Light and creamy mini cheesecakes are made with Graham Cracker Crust and topped with homemade blueberry sauce. You can easily bake them in a muffin pan and they are perfect for a make-ahead dessert!
This is one of my most favorites recipes for mini cheesecakes! The filling is made with a mix of cream cheese and sour cream, that makes it light and creamy. The thin layer of Gram cracker crust adds an additional texture, while the homemade blueberry sauce gives a perfect finishing touch to this dessert.
Despite the recipe looking a bit complicated, it is so easy to make and will take no more then 30-40 minutes of your time. The best part is if you have a big party, you can make them ahead of time and refrigerate.
Table of contents
How to make Graham Cracker Crust
To make the base for these mini cheesecakes, we’ll need only 3 ingredients:
- Graham Crackers
- Melted and slightly cooled unsalted butter
- Maple Syrup
First, we need to grind Graham Crackers. There are 2 ways you can do that:
- Grind them in a food processor.
- Put them in a zip-lock bag, and using a rolling pin, roll it over the crackers until they become crumbs.
In a mixing bowl, mix together Graham crackers crumbs, melted butter, and maple syrup until evenly combined.
Divide the mixture between 18 cupcake liners, about 1 ½ tablespoon per liner (I like to use a 1 ½ tablespoon ice cream scoop for even distribution). Press the mixture down and pre-bake for 5 minutes.
How to make Mini Cheesecakes filling
While the crust is baking, we can work on the filling. I would like to make a note here that all ingredients should be room temperature, so they will incorporate better.
Using a hand mixer, beat softened cream cheese on medium speed until it’s soft and silky. It will take about 2-3 minutes.
Add sour cream, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and eggs. Beat on medium/high speed until it’s a smooth consistency and doesn’t have any lumps. The batter should be a bit runny.
When the crust is pre-baked, take it out of the oven and let cool off. Then divide the filling batter between these 18 liners on top of the crust. It will be about 3 tablespoons per liner. I like to use a 3 tablespoons ice cream scoop for even distribution.
Bake at 350°F for about 18-20 minutes until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.
When done, place the pans on a counter and let it cool off for about 30 minutes. At first, the cheesecakes will be puffed on top, then they should slightly sink in the middle.
After they are cooled off, place them in air-tight containers and in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
How to make Blueberry Sauce
I like to make this sauce about 30 minutes before serving, so it has enough time to cool off. Though, you also can make it earlier and refrigerate.
In a large sauce pan add rinsed blueberries, maple syrup, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Cook it over medium heat for about 10 minutes, constantly stirring. Some berries will burst and release juices, creating sauce.
If the sauce is runny for you, mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Gradually add it to the sauce until the desired consistency.
How to serve
When ready to serve, remove the mini cheesecakes from cupcake liners and place on a serving plates.
Scoop about 2-3 tablespoons of blueberry sauce on top of each cheesecake.
Tips for best results
- Make sure that all filling ingredients (cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs) are room temperature, so it will be light and creamy. If they are cold, your filling might be lumpy and tough.
- When baking, try NOT to open the oven too often, so the temperature doesn’t fluctuate and bakes evenly inside.
- Don’t overbake the cheesecakes! When done, the edges should be set and the center slightly jiggly.
- Before you transfer the baked cheesecakes to the fridge, make sure they are completely cooled off. Otherwise, they might crack and/or create condensation on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can refrigerate them (without the sauce) in an air-tight container for 3-4 days.
Yes! You can freeze the mini cheesecakes (without the sauce) in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. To thaw, just leave them in the fridge overnight.
More dessert ideas
- No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
- Cheesecake Brownie Recipe
- Cinnamon Baked Apples
- Strawberry Panna Cotta
- Vanilla Strawberry Cake
- Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins
- Tart Lemon Curd
- Mixed Berry Puff Pastry Tarts
Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!
Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes
Ingredients
Ingredients for Crust:
- 2 cups Graham Crackers crumbs
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Ingredients for Mini Cheesecakes Filling:
- 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream room temperature
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large egg room temperature
Ingredients for Blueberry Sauce:
- 4 cups blueberries
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- zest from 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
How to make the Crust:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 muffin pans with 18 cupcake liners and set aside.
- Grind Graham crackers in a food processor.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together Graham crackers crumbs, melted butter, and maple syrup until evenly combined.
- Divide the mixture between 18 cupcake liners, about 1 ½ tablespoon per liner. Press the mixture down and pre-bake for 5 minutes.
How to make Cheesecake Filling:
- Using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed until it’s soft and silky.
- Add sour cream, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and eggs. Beat on medium/high speed until it’s a smooth consistency and doesn’t have any lumps. The batter should be a bit runny.
- When the crust is pre-baked, take it out of the oven and let cool off. Then divide the filling batter between these 18 liners on top of the crust. It will be about 3 tbsp per liner. I like to use a 3 tbsp ice cream scoop for even distribution.
- Bake at 350°F for about 18-20 minutes until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.
- When done, place the pans on a counter and let it cool off for about 30 minutes. At first, the cheesecakes will be puffed on top, then they should slightly sink in the middle.
- After they are cooled off, place them in air-tight containers and in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
How to make Blueberry Sauce:
- In a large sauce pan add rinsed blueberries, maple syrup, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Cook it over medium heat for about 10 minutes, constantly stirring. Some berries will burst and release juices, creating sauce.
- If the sauce is runny for you, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Gradually add it to the sauce until the desired consistency.
How to serve:
- When ready to serve, remove the mini cheesecakes from cupcake liners and place on a serving plates.
- Scoop about 2-3 tablespoons of blueberry sauce on top of each cheesecake.
Notes
- You can make these mini cheesecakes and the sauce 1-2 days in advance and refrigerate in an air-tight container.
- If you are having a small party and want to make only half a batch, just reduce all the ingredients in half for crust, filling, and sauce.
- Make sure that all filling ingredients (cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs) are room temperature, so it will be light and creamy. If they are cold, your filling might be lumpy and tough.
- When baking, try NOT to open the oven too often, so the temperature doesn’t fluctuate and bakes evenly inside.
- Don’t overbake the cheesecakes! When done, the edges should be set and the center slightly jiggly.
- Before you transfer the baked cheesecakes to the fridge, make sure they are completely cooled off. Otherwise, they might crack and/or create condensation on top.
We aren’t a big fan of the maple syrup in the cheesecake…. How would we use white sugar without flopping it??? The recipe sounds amazing
Can you use frozen blueberries to make the sauce.