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Grinch Mini Cheesecakes

Grinch mini cheesecakes bake in a graham cracker crust with a smooth, bright green cream cheese filling. Chill them until fully set, then top each one with a red heart-shaped candy.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Cooling and chilling 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 290
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the crust
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter melted
For the filling
  • 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese softened
  • 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese softened
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs large, at room temperature
  • 0.25 cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • food coloring green gel; enough to reach the desired color
For the decoration
  • 12 candies red heart-shaped

Equipment

  • 1 standard 12-cup muffin pan
  • 1 electric mixer

Method
 

Make the crust
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
  3. Stir the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter together, divide among the liners, and press firmly into an even layer.
  4. Bake the crusts for 5 minutes.
  5. Set the pan aside while you make the filling.
Make the filling
  1. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed.
  2. Beat in the eggs one at a time on low speed.
  3. Mix in the sour cream, vanilla, and enough green gel food coloring to reach the desired color.
  4. Divide the filling evenly among the liners.
  5. Bake at 325°F for 17 to 20 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers still have a slight jiggle.
  6. Cool the cheesecakes in the pan for 30 minutes.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours until fully chilled.
Decorate the cheesecakes
  1. Press one red heart-shaped candy onto each cheesecake just before serving.

Notes

For clean-looking tops, add the heart-shaped candies just before serving. Refrigerate covered for up to 4 days; freezer: yes, without the candies. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free graham cracker crumbs.