Bacon Cheesecake Bites

By JDARK

Ingredients

• 20 gingersnap cookies, finely crushed to yield 1 1/4 cups, or 1 1/4 cups graham-cracker crumbs
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter
• 2 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• One 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon fine salt

Details

Servings 24
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 140mins
Adapted from foodnetwork.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Place an oven rack in the center of the oven.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Line a 24-count mini-muffin pan with paper liners.

For the crust:
4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
5. Add the crumbs and stir until the mixture forms clumps.

For the filling:
6. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
7. Add the bacon and cook until crispy, about 8 minutes.
8. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and drain on paper towels.
9. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, maple syrup, egg, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt together until smooth.
10. Mix in the cooked bacon.
11. Using the bottom of a shot glass or a small glass bottle, press 1 teaspoon of crust mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup.
12. Using a small ice-cream scoop, scoop 2 tablespoons of filling batter on top of each crust and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
13. Cool for 20 minutes and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.