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Mini Peppermint Bark Cheesecakes

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Mini Peppermint Bark Cheesecakes are so creamy! They’re filled with crushed peppermint candy and topped with chocolate ganache and homemade whipped cream. It’s the perfect holiday dessert. If you love cheesecake, you’ll love this twist on my classic mini cheesecake recipe.

Peppermint Bark Cheesecake

People either love or hate peppermint and if you love peppermint, these cheesecakes are for you! They make for a perfect Christmas dessert.

The classic cheesecake filling has a touch of peppermint extract and some crunchy peppermint chocolate. For the toppings, I went with a chocolate ganache and whipped cream. The ganache ties in nicely with the Oreo crust and also helps break up some of the peppermint flavors.

You can bring them to a party or make them for a neighbor or friend. These are a great make-ahead dessert and they also freeze well, so you can take the stress out of your holiday baking.

Easy Recipe

The cheesecake filling is 6 simple ingredients including Andes Peppermint Crunch. This stuff is so addicting! If you can’t find that, you can try something similar from Ghirardelli, Dove or Hershey’s. I love the crunch that the candy adds to the filling.

Making cheesecake in a muffin pan is way easier than a springform pan. There’s no dealing with a water bath, and the baking time is significantly less! Sure, it takes a little less effort to just make this in an 8-inch pan, but individual desserts are perfect when hosting family or friends. Maybe you want to try more than one dessert- I know I always do!

A close up of a mini peppermint bark cheesecake on a gold polka dot plate

Ingredients You’ll needed

For the Crust

  • Oreo cookies– 16 for the crust
  • Butter: melted

For the Cheesecake Filling

  • Cream cheese: It’s best to use a full-fat cream cheese
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Eggs
  • Peppermint Extract
  • Sour cream adds a little bit of tang, and creaminess to the cheesecake. You can substitute Greek yogurt if needed.
  • Andes Peppermint Crunch candy– if you can’t find these, try the Hershey’s Candy Cane bars or Candy Cane Kisses and just chop them up

For the Toppings

  • Dark chocolate– for the ganache topping
  • Heavy whipping cream– you’ll need this both for the ganache and the whipped cream
  • Powdered sugar

Quick Instructions

Make the crust:

Line a cupcake pan with cupcake baking liners. Grind the Oreos into a fine crumb then combine with the melted butter. Spoon about 1 tablespoon into each liner and press down with a spoon or tart shaper.

Make the filling:

Combine the ingredients: First, beat the cream cheese and sugar, then add the eggs and and peppermint extract. Finally, mix in the sour cream and peppermint candy.

Fill the liners: Use a large cookie scoop (or ¼ cup measuring cup) to spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake liners.

Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes. The centers of the cheesecake should be slightly jiggly, don’t worry, they will finish baking off as they cool. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

baked peppermint cheesecakes on a gold polka dot plate

Add the Toppings

Make the ganache: First microwave the chocolate with heavy whipping cream until melted and smooth, then spoon it over the cheesecakes.

a dollop of chocolate ganache on top of a mini cheesecake

Make the whipped cream: The secret to perfect whipped cream is to start with a very cold bowl. I recommend putting in the freezer for at least 5 minutes. Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form, then add the powdered sugar and beat until soft peaks form.

Prepare Ahead & Freezing Instructions

These can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If possible, add the whipped cream the day of serving. Make sure they are completely cooled prior to placing in the container.

To freeze, chill them completely, then transfer to an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Just add the toppings prior to serving.

Make These as Cheesecake Bars

This recipe can easily be made into cheesecake bars in an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan. Be sure to line the pan with parchment paper. Baking times may vary between 15-25 minutes. The middle should be slightly jiggly and will finish baking as it cools.

a mini peppermint cheesecake with bites missing and a gold fork
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Two stacked peppermint bark cheesecakes unwrapped

Mini Peppermint Bark Cheesecakes

  • Author: Julianne Dell
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 16 Servings

Description

Mini Peppermint Bark Cheesecakes are so creamy. Add in crushed peppermint candy and topped with chocolate ganache and homemade whipped cream

Ingredients

For the Cheesecakes

  • 16 Oreo cookies
  • 2 tablespoons(28g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 16 ounces(452g) full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup(63g) granulated sugar
  • 2large eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
  • ½ cup(120g) sour cream, at room temperature
  • ½ cup chopped Andes Peppermint Crunch

For the Toppings

  • 5 ounces dark chocolate
  • 1 ½ cups (354ml) heavy whipping cream, divided
  • ½ cup(65g) powdered sugar
  • Andes Peppermint Crunch

Instructions

For the cheesecakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake pan with baking liners.
  2. Grind the Oreo cookie into a fine crumb using a food processor or blender. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cookies with the melted butter and stir until well combined.
  3. Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of the cookie mixture into each cupcake liner, and press into the pan with a spoon. Set aside.
  4. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until well combined and free of any lumps, scraping down the bowl as needed.
  5. Next beat in the eggs and peppermint extract until well combined. Finally, beat the sour cream until the mixture is completely smooth. Fold in the peppermint crunch.
  6. Use a large cookie scoop (or ¼ cup measuring cup) to spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake liners. A heaping cooking scoop should fill the liners nearly full, leaving about ¼-inch at the top.
  7. Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes. The centers of the cheesecake should be slightly jiggly. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the pan.Then refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours before adding the toppings.

Prepare the ganache:

  1. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate with ½ cup heavy whipping cream. Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments and stir until completely combined. Allow to cool. Spoon about 1 tablespoon or less over the top of each cheesecake, spread with a knife.

Prepare the whipped cream:

  1. Place the mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to chill. Pour 1 cup heavy whipping cream into the chilled bowl and use an electric mixer to beat the heavy cream on medium-high speed until soft peaks start to form. Slowly add the powdered sugar and continue beating on high speed until stiff peaks form. Pipe or spoon onto chilled cheesecakes and top with additional crushed Andes candies.

Notes

  • Room temperature ingredients: The ingredients are best mixed at room temperature to ensure a smooth, lump-free cheesecake batter. If you forget this step, you can quickly soften the cream cheese in the microwave. Unwrap and microwave for 20 seconds.
  • Sour cream substitute: If needed, substitute the sour cream with greek yogurt.
  • Andes Peppermint Crunch: If you can’t find that specifically, you can try something similar from Ghirardelli, Dove or Hershey’s.
  • Make ahead instructions: These can be prepared up to 2 day in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Make sure they are completely cooled prior to placing in the container. Add toppings prior to serving.
  • Freezing instructions: Once chilled, transfer to an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Add toppings prior to serving.
  • Halve the recipe: This recipe can easily be halved to make 8 mini cheesecakes
  • Cheesecake bars: Make this recipe in an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan for cheesecake bars. Line the pan with parchment paper and bake 15-25 minutes (depending on the pan size). The middle should be slightly jiggly when you pull it out of the oven.
Nutrition Information:
1 cheesecake
567
36g
330mg
35g
57g
.7g
6g
84mg
  • Category: Cheesecake
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

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