New York-Style Cheesecake Bites

These New York-Style Cheesecake Bites are the best rendition of an old-time favorite with no real twist except for freshly topped berries! Not only are these little bites the perfect size, but they also come fully packed with a beautifully classic Graham Cracker crust, a nice creamy + velvety cream cheese base, and are as amazing as is. Perfect for Easter, a family gathering, or any special occasion.

It’s finally Easter and I’m sure that many of you have been enjoying time with family during this holiday weekend!

Of course, when it comes to Easter, most of us reverence Good Friday as being the beginning of Jesus’ end on this Earth while Easter is known as the day that He rose again!

For others, this weekend celebrates Passover and the many traditions that come along with it!

Either way—it’s a time of reverence!

In addition, Easter is one of the holidays that possesses some pretty awesome Foods + Sweets!

If you’ve been an avid follower of Orchids + Sweet Tea, then you’ve probably found a few tasty recipes that fit perfectly into your Easter weekend.

However, if not, I’d recommend these Vegan Orange Belgian Waffles for starters. Or perhaps these Fluffy Vegan Oatmeal Whole Wheat Pancakes—a perfectly healthy way to kick start your day!

These past few weeks have definitely been super busy for me. I’ve been joggling so many things as it relates to getting Orchids + Sweet Tea on the right track to success and have developed a few more projects in the mix.

While it’s been so exciting, fun, and everything in between—it definitely takes a lot of work, time, energy, and dedication.

But hey—I can’t complain though. That’s all a part of the process. So, if you’ve been feeling a bit discouraged in the process, just hang in there and remain consistent. Success takes time!

How to Make New York Style Cheesecake

Easy to make, lovely to look at, delicious, and tummy-friendly. My New York-Style Cheesecake Bites are a must-try for any cheesecake lover.

Ingredient Notes

Here’s everything you’ll need to prepare this dense creamy goodness:

• Graham crackers, crushed. It’s a sweet-flavored cracker made with graham flour.
• Organic brown sugar. You may also go with regular sugar or molasses if you don’t have it.
• Ground cinnamon. You can also use a bit of ginger if you don’t have cinnamon. 
• Unsalted butter, melted. You can also use margarine 

• Cream cheese softened at room temperature. If you’re fond of organic ingredients like I am, I suggest going with Organic Valley. 
• Organic cane sugar. I highly suggest using Wholesome Sweets for the pure thing.
• Organic all-purpose flour. I’ll be using Bob’s Red Mills for this recipe. 
• Vanilla extract. Make sure you’re going for the real stuff, not artificial. 
• Large eggs, room temp. I like using the brown ones since they’re richer in omega-3 content.
• Low-fat sour cream. Daisy is an excellent brand (that’s what I’ll be using). It helps develop a rich, moister texture.
• Lemon juice. Squeeze a real lemon or two. Don’t go for any store-bought juice. 
• Lemon zest. Make sure it’s finely grated so you’re able to feel its notes in your bites.
• Berries. I suggest using fresh strawberries and blackberries for the recipe but you may also go with canned ones.

Cheesecake Bites vs. Cheesecake

Back to these cheesecake bites—I figured that I would take things back to my first love—New York Style Cheesecake (with a Strawberry topping—my fave!), and add my own twist and interpretation to it. Kept it a strictly low-fat low-carb deal. 

How? Well, let’s be real. New York style or not, it’s hard to resist when you’ve got a full-fledged, 8-inch oozing cheesecake in front of you. Morning tea through post-lunch dessert and evening snack—and poof—it’s gone. Heck, it may not even live to see the evening.

When it comes to cheesecake bites, the key is to bake two for each member of the family. Have your fill without being drenched in guilt. Trust me, it works! Plus, the cheesecake bites end up looking all cool and exotic with those blackberry and strawberry toppings.

What is the Difference Between New York Style Cheesecake and Traditional Cheesecake?

A regular cheesecake is made using a thin batter and boasts a silkier, creamier texture. But when it comes to a New York-Style Cheesecake, you get denser creamy goodness. 

Think of the latter as a richer, meticulous, and bigger cousin of a traditional cheesecake.

What Makes a Cheesecake New York Style?

To keep things healthier for my forte, I chose to use fewer dairy products to build the cheesecake part of things (the body if you will!).

Most NY Style Cheesecake enthusiasts go for cream cheese, sour cream, AND heavy cream. So basically, what makes a cheesecake New York-Style is loads of cream cheese, making it all rich and dense. However, if you’ve been an avid reader then you’re already aware that I try to reduce or cut out dairy completely, on a daily basis.

Therefore, I chose to use a healthier version of cream cheese—Organic Valley (which I highly recommend!) as well as less sour cream (which was low-fat). 

I also completely opted out of the heavy cream and used a bit of lemon juice instead. A hint of acidy definitely kicks things off! Heads up: If you go my way, your cheesecake will taste just as delicious as it does with regular cream cheese and heavy cream, but healthier.

Now, to top things off, I simply chose to go with fresh blackberries and strawberries, which made for an awesome bite!

Preparing the Graham Cracker Crust

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 12-cavity cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

Grind the graham crackers, until almost finely ground (it’s OK to leave a few medium chunks if you're a lover of a little crunch!). Combine the Graham cracker, cinnamon, pure cane sugar, and melted butter in a small bowl and mix with a spatula until well incorporated.

Divide the mixture between the cupcake liners (about 2 Tbsps per cup) and press down into the bottoms with your fingers to ensure that it’s perfectly covering the bottom.

Bake the crusts for about 5 minutes and then remove them from the oven and allow them to cool until you’re ready to use.

Preparing the Cheesecake + Filling

Get an electric mixer and mix together on low speed: the cream cheese, pure cane sugar, and flour until combined. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl if needed.

Next, add the vanilla extract and the first egg and beat slowly until mostly combined. Then add the remaining egg and mix until well combined, still mixing everything on low speed. Now, add the sour cream and lemon juice and continue mixing.

Change mixer attachment to a whisk and beat on medium-high speed for 1-2 minutes or so until completely smooth and lump-free. NOTE: DO NOT OVER-MIX. Be sure to stop once the batter becomes smooth.

Add a small amount of filling to each cupcake liner (about 2 Tbsps), repeating until all batter is used.

Bake the cheesecakes for 16-18 minutes, then turn off the oven and allow them to sit in the oven for another 5 minutes with the oven door halfway open to avoid cheesecakes from deflating. **NOTE: When baking, I always prepare a medium pot with water and add it to the oven as well, to keep cheesecake temperature even and to add moisture.**

Remove cheesecakes from the oven and allow them to continue to cool for another 15-20 minutes, before putting them in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Once cooled, top with fresh berries (optional) and enjoy.

New York-Style Cheesecake Bites.

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