Little Cheesecakes with Strawberry Sauce

By dette

Individual Cheesecakes are more than just cute- they're quick. Faster baking than a big cheesecake, these little guys are also good for those who never learned how to share.

Ingredients

• CHEESECAKES:
• 10 chocolate graham crackers, broken
• 1/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 tblsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp grated orange zest
• SAUCE:
• 1 c. frozen strawberries, thawed
• 2 tblsp sugar

Details

Servings 6
Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 23mins

Preparation

Step 1

GAME PLAN: Microwave cream cheese on HIGH for 15 seconds to brint to room teperature. Place eggs in a bowl of warm water to bring to room temperature.

For the cheesecakes: Preheat the ovento 325 degrees. Process the graham crackers and chocolatae chips in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is sandy and moist. Divide misture evenly among 9 jumbo muffin cups, then press it evenly over the bottoms and about 2/3 of the way up the sides. Bake just until crusts are set, about 8 minutes.

In a clean food processor bowl pulse the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla and orange zest until smooth, Divide the filling evenly among the muffin cups and bake until the rims are slightly puffed and the centres are almost set, about 30 minutes. Cool the cheesecakes in the cups on a rack, then refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 2 hours.

Meanwhile, for the sauce: In a food processor or a blender puree the strawberries with the sugar.

When you are ready to seve, run a small knife around the outside of the cheesecakes, then use the knife to gently lift them from their molds Transfer cheesecakes to dessert plates. Spoon some sauce over each and serve.

To test for doneness, shake the pan a little, When the cheeseckes are mostly set but still shimmy slightly in the center, they're done. If they crack, don't worry-dress with strawberry sauce and no one will be the wiser.