Ingredients
- Graham cracker crumbs: 1 ½ cups
- Unsalted butter: ½ cup (113g), melted
- Full-fat cream cheese: 16 oz (450g), softened
- Powdered sugar: 1 cup
- Heavy cream: 1 cup (cold)
- alcohol-free vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
- Fresh strawberries: 2 cups, hulled and sliced
Instructions
- Step 1: **Prepare the Crust:** In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter until well mixed. Press a tablespoon or two of the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of mini tartlet pans or a 12-cup muffin tin lined with paper liners. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
- Step 2: **Make the Cheesecake Filling:** In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla bean paste with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. In a separate cold bowl, whip the cold heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until just combined.
- Step 3: **Assemble and Chill:** Spoon the cheesecake filling evenly into the chilled tartlet crusts, smoothing the tops with a small spatula or the back of a spoon. Refrigerate the tartlets for at least 2-4 hours, or until the filling is firm enough to hold its shape.
- Step 4: **Add Strawberry Topping:** Just before serving, carefully remove the tartlets from their pans or liners. Arrange the hulled and sliced fresh strawberries decoratively on top of each chilled cheesecake tartlet.
- Step 5: **Miffy Decoration (Optional):** For a Miffy touch, you can pipe a small dollop of extra whipped cream onto a corner of the strawberry topping, and use a food-safe marker or melted dark chocolate piped through a small hole in a parchment cone to draw two small dots for eyes and an 'x' for Miffy's mouth. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Keep any leftover tartlets, undecorated, in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; add fresh strawberries just before enjoying.
- These delightful tartlets are best enjoyed chilled; avoid any attempt to reheat them as it will compromise their creamy texture.
- Present your Miffy Strawberry Cheesecake Tartlets on a charming platter, perhaps with a sprinkle of extra powdered sugar around the base, and pair them with a light tea or sparkling lemonade for a truly adorable tea party treat.
- For the smoothest cheesecake filling, ensure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature before beating, and gently fold in the whipped cream in two additions to maintain its airy volume without deflating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tartlet (approx. 135g)
- Calories: 370
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Protein: 25g