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Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake!!

This rich and creamy cheesecake has bits of cinnamon roll baked inside.  Little pockets of cinnamon and sweet brown sugar make it into nearly every bite.  You will have a hard time stopping at just one piece!!!

When a craving hits I generally create a brand new recipe to satisfy my curiosity.  A craving hit me right in the middle of church last Sunday.  Right in the middle of a great sermon on Romans I suddenly thought~ “I wonder what cinnamon roll and cheesecake would taste like all together”.  I wondered if you could use refrigerated cinnamon rolls as a crust…I wondered if you could swirl a brown sugar/ cinnamon mixture into a cheesecake without getting tons of cracks…I wondered if the cinnamon cream cheese tubs would work…I also listened to the sermon.  I’m fairly good at multi-tasking :)

When I got home I decided two things:

1. I am taking a vacation to Peru in a few weeks and I cannot spend any extra money- so the ingredients needed to be already in my house.

2. I would google “cinnamon roll cheesecake” to see what others had done.

The googling resulted in a surprise.  Several blogs featured recipes and they were all the same recipe from the same source!  Every one of the blogs just ranted and raved about the amazing-ness of this recipe.

I looked the recipe up in Culinary Concoctions by Peabody and realized I already had all of the ingredients.

It was meant to be.

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake!!!!

It is, as all the other blogs out there have said, AMAZING.  Unbelievably good.  Exactly what I was hoping for in a combination of cheesecake and cinnamon roll.

It is also a labor of love.  Regular cheesecakes take some time.  This is a regular cheesecake and a batch of cinnamon rolls…all together.  Set aside some time and several clean mixing bowls!!

Here’s how to make it:

INGREDIENTS:

Cinnamon Roll Batter:

  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • ¼ cup butter, at room temperature
  • 1 egg
  • ½  cup  milk
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Cheesecake filling:

  • 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 3 eggs

Cinnamon Filling:

  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 3 tbsp butter, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • milk (if needed to thin frosting)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease a 9-inch Springform pan.

Cinnamon Roll Batter:

  • Using a mixer,  cream together the butter and sugar.
  • Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat for about one minute, scraping down bowl.
  • Add flour, baking powder, and salt to the creamed ingredients. Mix on low speed until throughly combined.

Cheesecake Filling:

  • In a separate bowl, use a mixer to beat cream cheese and sugar for about 2 minutes on medium-high speed.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating together scraping down the bowl after each addition.
  • Add the vanilla and flour and beat for another minute.

Cinnamon Filling:

  • In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined.

You have three individual parts to this cheesecake now.  The batter, the cheesecake and the filling.
Here is how to put them together:

  • Spread half of the batter onto the bottom of the Springform pan. It will be sticky and thick so spray your hands with baking spray and press down. It will be a thin layer, but trust me it will rise up during baking.
  • Pour all of the cheesecake batter on top of the cinnamon roll batter that is in the prepared pan.
  • Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon filling over the entire top of the cheesecake.
  • Take the rest of the base batter and drop spoonfuls over the entire top of cheesecake. Once finished, take a knife to swirl the ingredients together.  I say swirl, but its really just a big yummy chunky mess– just kind of gently mix all the toppings together without digging into the bottom crust.

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake - steps

  • Bake for about 50-55 minutes, cake will be puffy and lightly browned.
  • Let it cool for 20 minutes at room temperature and then cover and move to fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight).  
  • Remove cake and let it warm up to room temperature just a bit. While you are waiting, make your cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • In a clean bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together for about 2 minutes.
  • Add remaining ingredients and beat until desired consistency is reached. If too thick, thin out with milk.
  • Pipe over the top of chilled cheesecake and serve….so yummy!

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake!!!!!My thoughts:  If you don’t mind a little extra prep time in the kitchen, this recipe is truly worth every bit of effort.  The best part?  Since it has cinnamon rolls in it you really CAN eat cheesecake for breakfast with no guilty conscience… and I can tell you that a piece of this with a cup of coffee really is a perfect way to start the day!!!!  Enjoy!!!  ~r

Is it cheesecake?  Is it cinnamon roll?It's BOTH!!!!!

Is it cheesecake? Is it cinnamon roll?
It’s BOTH!!!!!

Other cinnamon inspired treats from Easybaked:  Just click on an image to get the recipe!

Cinnamon Cheesecake SundaesMexican Chocolate MilkCinnamon Roll Cupcakes!Pumpkin Pie Dip!

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Easter Mini-Cheesecakes

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Easter Cheesecake Cups

These colorful mini-cheesecakes are made with malted milk ball eggs and have a sugar cookie crust…yum!

I love seasonal candy.  I love Cadbury eggs at Easter and Tim Tams at Christmas and conversation hearts at Valentines Day….but the Whopper brand malted milk ball eggs are the best.  Did any of you use the outside shell as colorful “lipstick” as a kid?  So fun!  Crunch them up in a whipped cheesecake and put them in a fun Mini Cheesecake Pan for a dessert that will make everyone smile!

INGREDIENTS: (makes 12 mini cheesecakes)

  • One Nestle Sugar Cookie Dough Bar (the refrigerated dough that is scored into 24 squares)
  • 8 oz. of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 1/3 c. granulated sugar
  • 2 t. vanilla
  • 1 (8 oz) container of Cool Whip
  • 2 bags (10 oz. each) of Whopper’s Robin Eggs (I used mini’s, but I’m sure the full size would work fine too.)  You could use regular Whopper candies to get the same flavors when the seasonal Robin’s Eggs are not available.

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Prepare pan by placing the metal disks into each cup (the Mini Cheesecake Pan comes with metal disks that sit at the bottom of each cup- like the bottom of a spring form pan!)
  • Break apart 1/2 of cookie dough bar.  (This recipe makes 12 cheesecakes but the bar contains 24 cookies.  You can double this recipe and make 24 cheesecakes or just make the other 12 cookies another time.)
  • Roll each cookie dough square into a ball and put it into a greased cup in the mini cheesecake pan.
  • Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes.
  • Cool completely.
  • In a mixing bowl, cream together softened cream cheese and sugar. 
  • Add vanilla.
  • Smash one full bag of Malted Milk Chocolate Eggs.  I put them in a ziplock , placed them on a cutting board and hit them with a hammer until they were in pieces about the size of mini chocolate chips.
  • Fold about 2/3 of Cool Whip and  the one bag of smashed eggs into the cream cheese mixture.
  • Spoon cheesecake mixture into a large zip-top bag.  Clip a large piece of one corner off and pipe filling evenly over each cooled cookie crust.
  • Use a knife or spatula to smooth tops of cheesecakes flat across top of pan.
  • Freeze for about 3-4 hours (or overnight)
  • Remove from freezer, pop cheesecakes out by pushing up on the bottom of each cup. (This took a little practice for me- you have to push it up high enough to grab it by the cookie part.)
  • Remove the metal disk from the crust.
  • Pipe remaining 1/3 of Cool Whip on top of each cheesecake and decorate with  malted milk chocolate eggs as desired
  • Keep refrigerated until serving.

Easter Cheesecake Cups

My thoughts:  These are a yummy, colorful and fun Easter treat!  They go together fast too- which is always a bonus for me.  You can make these in a muffin tin, if you don’t want to invest in the mini-cheesecake pan- but mine has been a great addition to my kitchen- so many fun things to make in it!!!  Hope you enjoy these fun little treats!!!  ~r

Easter Cheesecake Cups!!

Other Easter ideas from Easybaked (click on an image to get the recipe):

Chocolate Easter Eggs with Peanut Butter FillingEasy Easter cut out cookiesOreo pops!!!!!Raspberry Confetti Kisses

Other ways to use your Mini Cheesecake Pan:

frozen s'more cupsMini Pineapple Upside Down CakesMini chocolate chip cookie cheesecakesMini Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Dulce de Leche Caramel Sauce

This creamy sweet caramel sauce couldn’t be easier to make.  Ingredients?  One can of Sweetened Condensed Milk and a very brave spirit…..

 

I had heard from several people about the “boil a can of condensed milk to make caramel” idea, and I knew someday I would try it.  That “someday” arrived when I was asked to bring a birthday cheesecake for my brother this weekend.  He likes PLAIN cheesecake.  For those of you who have followed easybaked for awhile, you know I don’t do “plain” anything.  I take plain and add peanut butter, chocolate, glazes, ganache, frosting, candy….nothing plain.  But for my wonderful brother John….I present:  a plain white cheesecake…..

so…..plain.  In case you are wondering, this recipe is the basis for almost all of my cheesecakes, and you can click on one of the following pictures to get the recipe using white chocolate (plus fun toppings!!!!) Using other chip flavors gives you chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon or even butterscotch cheesecakes.

In any case, I made the plain cheesecake, but I wanted a fun topping sauce to serve with it.  Dulce de Leche.  Now, I don’t know about you, but in my mind boiling a can of any sort sounds like a disaster….so I looked up the technique- just to be sure I did it right and didn’t explode anything.

I found a cute blog called Not Without Salt that gave instructions….scary instructions….and I quote:

“In a large pan, completely submerge the can of sweetened condensed milk in water. Make sure it is covered by at least one inch of water and remains covered throughout the entire process – this is VERY important otherwise it could explode. Cover the pan with a lid and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for three hours. Continually check to make sure the can is completely covered with water.”

Yes, it could explode.  Needless to say, I obsessively checked my water level for 3 hours.  I never needed to add any…but I imagined lovely dulce de leche covering my ceiling and walls and I obsessed.

After 3 hours of fear, I took the pan off the stove and had a debate with my friend Danielle about if I should leave it in the hot water to cool…or take it out…?  I took it out.  And I set it outside on my sunporch to cool- or explode.

It cooled beautifully and when I opened the can….oh my.

I love it.  I would do this again in a heartbeat— it is SO good.  I’m so excited to serve it with my cheesecake in a few hours.  It would be good over ice cream or apples…so many possibilities.  ENJOY!!! (and be very careful that your water doesn’t evaporate!!)    ~r

Happy Birthday!!!

Dulce de Leche in your coffee???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other recipes you might enjoy: Click on the image to be taken to the recipe.

 

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Butterscotch Caramel Cheesecake

Creamy butterscotch cheesecake and a thick layer of caramel sauce over a gingersnap crust .  A unique combination of delicious seasonal flavors!!!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  Have you decided what you’re having for dessert yet–other than the proverbial pumpkin pie?  This cheesecake combines three unique fall flavors- ginger, butterscotch and caramel- and it simply melts in your mouth.  Wow your guests with an Easybaked cheesecake!!

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

  • One bag (13 oz.) of Archway ginger snaps, finely crushed. (approximately 2 cups)
  • 1/4 c. butter

Cheesecake:

  • 2 (8oz.) packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 1/2c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 c. butterscotch chips (melted)
  • 1 c. heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tsp. vanilla

Caramel Topping:

  • 32 Kraft caramels (unwrapped)
  • 1/2c. butter
  • 1 can (14oz.) sweetened condensed milk

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  • Crush cookies into fine crumbs and add melted butter.  Combine well and press into the bottom of a 9-Inch Springform Pan
  • Beat softened cream cheese with sugar until smooth.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating in between each one.
  • Add remaining cheesecake ingredients, beating until smooth.
  • Pour into crust and allow to sit at room temp for 30 minutes.
  • Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 60 minutes,
  • Turn off oven, open oven door a little and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and run knife around edge of pan.  Remove edge of pan. 
  • Allow to come to room temperature (make caramel topping during this time.)
  • Put caramels, condensed milk and margarine into a saucepan and melt over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth (6-8 minutes)
  • Pour caramel over the top of the cooled cheesecake, spreading to edges.
  • Refrigerate overnight
  • Remove bottom of pan when cheesecake is thoroughly chilled.
  • Before serving, pipe whipped cream around edges of cheesecake if desired and sprinkle with a little cocoa powder.


My thoughts: A flavorful creamy cheesecake.  I love the gingersnap crust– that adds a lot of the fall spice to this.  I ADORE caramel- so there’s a lot of it on this cheesecake.  If you want less, simply halve the recipe and be happy!!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends!!!!  Enjoy!  r~

One last yummy bite…..

Other cheesecake recipes from Easybaked that you might enjoy~ click on the image to be taken to the recipe:

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Mini Cookie Dough Cheesecakes

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These yummy little cheesecakes have chocolate chips in the crust and adorable little chocolate chip cookies baked right on the top.  A perfect mini party dessert!!

INGREDIENTS: (makes 12 mini cheesecakes)

  • 3/4 c. finely crushed graham crackers
  • 2 1/2 T. melted butter
  • 1/3 c. mini chocolate chips
  • 1 (8oz) bar of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temperature)
  • 1/3 c. sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 t. vanilla
  • 1 tube of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough (I use Pillsbury)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 325.
  • Open tube of cookie dough and using a small melon baller or Mini Cookie Scoop make 12 small cookie balls (about an inch in diameter) and set aside. (You will not use much of the dough for this recipe- which means you can make cookies later!!!)
  • Combine graham cracker crumbs with butter and mix well.
  • Add mini chips, and when well combined, evenly divide into a Mini Cheesecake Pan (make sure you place your metal disks in each cup first!)
  • Press crumbs into bottom of each cup using a Mini Tart Shaper
  • Combine softened cream cheese with sugar and add egg and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.
  • Evenly divide batter into each of the 12 mini cheesecake cups.
  • Place pan on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.
  • Remove pan from oven and gently place one cookie dough ball on the top of each mini cheesecake.
  • Return pan to the oven for 10-12 minutes- until cookies are baked on the top of each cheesecake and starting to brown.
  • Remove from oven and cool completely.
  • Refrigerate overnight, remove from pan and ENJOY!!

My thoughts:  It took me two tries to get the cookie dough to bake on the top all cute and pretty.  Its all in the timing.  My first attempt at this recipe, I put the cookie dough on top before the cheesecake was baked.  The cookie dough sank and pushed the cheesecake batter right over the top of the pans, leaving a huge mess!  Putting the dough on near the end of baking worked perfectly.  Lesson?  When at first you don’t succeed, try again! (also, stock up on cream cheese when it is on sale so it doesn’t cost a fortune to experiment!)  I really hope you love these yummy little treats!  Enjoy!!  -r

Creamy Coconut Cheesecake

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Chewy layers of coconut covered in dark chocolate cheesecake make this dessert irresistible!

A few months ago I made coconut macaroons- yum. I love coconut. I kept thinking that the macaroons would be good with chocolate. I used Nestle’s new Dark Chocolate Morsels in a Triple chocolate cheesecake a few weeks ago and decided then and there that the dark chocolate cheesecake would be perfect with the coconut macaroons. I didn’t get too creative with this recipe- I just used the coconut macaroon recipe and spread it in the bottom and used the dark chocolate cheesecake recipe over the top—-fingers crossed and YUM! It worked wonderfully!

This recipe is not hard, but it is going to take you some time, so you will want to make it ahead.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Oreos (2 to 2 1/2 cups, finely crushed)
  • 1/4 c. butter (melted)
  • 2 egg whites (beaten until soft peaks form)
  • one (14oz.) bag of sweetened shredded coconut
  • one can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 (8oz.) packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 1/2c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 c. Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels (melted)
  • 1 c. whipping cream
  • 3 t. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

  • Finely crush Oreos and mix with melted butter. Press into bottom of a 9-Inch Round Springform Pan.
  • In a medium bowl combine egg whites, coconut and sweetened condensed milk. Press this macaroon mixture gently over the top of the crust (if you are too vigorous in spreading this it will pull up your Oreo crust).
  • In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese and sugar.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating with mixer between each egg.
  • Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.
  • Pour over coconut layer.
  • Set springform pan on a cookie sheet and allow batter to settle at room temperature for 30 minutes (this will help prevent cracks). Preheat your oven to 325 degrees at this time.
  • Bake cheesecake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. At one hour, turn oven off, crack open the oven door and allow cheesecake to sit in oven for another 30 minutes.
  • Remove cheesecake from oven and cool at room temp for 30 minutes.
  • Carefully run a sharp knife around the edge of the springform pan to loosen the edges (I found that this cheesecake tended to stick on the edges just a little because of all that gooey coconut- you might want to try a little parchment paper on the sides and bottom to make it easier.)
  • Remove edges of pan and allow cheesecake to set until it is room temperature.
  • Refrigerate overnight before serving.
  • Serve with some whipped cream or sprinkle with coconut….yum!

My thoughts: They have a cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory called Coconut Cream Pie Cheesecake and I LOVE it. Originally I thought I would try to copy it exactly, but the chocolate cheesecake is SO much better than vanilla. I didn’t top this cheesecake with any fancy chocolate or drizzles because it is already SO rich…but you certainly could top this with a ganache- or even a caramel sauce. (Especially if your top cracks a bit and you want to hide that). All of my other cheesecake recipes have toppings on them if you need some topping inspiration :) Enjoy! -r

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

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Smooth and creamy dark chocolate cheesecake covered in white and milk chocolate toppings….yum.

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

  • 9 oz. chocolate wafer cookies (I use chocolate animal crackers)
  • 1/4 c. margarine (melted)

Cheesecake:

  • 2 (8oz.) packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 1/2c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 c. Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels (melted)
  • 1 c. heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tbsp. margarine (melted)
  • 3 tsp. vanilla

Toppings:

  • 1 c. heavy whipping cream (divided)
  • 1/4 c. white chocolate chips
  • 1/4 c. milk chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Cheesecake:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  • Crush cookies into fine crumbs and add melted margarine.  Combine well and press into the bottom of a 9-Inch Springform Pan
  • Beat softened cream cheese with sugar until smooth.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating in between each one.
  • Add remaining cheesecake ingredients, beating until smooth.
  • Pour into crust and allow to sit at room temp for 30 minutes.
  • Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 60 minutes,
  • Turn off oven, open oven door a little and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and run knife around edge of pan.  Remove edge of pan. 
  • Allow cheesecake to cool to room temperature before adding toppings.

Toppings:

  • Put 1/2c. whipping cream into saucepan and heat just until bubbling at edges.  Turn heat off, add white chocolate chips, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, stir until smooth.
  • Repeat this process in another saucepan with the milk chocolate chips.
  • Pour white chocolate over cheesecake and then drizzle with milk chocolate until entire cheesecake is covered.
  • Chill overnight before serving.

My thoughts: I love the new Dark Chocolate Morsels by Nestle.  I’m not a huge fan of dark chocolate, but these have just the right amount of sweet.  They make a very flavorful cheesecake.  My favorite thing about this cheesecake is that everything is smooth and creamy- no chips, no nuts- just rich smooth chocolates.  Need a chocolate fix?  This is your dessert!  Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Creamy peanut butter piled high on rich dark chocolate cheesecake makes this dessert absolutely decadent!

INGREDIENTS:

Cheesecake:

  • 9 oz. chocolate wafer cookies (I use animal crackers)
  • 1/4 c. margarine (melted)
  • 2 (8oz.) packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 1/2c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 c. dark chocolate chips (melted)
  • 1 c. heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tbsp. margarine (melted)
  • 3 tsp. vanilla

Chocolate Topping:

  • 1/4c. heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Topping:

  • 1/2c. heavy whipping cream
  • 1c. peanut butter baking chips

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  • Crush cookies into fine crumbs and add melted margarine.  Combine well and press into the bottom of a 9-Inch Springform Pan
  • Beat softened cream cheese with sugar until smooth.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating in between each one.
  • Add remaining cheesecake ingredients, beating until smooth.
  • Pour into crust and allow to sit at room temp for 30 minutes.
  • Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 60 minutes,
  • Turn off oven, open oven door a little and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and run knife around edge of pan.  Remove edge of pan. 
  • Allow to come to room temperature (make toppings during this time)
  • PEANUT BUTTER: Put whipping cream into saucepan and heat just until bubbling at edges.  Turn heat off, add peanut butter chips, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  • CHOCOLATE:  Put whipping cream into saucepan and heat just until bubbling at edges.  Turn heat off, add chocolate chips, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, stir both until smooth.
  • Pour peanut butter over top of cheesecake, smoothing to edges
  • Refrigerate about 10 minutes.
  • Pour chocolate over peanut butter and smooth into a center circle.  
  • Decorate as desired.
  • REFRIGERATE cheesecake overnight before serving for best consistency. Remove bottom part of pan when cake is chilled.

My thoughts: This is my dessert contribution for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.  My family is starting to get used to getting desserts that already have a piece cut out- for photo purposes of course!  I’m also bringing broccoli (lest you think I am truly the most unhealthy person in the universe!)  I’ve made this cheesecake for years and it always is just soooo creamy and smooth.  So here’s my little Thanksgiving treat for you my faithful readers!!  I’m very thankful for YOU and all of your encouragement in this crazy new venture in my life!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

one. last. bite………

Mocha Cheesecake Tart (gluten free!)

A little slice of happiness!!!

This recipe was created by myself and my gluten-free friend Brie.  It was an experiment and we LOVED it (mostly)…Our only mistake was adding too much coffee to our topping– and I am fixing the recipe to correct that!  If you LOVE coffee, add more (I LOVE coffee, so I thought the tart was perfect– but it is 11pm and I am still going strong…so maybe less is better!)

Brie is a photographer…so this post will be filled with her fun photos of the process!

My fun friend Brie!

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

  • 2 1/2 cups of crushed graham cracker crumbs (gluten free!!!!)
  • 1/3 c. margarine
  • 2 T. sugar

Tart filling:

  • 1 box of PHILADELPHIA cream cheese- softened
  • 1/2c. sugar
  • 1/4 c. cocoa powder (Nestle)
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • 1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip- thawed
  • 1/2c. mini chocolate chips (Nestle are gluten free)

Topping:

  • 1c. heavy whipping cream
  • 1T. instant coffee granules
  • 1/4 c. powdered sugar (check ingredients- I used Wal-mart brand and no gluten!)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Mix crushed grahams with sugar and melted butter.
  • Press into an 8 inch tart pan.
  • Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes- until edges are firm and crispy.
  • Remove from oven and cool completely.  Remove out tart ring.
  • Mix coffee granules in whipping cream and allow to sit for about 10 minutes. (If you don’t like coffee, just skip this step and make topping by whipping cream and powdered sugar without the coffee granules!)

Whipping cream plus coffee!

  • In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese, sugar, cocoa and vanilla until smooth.

Adding vanilla to the rich chocolatey goodness!

  • Fold in Cool Whip and blend until smooth.
  • Mix in mini-chocolate chips (saving a few for the top).
  • Spread in cooled tart crust.

Spread the filling into the crust…

yum!

  • In medium bowl, mix whipping cream/coffee blend with powdered sugar and whip on high until stiff peaks form.
  • Spread over top of tart and sprinkle with a few mini- chocolate chips.
  • Serve immediately if you want– or keep refrigerated until use.
  • Take pictures!!!! :)

Give me all your chocolate chips and nobody gets hurt…..!

My thoughts– YUM!!!!  Rich and creamy and I LOVED the gluten free crust (I would use it again for the flavor and consistency- and I’m not on a gluten free diet).  I really would use just whipped cream next time and skip the coffee altogether though- I think the two layers clashed in color- lol!  Really though– suprise your friends who have to be gluten free with this pie– they will love you for it!!!

Toasted Coconut Cheesecake Bonbons

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I just found out that the word bonbon comes from the French word bon which means “good”…so these are goodGOOD!!!! (GOOOOD!) With toasted coconut on the outside and chewy coconut and cream cheese on the inside they couldn’t get any better! Oh- wait—yes they can!  Bite into one of these bonbons and you’ll find creamy dark chocolate and almonds inside!  YUM!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 bag (24-30 pieces) of Dove chocolates (dark chocolate with almond)
  • 8 ounces of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
  • 12 ounces (one bag) of white chocolate chips
  • 1 tbsp of coconut extract
  • 2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 5 cups of shredded sweetened coconut (divided)
  • 1/2 cup of butter (melted)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Unwrap all of your chocolates.
  • Soften Philadelphia Cream Cheese in the microwave for about 30 seconds- until it is warm and smooth after stirring.
  • Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until they are melted and smooth.
  • Add softened cream cheese to the melted white chocolate and stir well.
  • Stir in coconut extract.
  • Add flour and mix until it forms a thick, sticky dough.
  • Fold in 3 cups of coconut.
  • Using your hands, take about 2T of dough, press it into your palm, place a chocolate in the center and wrap the dough completely around it.
  • Smooth the dough by rolling it a little between your hands and set it on an un-greased cookie sheet. Repeat this process with remaining dough and chocolates.
  • Brush melted butter over tops of cookies and press remaining coconut on the tops and sides of the cookies.
  • Brush the coconut topping with butter and place in the oven.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. If coconut is not sufficiently toasted on the tops of the cookies at this point, turn your broiler on high and finish toasting it. (This will happen quickly under the broiler, so keep an eye on them!).
  • Remove cookies from the cookie sheet and place on parchment paper to cool. They can be served warm or cooled to room temperature first– either way they are delicious!

My thoughts: mmmm…..I love these!  I created this recipe for Real Women of Philadelphia and it took me awhile to decide which chocolate to use in the middle and how to get the cookie part to taste REALLY coconutty (I just made that word up!)  These cookies remind me of the Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory- seriously one of my favorite desserts and now in cookie (BONBON!!) form :)  ENJOY!

I shared this recipe on these wonderful blogs:

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