does not freeze well so if you're not going to use it up I recommend using fresh fruit. For strawberries & blueberries just chop up your fruit, mashing just a few of the pieces, add some lemon juice & sugar & let sit at room temp for 30 min.  This process is called "to macerate." You will have a syrupy fruit. If using fresh apples, just saute in some butter & cinnamon.

~ ~ ~ ~

{ Happily linking to Friday Food with Mom Trends }
Have a great weekend everyone! I have some Italian specials coming up next week.

55 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Holy cow! These look AMAZING

Reeni said...

These delicious little babies would be perfect for Thanksgiving! I love the variety of fruit - everyone has different favorites in my house. Thanks again for the giveaway!

Danyele Easterhaus said...

i need these!!!! now!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my but they look so good.. I have everything I need to make them so I'm heading to the kitchen right now to set the cheese out to warm up..
I've been craving some cheese cake and this will be perfect.
thanks

Venus and Mars said...

I will give these a shot this holiday, my aunt loves cheese cake more than pumpkin pie. And, of course, I'm cooking AGAIN this year. Either I'm really good ... or the family is just lazy !

Quasi Serendipita said...

These look yummy - and I love everything mini!

Kristina P. said...

I love minicheesecakes!

JMBMOMMY said...

Oh my! Yummy. I am behind trying all the great finds on here--but I think I'll start with these!!!

FROGGITY! said...

GIVE ME CHEESECAKE! those look so good to me right now.

congrats to the winner!!

Anonymous said...

I am soooo making these - very soon!!!

Tina Butler said...

Hi Steph thanks for the nice comment. I saw Paula make these on her show, they are to cute. I cant wait for you to see the video and look at my dd she is such a mess but that is kids. I just made a pumpkin cheesecake for thanksgiving to take to my mother in laws house. It was perfect and while cooling it cracked some, Ugh now worries i found a topping on line to cover it up LOL. Have a happy holiday.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Congratulations Reeni!
Thanks for the recipe, they sound awesome.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

You had me at Paula Deen! Those look amazing.

SnoWhite said...

those look wonderful!

Joanie said...

Lord, I gain weight just reading your blog!

Gloria Baker said...

These look wonderful and sooo cute!! I love mini cheese cakes, beauty! gloria

Unknown said...

you make it look so easy! these look absolutely delicious! maybe good for christmas, i think!

Coco said...

I can't believe how easy these are!! I love fruit tart things, so pretty and everyone loves them.

Please drool and other things tonight at Robert for me. You will fall in love, I just know you will.

Unknown said...

This was one of the few things my mom ever made. I must say I always enjoyed them though I've not tried to reproduce them myself.

Deanna said...

Let's just say it straight.... YUMMMMMM!

Liz Mays said...

I could probably eat six at once!

Pam said...

Congrats to the winner. I could eat way too many of these mini cheesecakes.

Laurie said...

My oldest son Andrew is returning from college tomorrow night ....he's only a freshman and I haven't seen him since August!

I've been trying to think of a nice dessert to have for him when he gets home late tomorrow night .....

Steph, I'm beginning to realize I can always count on you for food inspiration that is "do-able". Always nice & delicious & do-able.

Thank-you for that!

I know Andrew and Timothy (my younger son) are going to LOVE these!!! Me too of course!

http://youmusttakeyourchance.blogspot.com/

The Blonde Duck said...

I LOVE those mini cheesecakes!

Nicole Feliciano said...

Thanks so much for linking up to Momtrends. I love easy entertaining ideas. The fact that you can prepare the shell ahead of time is huge bonus.

Sweet Pea Chef said...

Great idea for the holidays!!!

Unknown said...

What a GREAT!!! and WONDERFUL!!! idea.
Geri

Mommy2Twinkies-Deb said...

Steph! Long time, I know but I do use your site as a resource for recipes. Now, I'm desperate. I had a recipe from your site that was some sort of delicious zucchini casserole. It was even good cold. Do you remember? Where can I find it again?

Love your site, sorry it's been so long since I blogged.

Deb

Kerstin said...

What cute little treats, they look super tasty!

JennyMac said...

I have made these and I love them! Your pics turned out great.

Angela said...

Ummmm you had me at cheesecake!

Can't WAIT to catch up with you - lots of fun and busy stuff around here but turned out to be a great week.

Love and hugs!

Chef Chuck said...

Yumm... These look so cute !!

Simple Daisy said...

How cute! Those would be perfect for Christmas....and since i'm having a big christmas party....I might have to whip them up!

Lifeofkaylen said...

Delicious! I hope to make these for Thanksgiving!!

Kacey said...

UM Hello! These look fabulous & so fancy shmancy!

Cheryl said...

Thanks for stopping by. These look wonderful and easy. Love cheesecake but never tried a mini. What a great idea!

Pam said...

Did you go watch New Moon this weekend????

The Blonde Duck said...

They seriously eat lunch at 10:30? Wow!

Maria said...

I love the fruit fillings!

Unknown said...

I laughed so hard when you said No one loses today : ) You are funny! I hope your Thanksgiving is very special and filled with thanks and love!

Betty Manousos said...

Absolutely amazing!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
hugs hugs

Betty Manousos said...

Hi,
I have a present for you on my blog.
Please stop by and pick it up.
hugs hugs

Sandy said...

Mmmm, love these. And hope you had a wonderful TG, girl! xo

Real Live Lesbian said...

Those look amazing...but that gallette down there is really intriguing me! ;)

Tami (Pixeltrash) said...

These might have to be part of my holiday baking! They look awesome.

Alex Fitzpatrick aka Ma What's 4 Dinner said...

Oh yum! We need to hang out and cook! :)

Tabitha Blue said...

I just had to come by and get a fix of whatever you've been fixing... and woah, it was perfect timing!! ... or maybe bad timing, because did I really need to see these, because now I have to make them, and I really don't need to eat all that... or do I? Can you tell, I've been in a bit of an indecisive mode. :D

Erin Bassett said...

Yum-O! One of my girlfriends always makes these for us when we all get together & we all just love them!

Michelle said...

I love the looks of these sweet little mini cheese cakes. When I was first looking at the pictures I couldn't tell what the wafer was. It looked like an egg yolk at first. But that is just me, I always look at the pictures first, read second. :)

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