A simple recipe for the best-tasting Mini Cheesecakes you’ve ever tried! This easy recipe can be thrown together in under 30 minutes and is less fussy than making a traditional full-sized cheesecake! Recipe includes a how-to video!
Mini Cheesecakes: An Easy and Foolproof Recipe
While most of us love a great classic cheesecake recipe, making one does have some drawbacks. Traditional, non-mini versions can be a little fussy. They take a long time to bake (over an hour), some of them require a messy water bath (mine does not!) and they take a long time to cool (at least 6 hours!). You have to worry about cracks and your springform pan leaking and while I’d never say that it isn’t worth the effort, sometimes you just want something easier.
Mini cheesecakes are much simpler. Baked into cupcake or muffin tins (as opposed to a springform pan), they need less than 20 minutes in the oven and require less than half the time of their full-sized counterparts to cool. This recipe is based off of my beloved cheesecake recipe but it takes less than half the time to make.
Quick and easy, creamy, sweet with a subtle tang, and just all around delicious, these mini cheesecakes are every bit as satisfying as a full-sized one.
A Few Tips For Making Mini Cheesecakes
- I used my graham cracker crust for this recipe, but you can change things up and use an Oreo crust instead. Just cut the recipe in half for 12 mini cheesecakes.
- Want even more chocolate? Toss a few mini chocolate chips or broken Oreo pieces into the batter for chocolate chip or Oreo versions!
- This recipe makes 12 mini cheesecakes, but it can certainly be doubled to make 24.
- Do NOT over-bake your mini cheesecakes! This is the easiest way to ruin any cheesecake, if it spends too much time in the oven the texture will be dry, mealy and even crumbly. We want smooth and creamy! Watch your cheesecake carefully, make sure your oven temperature is accurate (I keep two inexpensive oven thermometers in my oven at all times) and check your cheesecakes early. I usually check mine at 17 minutes. They’re done baking when the centers bounce back to the touch and the edges may be a light golden brown.
How to Store Mini Cheesecakes
You’ll want to store these mini desserts in the refrigerator, preferably in an airtight container (so they don’t absorb any odors from your fridge). They’ll keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
If you’d like you can freeze them! Follow the instructions for cooling the cheesecake and chilling in the refrigerator (as instructed in the recipe) first, and then freeze (wrap them up or keep them in an airtight container). Mini cheesecakes will keep in the freezer for several months.
Easy Topping Options
Here are a few of my favorite toppings for mini cheesecake (and for regular cheesecakes, now that I think of it).
- Homemade whipped cream and fresh fruit
- Chocolate Ganache (with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for good measure!)
- Blueberry Sauce (or just about any fruit sauce)
- Homemade Caramel Sauce
Or you can just enjoy them plain! I love a good topping, but these mini cheesecakes are perfectly fine served as-is, no topping necessary.
Enjoy!
Other Recipes You Might Like:
Mini Cheesecakes
Ingredients
Graham cracker crust:
- ¾ cup graham cracker crumbs (85g)
- 1 ½ Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter melted
Mini Cheesecakes:
- 16 oz softened cream cheese (455g)
- ½ cup sugar (100g)
- ½ cup sour cream (80g)
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten, room temperature preferred
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F (160C) and line a 12-count muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl stir together graham cracker crumbs and 1 ½ Tablespoons sugar. Add melted butter and stir again until ingredients are moistened and completely combined.
- Portion about 2-3 teaspoons of the crust mixture into each liner in your prepared muffin tin. Use a spoon or the (clean) bottom of a ¼ cup measuring cup to tamp down crumbs so they are evenly packed into the bottom of each liner. Set aside while you prepare your mini cheesecake filling.
Cheesecake
- Place cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl and use an electric mixer) and stir on low speed until smooth and creamy (don’t whip the cream cheese or excessively beat it, you don’t want to incorporate too much air into the batter).
- Add sugar and stir again until well-combined.
- Add sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until ingredients are well-combined, pausing occasionally to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so there are no lumps.
- Gradually add eggs, one at a time, until just incorporated. Keep the mixer on low-speed and do not over-beat. Once again scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and stir on low-speed once more to ensure ingredients are completely combined.
- Evenly divide batter into muffin tin liners (I like to use an ice cream scoop with a lever release to do this, just makes it easy!).
- Transfer to 325F (160C) oven and bake for 17-20 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn a very light golden brown and centers are set. Do not over-bake or the texture will be dry and mealy.
- Allow cheesecakes to cool completely to room temperature and then gently remove each mini cheesecake from muffin tin. Transfer to refrigerator and chill completely (about 2-3 hours) before serving.
- If desired, top with whipped cream, strawberry sauce, blueberry sauce, or chocolate ganache!
Notes
Nutrition
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Jana McConkey
I made these tonight for Valentines Day & they turned out perfectly! I was a little nervous my batter wasn’t smooth enough, but they are sublime. Thanks for this wonderful recipe. I’m going to give a couple to my mom & dad tomorrow. Absolutely delicious & such an easy fix.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Jana! 🙂
Judy Harding
Are these made in a mini muffin pan?
Sam
Hi Judy! No, they are made in a standard-sized cupcake or muffin pan. I hope that helps 🙂
Lisa Faith
For an inexperienced baker – Do I adjust the baking instructions at all if my cupcake pan is non-stick? I’m still planning on using cupcake liners but I know non-stick pans bake differently. Thank you so much!
Sam
Hi Lisa! The non stick pan won’t cause any issues. I actually use mostly non stick cupcake pans. 🙂
Fay
Made these last year for my daughters 2nd birthday and they were ridiculously delicious!!!!!! I’m
curious could I swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt?
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them, Fay! The greek yogurt should work here. 🙂
Brit L
Turned out so yummy! I made the mini cheesecakes but with gluten free Oreo cookie (glutino sandwich cookies) and chocolate. I topped with a little squirt of red whip and mini chocolate chips. Bookmarking to make again!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Brit! 🙂
Brianna
What is the frosting recipe ?
Sam
Hi Brianna! I actually have a list in the post linking you to a few different toppings that are great for these mini cheesecakes. 🙂
Brianna Valadez
Can I just use cupcake liners
Sam
Hi Brianna! I use cupcake liners here. 🙂
Zainisda
Marvelous recipe..it turned out great. My son loves it.
Jayna Bailey
These are simple and delicious. I made them with my boyfriend at his place and they turned out beautifully (he doesn’t bake and has no baking tools). I hope you can enjoy these as much as I did. We had carmel and chocolate, as well as strawberries!
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Jayna! 🙂
Danielle
Is it possible to make these a day ahead, and just refrigerate them until ready to serve?
Sam
Hi Danielle! That will work just fine. 🙂
Michelle
I subbed in Siggis yogurt for sour cream and it turned out soooo nice. 🙂 Really loved these. Easy to make gluten free with gluten free graham crackers!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Michelle! 🙂
Sam
Disclaimer: do not use a silicone muffin “tin” 🙁
Gloria
If I wanted to skip the crust (yes, criminal, I know 😉 do you think that could work or would I need to change recipe?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Gloria! You can omit the crust and still be fine. 😉
Tia
I used cupcake liners and they literally won’t come out of the muffin tins, they are so stuck!!! I’m so sad
Sam
Oh no! Sounds like a problem with the liners, I would be sad too! 🙁
Jen
These little cheesecakes are incredible! I don’t like store-bought or restaurant cheesecake, but the texture and flavor of this recipe was so much better than those.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Jen! 🙂
Danielle
I made these this weekend but without the crust and added a cherry sauce topping. They were great and tasted similar to the cheesecake from one of our favorite cheesecake factories in PA. I will definitely be making these again and trying other toppings. Thanks Sam 🙂
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Danielle! 🙂
Ceci
Do I have to use a water bath?
Sam
Nope. 🙂
Sigh
I just made this and everybody loved it! It’s the right amount of sweetness. I topped it with whipped cream cheese.
If I wanted to make this in mini cupcake containers instead of cupcake containers, how long would I need to bake them for?
Sam
Hmmm I’m not sure how long they would need to bake in mini pans. I would just keep an eye on it. 🙂