Mini Vanilla Crème Brûlée Cheesecakes
I’ve always believed that it’s the moments we share together that make a house a home. Hosting and baking for friends and family at home is definitely one of my love languages.
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From deciding on a theme or occasion to selecting a color scheme and a menu, entertaining is one of my favorite ways to show someone how much I love them. This is especially perfect for Mother’s Day! Are you hosting a Mother’s Day brunch or dropping off a treat to your mom, sister or grandmother?
Creme Brulee Cheesecake Recipe Inspiration
I was recently inspired by Yankee Candle’s new Signature Collection! There are ten new fragrances in the collection, all with a fresh take on the Tumbler shape. They have two cotton wicks and a premium soy-wax blend that provides a clean burn. I also really love the hand-illustrated labels, they’re all so gorgeous and fit so well on a party table or around my home. Plus, they make such a lovely gift, especially when paired with a delicious baked treat.
I was especially drawn to the Vanilla Crème Brulee with its fragrance of vanilla custard with notes of toasted praline and a hint of cardamom.
Inspired by the Vanilla Crème Brulee candle, I created these Miniature Crème Brulee Cheesecakes that are perfect for parties because their mini size makes them easy to serve or take on-the-go to a friend or neighbor. These little cheesecakes are perfect for Mother’s Day as well!
Mini Crème Brulee Cheesecakes
Creme Brulee Cheesecake Garnish
I love to garnish desserts whenever possible because I love the extra touch of “pretty” and we eat with our eyes first, right?
For these mini cheesecakes, I recommend berries, small food-safe flowers (like Sweet Williams), and sprigs of mint. The pops of color make these little desserts so pretty for serving!
Crème Brulee can be an intimidating dessert to make, especially for a special occasion, so that is why I LOVE these mini cheesecakes.
They are simple to make ahead of time, pull right out of the freezer (they thaw up fast, don’t worry) and prep the top before serving.
Creme Brulee Cheesecake Tips
Don’t be intimidated by the torching of these little cheesecakes. It’s super simple. All you have to do is coat the top of the cheesecake with a layer of granulates sugar. Then aim the torch (here is the one I use) several inches above the cheesecake and in a waving motion, torch the top until it reaches a deep amber color. Allow to cool before serving.
The caramelized sugar topping is absolutely delicious paired with the creamy vanilla cheesecake! This might be my new favorite way to enjoy Crème Brulee!
Plus, you can prepare these cheesecakes ahead of time. Just do the final torching tableside before serving! Trust me, your friends and family will be so impressed. It’s easy, trust me!
Mini Crème Brulee Cheesecakes
Ingredients
For the Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs - (about 7 full-size crackers)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter - melted
For the Cheesecake
- 16 ounces cream cheese - 2 bricks, room temperature
- 1 large egg - room temperature
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Topping
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
For the Graham Cracker Crust
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners; set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter until well combined.
- Divide crust mixture evenly into paper liners. Use the bottom of a glass or back of a spoon to tightly pack down the crust mixture.
- Bake for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
For the Cheesecake
- Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla extract together. Mixture should be smooth and creamy without lumps.
- Scoop the cheesecake filling evenly on top of the graham cracker crusts. Use the back of a spoon to spread filling evenly across the top before baking.
- Bake mini cheesecakes for 14-16 minutes. The tops of the cheesecakes should be set and just slightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer (at least 4 hours).
For Crème Brulee Topping
- Remove chilled cheesecakes and unwrap the liners. Place cheesecakes on a heat-safe surface and cover the top of each cheesecake with a layer of granulated sugar.
- Carefully torch until caramelized on top. You can also use your oven broiler, just leave door cracked open and watch very carefully so you can pull them out when amber in color and not too dark.
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you’re inspired to create new traditions and bake your own mini crème brulee cheesecakes – for Mother’s Day or another occasion! Be sure to check out Yankee Candle’s new Signature Collection, all of the scents are absolutely fabulous and would make the perfect gift for a loved one! You can find the Vanilla Creme Brûlée available at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Thanks to Yankee Candle for sponsoring this blog post.
Ah, I love cheesecake and I love crème brulee…what a fantastic combination! And a vanilla crème brulee candle? Sounds like something that needs to be burning in my kitchen right now!
What are you using for the little dollop to put the flowers on?
Yes indeed! I would like to know what the dollop is under the food safe flower
It’s just whipped cream!
Garnish your mini Crème Brulee cheesecakes with anything from fresh fruit to food-safe flowers or mint sprigs!
Have you ever made these in mini muffin tins? How would you adjust the temp/bake time?
You could, they should work fine. I’d just baking time down to 8-10 minutes but just watch carefully.
would you be able to use this same recipe to make an actual cake instead of individual’s? Thanks 😊