Lemon Cheesecake Cookie Bites Recipes

EASY MINI CHEESECAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
• Make the graham cracker crust: Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press about 2-2 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of each muffin liner and press to compact.
• Beat room temperature cream cheese with a hand mixer until fluffy. Beat in room temperature sour cream. Beat in egg, sugar, and vanilla extract. (Room temperature ingredients are a must to avoid lumps!)
• Evenly divide (about 2-2 1/2 tablespoons each) cheesecake among crusts. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until they just begin to brown. Cool completely and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Serve plain or topped with whipped cream and berries. See notes for additional serving suggestions.

LEMON CHEESECAKE COOKIE BITES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350° F. Spray 48 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, mix cookie mix, softened butter, egg and lemon juice until soft dough forms. For each cookie bite, shape 2 teaspoons dough into ball, and place in mini muffin cup. Push down centers of balls to form little cups.
• In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1/2 cup of the lemon curd with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Spoon mixture into decorating bag fitted with tip. Fill each cup with a teaspoon of mixture.
• Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until cookie edges are turning golden. Cool completely before removing from pan. When cool, top each with 1/4 teaspoon lemon curd.

MINI LEMON CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray each cavity of a 12-count mini cheesecake pan well with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. If using a regular 12-count muffin pan, I suggest lining each cavity with cupcake liners for easier removal.
• Add the graham crackers to a blender or food processor and process until you have fine crumbs. Scoop the crumbs into a mixing bowl, add the melted butter and sugar, and mix until everything is well combined. Evenly distribute the mixture between all 12 cavities in the mini cheesecake pan, making sure to press each one down firmly into one even layer.
• Bake at 325°F for 5 minutes, remove from the oven, and set aside to cool. Keep oven temperature at 325°F.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the granulated sugar and mix until well combined. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed, then mix in the egg and egg yolk on low speed until just combined.
• Evenly distribute the cheesecake filling between all 12 cavities of the mini cheesecake pan (or muffin pan) and return to the oven.
• Bake at 325°F for 17-20 minutes or until the tops of the cheesecakes are set.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 3-4 hours or overnight. Once the cheesecakes are chilled, remove them from the pan. Top with whipped cream and fresh berries if desired, serve, and enjoy!

LEMON GOAT CHEESE CHEESECAKE BITES (GLUTEN FREE OPTIONAL)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place 12 standard-size silicone muffin cups on a baking sheet or line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
• With a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour(s), sugars, butter, vanilla, and lemon together on medium-low speed until a cohesive dough forms.
• Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place in the muffin cups. With the back of a spoon, press the balls into the bottom of each cup to form a disk.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, just until the crust is matte (no longer shiny and raw-looking) on top--it will still be puffy and soft. Remove from the oven and cool while you make the filling.
• With an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, goat cheese, sugar, flour, egg, applesauce, and lemon zest and juice together on medium-low speed.
• Spoon the filling on top of the crust in each cup, dividing it evenly and filling each cup to the brim.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the filling is set and slightly browned. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and cool completely before serving.