Peppermint & chocolate is a perfect combination. These Mini Peppermint Cheesecakes highlight those delicious flavors!
These little beauties may just be the perfect dessert for the holidays or any time of year! Keep’ em mini with Nutella S’mores Cheesecakes and Mint Oreo Cheesecakes.
Chocolate + Peppermint perfection!
It’s been a while since I’ve used my mini cheesecake pan. I meant to use it for Thanksgiving but never got around to it. I don’t know about you, but sometimes life just gets busy!!!
I finally was able to carve out some good time in the kitchen, and new exactly what I wanted to make! I started by making an Oreo crust for the base, then a standard sour cream cheesecake for the filling.
Then I added peppermint extract and a heaping scoop of peppermint baking chips and mini semisweet chocolate chips to give these their flavor.
For the finishing touch, I piped on homemade whipped cream and topped them with Candy Cane Kisses. They were perfect—a triple threat of sorts! Creamy, chocolatey and peppermint-y. So very good!!!
How to make mini peppermint cheesecakes
PREP. Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray mini cheesecake pan generously with baking spray.
CRUST. In the bowl of a food processor, grind all ingredients for crust, except for the melted butter. The mixture should resemble slightly coarse crumbs. Remove mixture and pour melted butter over. Mix until crumbs are wet. Press evenly into the bottom of each hole. Place in oven and bake for 8 minutes.
FILLING. Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together sugar, cream cheese, sour cream, salt, vanilla, and peppermint extract until smooth (about 2 minutes).
Add vanilla, heavy cream, mix, then add the egg and mix until incorporated. Add flour and mix until just combined. Remove bowl from stand and fold in peppermint & chocolate chips. Pour mixture into cooled crusts, dividing evenly.
BAKE. Place cheesecakes in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes before covering and placing in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours (note: the cheesecakes will sink a little, this is normal).
Serving Mini Cheesecakes
WHIPPED CREAM. To make the whipped cream, in the bowl of a stand mixer (preferably chilled) fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together all ingredients for approximately 2 minutes- cover and chill until needed.
GARNISH + SERVE. To assemble, remove cheesecakes from pan and remove bottom plates. Pipe with whipped cream and top with kisses. Serve immediately!
Tips + Variations
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making them:
- Make sure to use full fat cream cheese in this recipe.
- For best results when making the whipped cream, start with a bowl that has been chilled in the freezer for at least 5 minutes.
Variations:
- Golden Oreos, graham crackers, or chocolate Teddy Grahams, can be substituted for the regular Oreos in the crust of the cheesecake.
- Add a drop of pink food coloring to your cheesecake mixture for a festive touch.
- Substitute Andes crème de menthe chips for the peppermint chips and top with Andes crème de menthe thins instead of candy cane kisses for another variety.
Storing Info
STORE cooled cheesecakes in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days. It is best to leave the whipped cream topping off when storing and wait to add it when you are ready to serve the cheesecakes again.
Chill first then FREEZE for up to a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
More perfect peppermint treats:
- Peppermint Frosted Brownies
- Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes
- Homemade Peppermint Bark
- Peppermint Stick Ice Cream
- Peppermint Shortbread Cookies [Slice And Bake]
Mini Peppermint Cheesecake Recipe
Ingredients
Oreo Crust
- 14 Oreo cookie halves (or 7 cookies with the filing removed)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp butter - melted
- 1 1/2 tsp sugar
- pinch of salt
Peppermint Cheesecake
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 8 oz package original cream cheese - room temperature
- 1/4 cup sour cream - room temperature
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream - room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup Andes peppermint baking chips
- 1/3 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Whipped Cream
- 2 Tbsp powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream - chilled
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 12 Candy Cane Kisses for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray mini cheesecake pan* generously with baking spray.
- In the bowl of a food processor, grind all ingredients for crust, except for the melted butter. The mixture should resemble slightly coarse crumbs. Remove mixture and pour melted butter over. Mix until crumbs are wet. Press evenly into the bottom of each hole. Place in oven and bake for 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together sugar, cream cheese, sour cream, salt, vanilla, and peppermint extract until smooth (about 2 minutes). Add vanilla and heavy cream, mix, then add the egg and mix until incorporated. Add flour and mix until just combined. Remove bowl from stand and fold in peppermint & chocolate chips. Pour mixture into cooled crusts, dividing evenly.
- Place cheesecakes in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes before covering and placing in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours (note: the cheesecakes will sink a little, this is normal).
- To make the whipped cream, in the bowl of a stand mixer (preferably chilled) fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together all ingredients for approximately 2 minutes- cover and chill until needed.
- To assemble, remove cheesecakes from pan and remove bottom plates. Pipe with whipped cream and top with kisses. Serve immediately!
This looks amazing. Can I just bake one big 9 inch cheesecake? If so, how long should I bake it for?
in your instructions you list the vanilla in two places to add.
Yes, you need 1/2 tsp for the cheesecake & 1/8 tsp for the whipped cream 🙂
One more question…
Can I use Andes crem de menthe baking chips? I bought those and later realized peppermint was written.
Those will work!