The recipe for the filling is adapted from the Philadelphia Classic Cheesecake recipe that can be found on the inside of your Philadelphia cream cheese box. It is the best cheesecake recipe I have made, and I have tried a few. So, why mess with a classic?
This recipe makes 24 mini cheesecakes.
AuthorcookingwithtoddlersIngredients
General Directions:
Crust:
- Make graham cracker crumbs by pulsing in a food processor.
- In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Place cupcake liners inside muffin tin.
- Layer the bottom of each liner with crust and press down on it with your fingers or a spoon.
Filling:
- Heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla to mixing bowl.
- Beat with a stand mixer with whisk attachment or hand held beater until combined.
- Mixing on low speed, add one egg at a time until just combined.
- Using a large spoon or ladle, add filling to muffin tin – filling 3/4 full.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Cake tester or toothpick should come out clean when poking it.
- Cool on a cooling rack. Then refrigerate for 4 hours.
Whipped Cream:
- Add heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla to mixing bowl.
- Using a stand mixer with whisk attachment or hand held beater, beat starting on low and gradually increase speed to medium-high as the mixture firms up.
- Pause and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Continue beating mixture until stiff peaks form. This should take ~3-4 minutes total.
- Add dollop of whipped cream to each cheesecake bite. Top with fresh fruit.
Toddler Instructions: Click on the skill level below for detailed instructions. (#s relate to General Directions)
Beginner:
Crust:
1. Add graham crackers to food processor. Help to pulse food processor button.
2. Pour premeasured ingredients into mixing bowl.
3. Help place cupcake liners in muffin tin.
Filling:
2. Add premeasured ingredients to mixing bowl.
Whipped Cream:
1. Pour premeasured ingredients into mixing bowl.
Experienced:
Crust:
1. Add graham crackers to food processor. Help to pulse food processor button.
2. Pour in premeasured ingredients. Help to fully mix together using mixing spoon.
3. Place cupcake liners into muffin tin.
4. Help spoon crust into each of the cupcake liners, using a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon.
Filling:
2. Add premeasured ingredients to mixing bowl.
3. Help beat ingredients with stand mixer or hand held beater (use hand over hand help as needed).
4. Pour in pre-cracked eggs one at a time. Help combine with stand mixer or hand held beater.
5. Help spoon filling into muffin tin, using a 1/2 cup measuring cup can make this task easier.
Whipped Cream:
1. Pour in premeasured ingredients.
2-4. Help beat ingredients with stand mixer or hand held beater (use hand over hand help as needed).
5. Help add whipped cream and other desired toppings.
Pro:
Crust:
1. Add graham crackers to food processor and pulse food processor button to create crumbs.
2. Cut amount of butter needed, peel wrapper off butter, and place butter in microwave safe dish for melting. Help measure remaining ingredients. Pour all ingredients into mixing bowl and combine with a spoon (help as needed).
3. Place cupcake liners into muffin tin.
4. Spoon crust into bottom of cupcake liners using a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon. Press down on crumbs to form crust using fingers or spoon.
Filling:
2. Help open cream cheese packages and add to mixing bowl. Help to measure ingredients and pour into mixing bowl.
3. Help beat ingredients with stand mixer or hand held beater (use hand over hand help as needed).
4. Crack eggs into separate bowl (one at a time to add to filling per recipe) and pour into mixing bowl.
5. Help spoon filling into muffin tin, using a 1/2 cup measuring cup can make this task easier.
Whipped Cream:
1. Help measure ingredients and pour into mixing bowl.
2-4. Help beat ingredients with stand mixer or hand held beater (use hand over hand help as needed) and slowly increasing speed as directed.
5. Help add whipped cream and other desired toppings.
Notes:
- To make these festive for 4th of July, use red and/or blue cupcake liners and top with red and blue fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
- For the whipped cream topping, you can use whipping cream, heavy whipping cream, or heavy cream and will get similar results.
- Instead of making the graham cracker crust, you can sub with mini vanilla wafers. Place whole vanilla wafer at bottom of each cupcake liner before adding the filling.
Suggested Fine Motor Activities:
- Painting and coloring
- Butterfly (toilet paper roll)
- Dino Sorting
- Toy Wash