Happy Valentine's Week!
This year for Valentines day, I didn't want to get too crazy with gifts, so I thought I would just make my boyfriend Alexander something small and he would really like... and you know what they say! The fastest way to a guy's heart is through his stomach
So whether you are single or not this Valentine's season, I'm sure you will love my lovely Vanilla Raspberry Valentine's Cheesecake
What you will need:
Crust:
♥ 1 1/4 cup's of graham crumbs (or crackers if you want to crumb them yourself)
♥ 1/4 cup of butter... melted
Filling:
♥ 16oz (500g) of low fat cream cheese, softened... or full fat, whatever you want (2 8oz packages)
♥ 2 eggs
♥ 1 teaspoon (tsp) cornstarch
♥ 2/3 cups of sugar
♥ Handful of frozen raspberries (or the berry of your choice)
Toppings:
♥ Strawberries
Optional:
♥ Baker's chocolate- To decorate the top of your cake
♥ Vanillina- To give your cake a vanilla flavor... you can purchase this from any Italian specialty store
Makes 12 mini cheesecakes
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees
... and wash your dirty hands!!
First: Measure out your graham cracker crumbs (1 1/4 cup's)
If they are in cracker form still, put them in your blender on pulse
Second: Take your butter (1/4 cup) and microwave it till it's melted... about 30 seconds
I chopped mine up so that it melts faster and evenly
Third: Mix together your butter and graham crackers
You may want to use your hands to work it
Now: Grease a muffin tin
I just used some olive oil
If you are using a silicone tray (which I recommend) than you can skip this step
Next: Evenly distribute your graham cracker crumbs between each tin
Now: You gotta press down your crumbs...
I just took another muffin tin the same size as the one I'm using and I used that to pack it down which worked great, but you can just use your hands
Your graham crackers should look something like this like this... this is your crust!
Pop it in the oven (325 degrees) for 5 minutes.... make sure to set a timer because you're going to be occupied while it bakes and you don't want to forget about it
Once you take the crust out of the oven, increase the oven to 350 degrees... don't forget this step!
Now: to start on the filling!
Beat your cream cheese in the mixer till it's creamy, fluffy, and smooth
I cut up my cream cheese so that it would be easier on the mixer
This is not what it should look like!
By the way, is your crust still in the oven?
If it is, than set your oven to 350!!!
While that mixes: Measure out your sugar (2/3c... or 166g), cornstarch (1 tsp) and vanillina (1 packet), and throw that into the mixer
Once the sugar is mixed in, add in your eggs (2 eggs)
(I took out the pictures for these steps because this post was getting too long ;) )
Now: It's time for your berries
This step is optional, but recommended. It makes the cake a pretty pink Valentine's colour, and gives it a nice texture
Put in as many as you like, but I put in probably about... 2/3's of a cup
Once everything is in the mixing bowl: Your batter should look something like this... it's pretty liquidy!
Pour these into your cupcake tins and- stick them in the oven (which should be 350 degrees) for 20 minutes
They shouldn't rise very much, so filling them nearly to the top should be fine
While that is in the oven: prepare your strawberries
To make them into a heart shape, just cut them in half and then slice a "V" into the top part of the strawberry
As soon as your cakes are out of the oven: place the strawberry on top of the cakes
For the chocolate decoration, get some baking chocolate (although, I'm sure any variety of chocolate would work fine)... I use the Baker's brand... 'cause it's cheep
Chop up your chocolate so that it melts evenly, and then stick it in the microwave for about 45 seconds
While that microwaves, take a plastic bag and cut a tiny little hole into the bottom corner of your bag (only about a 1mm long slit) and then take the melted chocolate and scoop in into your bag
They get creative with your chocolate decorating
Let your cakes cool for about an hour in the tin
Then pop them in the fridge for another couple of hours
You may need to use a knife to cut around the edge of the cakes to get them out
Serve cold within the next two days!!!
Enjoy guys!
♥ Olivia
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