Monday Treats, Mini Cheesecakes

At my work, we all take turns bringing treats for the staff on Mondays. It's a nice way to ease ourselves back into the work week, a little something to look forward to on Monday. We are such a small staff we all have multiple turns to bring snacks.

This kind of thing is right up my alley. I love to cook (obviously if I have a food blog). But this year I am an empty-nester. Cooking for myself just isn't very fun. Monday treats provides an excuse to try out new recipes and not be the only one eating it.

These cheesecakes are super easy, only six ingredients. And they are light and fluffy, mildly sweet. They are
an excellent spring treat. They'd be great to take to a potluck.

Mini Cheesecakes

INGREDIENTS
12 vanilla wafers
2 8 oz packages of regular cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs

Desired topping such as cherry or other fruit pie filling, chocolate chips, pecans, any variety of jam, caramel, whipped cream, etc.

1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place 12 foil cupcake cups in a cupcake pan.
2) Place 1 vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cup.

3) In a large electric mixer, place cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. (If you want you could also add lemon or orange vest for flavoring.) Beat together until well blended and smooth. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides.
4) Turn the mixer on medium and add one egg at a time. Blend until fully incorporated and smooth before adding the second egg.

5) Mix on medium high for another 2-3 minutes. 

6) Use a spoon to scoop the cream cheese batter to fill each foil cup about 3/4 of the way full. Share it out evenly between the 12 cups. 

If you are using chocolate chips, nuts, jam, or caramel topping, now is the time to add about 1 teaspoon to the top of each mini cheesecake. You can swirl in the jam or caramel a little with a toothpick. If you are using canned pie topping, as pictured above, or whipped cream save it until after the cheesecakes are cooked and cooled.
7) Bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Cheesecakes will puff up a lot. They will sink back in as they cool creating a perfect little divot for pie filling or whipped cream. Cool completely before topping with pie filling or whipped cream.

Easy Mini Cheesecakes