Cheesecake Bites with Picks (Printer-friendly)

Creamy, bite-sized cheesecake with graham crust and fresh berry topping, great for gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Cheesecake Filling

04 - 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 2 tablespoons sour cream

→ Topping

09 - 1/2 cup fresh mixed berries, diced
10 - 2 tablespoons fruit preserves, optional

→ Decoration

11 - 24 diploma picks or festive garnish picks

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 24-cup mini muffin pan with mini cupcake liners.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until evenly distributed.
03 - Spoon 1 teaspoon of crust mixture into each liner and press firmly with the back of a spoon to compact.
04 - Bake crusts for 5 minutes, then remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before filling.
05 - In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
06 - Add egg, vanilla extract, and sour cream to the cream cheese mixture. Blend on low speed until just combined, avoiding overbeating.
07 - Distribute cheesecake filling evenly into each prepared crust, using approximately 1 tablespoon per cup. Smooth the surfaces with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 13-15 minutes until the centers are set but retain a slight jiggle when gently shaken.
09 - Remove from oven and allow cheesecakes to cool in the muffin pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
10 - Chill the cheesecake bites in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour until fully set.
11 - Top each cheesecake bite with fresh berries. If desired, warm fruit preserves slightly and brush lightly over berries for shine and gloss.
12 - Insert diploma picks into the center of each cheesecake bite just before serving for celebratory presentation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're the kind of dessert that looks fancier than the effort required to make them.
  • You can prep them hours ahead, which means less kitchen stress on party day.
  • Every bite is perfectly portioned—no awkward slicing, just grab and enjoy.
02 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese is non-negotiable—cold cream cheese will give you a lumpy filling no matter how much you mix.
  • Don't skip the sour cream; it's what keeps these from tasting like plain cheesecake and adds that subtle tang that makes people ask what the secret is.
03 -
  • A water bath isn't necessary for these mini bites because they're so small they bake evenly and quickly without drying out.
  • If you don't have mini muffin pans, you can use a regular muffin tin and simply make fewer, larger cheesecake bites with adjusted baking time.
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