These individual cheesecakes are a delicious and decadent dessert to serve to your loved one this Valentine’s Day. I repeated the heart theme by placing a strawberry slice, in a heart shape, on top of each one of the mini heart shaped cheesecakes. Not only is it adorable but the bright flavors of the strawberry contrast nicely with the rich, creamy cheesecake. Heart-shaped cheesecakes are a delightful and creative twist on the classic dessert.
You can also use this heart shaped cheesecakes recipe to make cute heart DIY gifts for your children’s teachers. Simply store one (or two!) mini cheesecakes in a reusable container, decorate it with a pretty bow and your little ones are off with a Valentines Day treat their teacher is sure to adore. Do enjoy baking for Valentine’s Day?
Mini Heart Shaped Cheesecake Tutorial
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Chill: At least 3 hours
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients For Heart Shaped Cheesecake With Strawberry Slice:
For Crust
- ½ cup graham cracker crumbs (about 4 full graham cracker sheets, crushed)
- 1 tablespoon organic granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons organic salted butter, melted
For Heart Cheesecake
- 1 (8-ounce) package of organic cream cheese, room temperature
- ⅓ cup organic granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup sour cream, room temperature
- sliced strawberries for garnish
How To Make Cheesecake Hearts
Preheat oven to 300ºF.
I used a heart-shaped silicone mold (affiliate Amazon link) to create mini heart cheesecakes to go with the Valentine Day theme. However, you could use a regular muffin pan if you want. Grease the baking mold or line muffin tins with paper cups.
Prepare crust mixture by placing the graham crackers in a zippered bag and crushing them with a rolling pin, or blend them in a food processor. Graham cracker crumbs should be around the size of rough sand. In a small bowl, combine the crumbs, sugar and butter, then mix. Press one tablespoon of the mixture firmly into the bottom of each silicone mold, muffin cup, or mini cheesecake cup. Make sure your graham cracker crust has a flat surface and covers the whole bottom with a nice even layer. Place the baking mold in the refrigerator while you prepare the cheesecake mixture.
Ensure all the ingredients, especially the cream cheese, are at room temperature to avoid lumps.
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to mix cream cheese until it softens and has a smooth, creamy texture. Blend in the sugar, egg, vanilla and sour cream until evenly mixed. Don’t overmix the batter to prevent incorporating too much air, which can lead to cracks.
Remove the baking mold from the fridge and scoop the cream cheese mixture on top of each cooled crust, filling it up to the brim of the mold. Try to divide batter evenly amongst the cups so they will all have the same cooking time. Place the heart shaped silicone mold on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the cheesecakes in the mold from the oven. Place on a wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap or place in a covered dish in the refrigerator for 3 hours or leave overnight. It is really hard to resist eating the baked cheesecake right away. However, the cheese flavor and texture come together as it cools and they are even more heavenly the next day!
Serving Instructions
To serve, push up on your silicone cups to pop the heart shape cheesecake out. Or if you are using baking cups or a heart shaped cheesecake tin, peel the paper liners off and place on a plate. Slice strawberries lengthwise to make a heart-shaped slice and place on top of the cheesecake or add a strawberry topping if you prefer. These mini cheesecake hearts are a perfect way to celebrate a special occasion.
Feel free to get creative with toppings like fruit, chocolate ganache, or whipped cream to add extra flavor and decoration.
Printable Recipe Card For Heart Shaped Mini Cheesecake
Heart Shaped Mini Cheesecakes
Ingredients
- For Crust:
- ½ cup graham cracker crumbs (about 4 full graham cracker sheets, crushed)
- 1 tablespoon organic granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons organic salted butter, melted
- For Cheesecake:
- 1 (8-ounce) package of organic cream cheese, room temperature
- ⅓ cup organic granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup sour cream, room temperature
- Sliced strawberries for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300ºF. Grease the baking mold.
- Prepare crust mixture by placing the graham crackers in a Ziploc bag and crushing them with a rolling pin until crumbs are around the size of rough sand. In a small bowl, combine the crumbs, sugar and butter, then mix.
- Press one tablespoon of the mixture into the bottom of each silicone mold cup.
- Place in the refrigerator while you prepare the cheesecake mixture.
- In a large bowl, blend the cream cheese until it softens and has a creamy texture. Blend in the sugar, egg, vanilla and sour cream until evenly mixed.
- Remove the crusts from the fridge and scoop the cream cheese mixture on top of the crust, filling it up to the brim of the mold. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the cheesecake mold and let cool for at least 30 minutes.
- Place in the refrigerator for 3 hours or leave overnight.
- Push up on your silicone cups to pop the cheesecake hearts out and plate.
- Add the heart-shaped strawberry slice.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Heart Shaped Mini Cheesecakes
Serves: 6
|
Amount Per Serving: 1 mini cake
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 274.97 kcal | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 21.24 g | 32.3% | |
| Saturated Fat 11.7 g | 55% | |
| Trans Fat 0.2 g | ||
| Cholesterol 89.4 mg | 29.7% | |
| Sodium 217.9 mg | 9% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 17.91 g | 5.7% | |
| Dietary Fiber 0.1 g | 0% | |
| Sugars 15.23 g | ||
| Protein 3.88 g | ||
| Vitamin A 22.95 % | Vitamin C 0.13 % | |
| Calcium 6.23 % | Iron 2.75 % | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Family Focus Blog
Conclusion
I hope you enjoy this easy recipe. Creating a heart-shaped cheesecake for Valentine’s Day is a wonderful idea for a romantic and delicious treat. To make it more festive and suitable for the occasion, you can add some Valentine-themed decorations. I love the fresh fruit slices with the fun heart shape dessert. It would also be a perfect dessert for any special occasion where you want to show your love like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. This heart-shaped cheesecake is sure to impress and make the celebration even more special.
Do you think you will bake these mini heart shaped cheesecakes? What is your favorite cheesecake topping? Tag us on social @familyfocusblog so we can see how they came out!
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Amy Sparks says
Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe! I love cheesecake, and with this heart-shaped mold, it looks so romantic! A perfect idea for Valentine’s Day!
Rex says
Thanks for the step by step instructions to bake cheesecake. It was easier than I thought it would be and the texture is amazing.
Raven says
This cheesecake recipe was yummy and delicious. Mmmm….