Easy Mini Cheesecakes

These decadent mini cheesecakes are sure to make a statement at your next holiday gathering. And no one has to know that you had a little help making them--unless you want to share our little secret. Keep reading to learn about a fun baking hack that will turn delicious cheesecakes into a no-fail, stress-free treat for the holidays!

Let's face it! As magical as we want the holidays to be, stress can creep in between the budget strains from holiday shopping and the overwhelming to-do lists. Somewhere along the path to getting older, the magic of the holidays that once held us spellbound now has us frazzled and running short on time. There are extra chores, extra things to buy, extra things to make... I always feel like I need some extra BIG help to get through this extra special time. Maybe it's just me, though. I've always taken a must "do it all", DIY, made-from-scratch approach to things. Does anyone else put these kinds of pressures on themselves during the holiday season?

With the tragedies of losing both my dad and sister in recent years, I've grown more determined than ever to just focus on peace, joy, and simplicity during the holidays. Grief has allowed me to slow down, take deep breaths, cut the excess, and begin again with just the essentials.

What does all of this have to do with mini cheesecakes? Well, it actually has more to do with making memories than making cheesecake, and I'm about to get to that...

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays has always been to bake. I cherish my childhood memories of holiday baking sessions with my mom and sister. We sure did share some sweet moments in the midst of pumpkin pies, cookie bars, and cheesecakes!

Now I'm the one making memories in the kitchen with my own kids. Many of our kitchen creations are made-from-scratch. For others, I've given myself permission to take a few shortcuts. Remember, it's all about simplicity now. For this recipe, I'm even getting help from the place responsible for the world's best cheesecakes--The Cheesecake Factory. Call it a secret! A baking HACK! But here is one simple way to take the stress out of holiday baking and put the magic back in...

While they can’t divulge their secret recipes, The Cheesecake Factory has come out with NEW! boxed mixes inspired by their legendary cheesecakes. Now you can bring the delicious taste of The Cheesecake Factory into your own kitchen with these classic, strawberry, and salted caramel cheesecake mixes. Making cheesecake can be tedious and time-consuming, but these mixes make it more efficient and fun. That means less time worrying about getting the recipe just right and more time focusing on the ones you're baking up memories with.

Inspired by my love of holiday baking, cheesecake, and keeping it simple this Christmas, the kids and I used The Cheesecake Factory mixes to whip up our own cheesecakes at home with a few fun twists. Are you in a pinch and need an easy, decadent dessert for a holiday gathering? Are you on the hunt for the perfect hostess gift for a friend? Or do you just want to mix up some sweet memories with the kids this holiday season? Whatever the occasion, these mini cheesecakes make the ideal treat!

Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecakes

Ingredients

• The Cheesecake Factory Classic Filling Mix
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3 eggs
• chocolate chips (mini, dark, and white)
• vanilla wafers (Another quick baking hack!)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
2. Set out several cupcake liners onto a baking sheet. (You can make 12-18 depending on how full you fill each liner.) For a quick crust, place a vanilla wafer on the bottom of each liner with the flat side down.
3. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips over the cookie crust.
4. Prepare the classic cheesecake mix according to the package's instructions--combining the mix, cream cheese, milk, and eggs
5. Spoon a generous amount of the cheesecake batter into each cupcake liner.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Do not over-bake. The filling will firm up after cooling. Place on a wire rack to cool.
7. While the cheesecakes are still warm, sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top. The chips will soften some but still maintain their shape.
8. Refrigerate, serve, and enjoy!

Mini Turtle Cheesecakes

Ingredients

• The Cheesecake Factory Salted Caramel Mix
• graham cracker crust mix (included with The Cheesecake Factory Kit)
• 3 tbsp. butter, melted
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3 eggs
• caramel topping (included with The Cheesecake Factory Kit)
• chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
2. Set out several cupcake liners onto a baking sheet. (You can make 12-18 depending on how full you fill each liner.)
3. Combine crust mix and melted butter until well blended. Gently press a small amount of crust into the bottom of each liner.
4. Prepare the classic cheesecake mix according to the package's instructions--combining the mix, cream cheese, milk, and eggs. Make sure to follow the chef's tips on the box.
5. Spoon a generous amount of the cheesecake batter into each cupcake liner.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Do not over-bake. The filling will firm up after cooling. Place on a wire rack to cool.
7. Once the cheesecakes have cooled add a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of nuts to each one.
8. Refrigerate, serve, and enjoy!

Get creative!

Use this as inspiration to make your own mini cheesecake creations with the kids! The sky's the limit. Think cookie crumbs, fruit toppings, marshmallows, candies, drizzles of chocolate, coffee beans, and more! Find your own favorite boxed flavor and invent your own shareable masterpiece. The fun isn't in the making but in the memories!

The challenge!
Push that to-do list aside. Take a few deep breaths and step back from the rush of the holidays. Take the time this season to put an apron on, gather the kids, and bake up delicious memories in the kitchen! 

Happy baking and memory making!