Chocolate Cherry Single Serving Cheesecakes
Single serving cheesecakes are small in stature, but huge on taste. Mini sized creamy cheesecakes, topped with fresh cherry compote and a drizzle of hot fudge. A delicious and incredibly easy dessert recipe.
Throughout my life, I’ve been teased and called many nicknames. Some are noteworthy and accurate names. For example, when my 4th grade classmates accused me of being a teacher’s pet, it’s because I really was! I had a mad crush on Mr. Bissett, and would have done somersaults down the Roberta Avenue hill for a smile from him during recess. That was a completely worthy title and I shall forever wear it with pride.
Sadly, I’ve also been dubbed with not-so-nice nicknames, like ‘heifer’ and ‘glutton’. I suppose my flair for blowing things out of proportion leads me to misinterpret on occasion. With a last name of Heflin, a nickname of ‘Heifer’ makes a little sense.
However, I am not a glutton. I don’t care who you think you are (and you know who you are!), just because I bake trays of single serving cheesecakes does not mean that I will hide in a dark closet and devour them all by myself.
Geez. I do have some self control around delicious desserts. I won’t eat them all, even if they look as good as these single serving cheesecakes do!
I’ll admit to being a bit of a cheesecake ‘ho’, but never a cheesecake glutton. According to Merriam-Webster, a glutton is someone with “a serious failure in self-discipline”.
If I was a true glutton, I wouldn’t use a fork or a plate when I eat these creamy, decadent single serving cheesecakes. In fact, it’s likely that gluttony would cause me to open the refrigerator door and throw my face down into the entire tray of them. I don’t act that way around desserts… very often.
OK, maybe I did once or twice. Or four times.
Why are we keeping track, anyway?
I hope you enjoy these single serving cheesecakes!
Chocolate Cherry Single Serving Cheesecakes
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups graham crackers finely crushed (about 14 sheets)
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 4 (8 oz) packages cream cheese softened
- 1.5 cups granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons lemon extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- For the topping
- 4 cups sweet cherries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons cold water
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 jar hot fudge sauce
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees
- In a large bowl, whisk together graham crackers and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Pour in melted butter and stir with spoon until evenly coated. Divide graham cracker mixture among 24 paper lined muffin cups, adding a heaping teaspoon full to each. Press mixture evenly into each cup. Bake in oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and cool while preparing filling.
- In large mixing bowl, add softened cream cheese, 1.5 cups sugar, and flour. Use a hand or stand mixer to mix on low speed until well blended and smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, and blend on low speed just until combined after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl with a spatula as necessary. Add vanilla, sour cream and whipping cream and mix just until combined.
- Tap mixing bowl against counter top about 30 times to release some of the air bubbles. Divide mixture among muffin cups, filling each cup nearly full. Bake in heated oven for 20 to 23 minutes; centers should still jiggle slightly… don't overbake! (If tops begin to crack, they’ve been baking too long). Remove from oven and allow them to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 1 hour. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and transfer to refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.
- To garnish before serving, use the back of a spoon to spread 1/2 teaspoon of fudge sauce onto the top of each cheesecake, then place a dollop of cherry topping on top (directions for preparation below).
- Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- For the cherry topping
- In a small bowl, whisk together corn starch and cold water to make a slurry; set aside.
- Place cherries and sugar into large microwave-safe bowl. Stir to combine and microwave on high for 2 minutes, stirring after the first minute. Add cornstarch mixture to the cherries and continue cooking on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring briefly every 30 seconds.
- Remove from microwave, stir in vanilla extract and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
What yummy looking little cheesecakes! You’re not a gluten if you share! 😉
Cheesecake is one of my weaknesses. I make no apologies for my behavior when its around. 🙂
I’m SO on your page, Anita! Exactly why I need to invest in a straight jacket and a pair of handcuffs. Me and my lack of willpower can’t handle being around it alone!
OMG! Yeah, pretty sure I would hide in the closet and have a “love fest” with these cherry cheesecake cups if they were in my house! These look amazing! Plus the pictures are beautiful! I need to go and get a cherry pitter asap!
You’re welcome to squeeze into my closet with me, Krista. My daddy always told me it was safer to do things in pairs. I’d hate to see one of us get hurt lovin’ on that cheesecake all alone 🙂
haha… on my way over. 🙂
I am going to make these. And no matter what you are or are not, I can almost guarantee that I will become a glutton because of them1
Oh GOODIE, Karen! Then I won’t be alone. It’s always better to do things in pairs anyway… for safety reasons and all 😉
I love your posts. Thanks for making me smile today!
I love you, sweet Sara! Always… Don’t ever forget, m’kay? 🙂
I’ve never considered a “love fest” with my dessert, but it sounds interesting. Even for a weirdo like me. So, send those cheesecake cups my way. I have an empty closet. 😉
That’s because you’re a happily married man, Adam. Single girls like me, even those with guys as wonderful as Brian in their life, are sometimes reduced to taking drastic measures to keep the inner flames burnin’. I don’t think you want to hear the sorted PG-13 / R-rated details. Then again, you’re a guy… and according to you, a weird one. Maybe you’d get into that kind of thing 😉
We all occasionally resort to drastic measures… :-p
I’ll meet ya in the closet, Adam! :p
Please bring cheesecake cups. And coffee.
One word- YUM!!!!!