Personalized Cheesecakes

Personalized Cheesecakes

In most magazines, a similar recipe is in the cream cheese ad and it’s a good one. With this recipe, you can bake individual cheesecakes for your guests and serve a variety of toppings to have them decorate their own. It’s a festive finish to any meal.  The muffin-size cheesecake is the ideal portion to serve at a lovely tea party, office potluck or for a family gathering.

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons, plus 3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons butter, melted

3 – 8 ounces package cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs

18 cupcake liners

In a small mixing bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons of sugar and the butter.  Press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of 18 paper-lined muffin pan cups.  In large mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese and vanilla, and add the eggs one at a time.  Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of the crusts.  Bake at 325 for 15 to 20 minutes, until the tops are almost set.  Cool and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before removing the paper cup.  To top the cheesecakes, use your favorites such as whipped cream and strawberries, chocolate curls, blueberries and lemon zest, a mix of fruits, cherry pie filling, coconut, etcetera. Makes 18 individual cheesecakes.