Mini Lemon Cheesecakes | My Baking Dependancy

Mini lemon cheesecakes are topped with lemon curd and recent berries for a brilliant addition to any summer season menu.

I come from a cheesecake obsessed household. Whether or not it’s mini cheesecakes for a spring party or a pumpkin cheesecake on Thanksgiving, a cheesecake of some selection graces our desk for nearly each event. 

It’s a kind of desserts that instantly takes me again to being a child and baking with my Nana.

Perched up on a kitchen stool, I’d assist her each step of the way in which. From sifting cups of flour and reducing shapes into pie dough to rolling up the proper pumpkin roll, I used to be all the time her proper hand woman. 

Many instances, we’d bake the day away after which ship our candy treats to neighbors, church pals, and household. I liked each minute of it. In that kitchen is the place my love for baking started.

So after all, any time I make cheesecake, whether or not it’s Nana’s straightforward cheesecake or these mini lemon cheesecakes, I all the time consider her.

My cute and straightforward mini lemon cheesecakes

I’ve all the time been a fan of particular person desserts. They’re tremendous cute and include built-in portion management, which is certainly factor for this cheesecake loving woman! 

And as a lot as I like full-sized cheesecakes, they do take some time to bake and funky. These mini lemon cheesecakes, however, are fairly fast to make.

You possibly can have these cute little cheesecakes within the oven in 10-Quarter-hour, and so they take lower than half-hour to bake. In addition they solely want to relax within the fridge for 4 hours earlier than serving.

So whereas I often should plan to make a standard cheesecake the day earlier than I wish to serve it, you may make this recipe within the morning and so they’ll be prepared for dessert that evening!

And for a summer season celebration or cookout, you gained’t have to fret about folks attempting to chop a slice of cheesecake for themselves. They’ll simply take one in every of these mini lemon cheesecakes and be on their manner.

How one can make mini lemon cheesecakes

For those who’ve been eager to attempt my cheesecake recipes however have been intimidated by the thought of constructing a big one, this mini lemon cheesecake recipe is the proper place to start out.

Components you’ll want

One of many issues that makes this recipe so fast and straightforward is that you just don’t must make a graham cracker crust for the cheesecakes. As an alternative, we’ll use vanilla wafers because the crust!

To make these mini cheesecakes, you will have:

• 2 (8-ounce) blocks room-temperature cream cheese
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• zest of 1 massive lemon
• 2 massive room-temperature eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 12 vanilla wafer cookies

The eggs and cream cheese ought to each be at room temperature earlier than you begin baking. This may make it easier to get a smoother cheesecake filling.

For those who overlook to set them out forward of time, I’ve some suggestions for softening cream cheese and bringing eggs to room temperature rapidly.

Because you solely want 12 vanilla wafers for this recipe, you should have a number of the field leftover. Attempt utilizing the remainder to make do-it-yourself banana pudding!

Making this recipe

This recipe makes 12 mini lemon cheesecakes in 12 commonplace muffin cups. To get began, line an ordinary muffin tin with paper baking liners. Set the pan apart.

Utilizing a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or an electrical hand mixer and a big bowl, beat the softened cream cheese for about 2 minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine collectively the sugar and lemon zest till the sugar turns into moist and aromatic. I exploit this trick rather a lot to assist infuse the aroma and taste of the lemon zest into each single chew of a recipe.

Add the lemon sugar to the cream cheese. Beat till mild and fluffy, then add the eggs, vanilla, and lemon juice. Combine till clean.

To assemble the cheesecakes, place a vanilla wafer, flat-side down, within the backside of every muffin cup. Use a big cookie scoop to divide the cheesecake filling into every cup; they need to every be about ⅔ full. 

Bake the cheesecakes at 325°F for 22-24 minutes or till the facilities are virtually set. Let the cheesecakes cool within the pan, then refrigerate them for at the very least 4 hours earlier than serving.

Because the cheesecakes cool, the facilities will deflate a bit. Don’t fear – that is regular and provides us the proper spot to carry some toppings!

Serving ideas

My favourite approach to serve these mini lemon cheesecakes is by topping them with do-it-yourself lemon curd and recent raspberries, however the choices don’t cease there!

The lemon in these cheesecakes pairs nicely with so many fruits, particularly summer season berries. Another toppings to attempt embrace:

And naturally you’ll be able to by no means go incorrect with some whipped cream and recent berries! 

Storage and freezing

Retailer these mini lemon cheesecakes in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. I like to recommend ready so as to add any toppings till simply earlier than serving.

You may also freeze the cheesecakes for longer-term storage or for everytime you get a lemon cheesecake craving.

To freeze, wrap the cheesecakes in plastic wrap and place them in a zip-top bag, or use a vacuum sealer to seal them. Freeze for as much as a month.

Let the cheesecakes thaw within the fridge in a single day or at room temperature for 1-2 hours earlier than having fun with.