Description
Indulgent apple pie cheesecake bites blend classic American dessert flavors into irresistible mini treats. Creamy cheesecake meets spiced apple filling, creating a delightful fusion that will make you crave another sweet bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits:
- 2 cups apples, peeled and diced (preferably Granny Smith)
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) lemon juice
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 ml) graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
- 1/4 cup (50 g) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cinnamon
Wet Ingredients and Dairy:
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 8 ounces (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F (160C) and prepare a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray, ensuring thorough coverage.
- Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform, compact mixture that holds together when pressed.
- Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom of each mini muffin cavity, creating a solid, even base for the cheesecake bites.
- For the apple filling, dice the apples into small, uniform pieces and combine with brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a saucepan.
- Cook the apple mixture over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the apples become slightly softened but retain a slight crunch.
- Remove the apple mixture from heat and let it cool to room temperature, allowing flavors to meld together.
- In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, then gradually incorporate sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until completely integrated.
- Add the egg to the cream cheese mixture, blending until the filling becomes silky and well-combined.
- Distribute a small layer of cooked apple filling into each graham cracker crust, ensuring even coverage.
- Carefully spoon the cheesecake mixture over the apple layer, filling each cup approximately 3/4 full to prevent overflow during baking.
- Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, watching for a set but slightly jiggly center.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and allow the bites to cool in the pan for 10 minutes to help them set.
- Transfer the bites to a wire rack, letting them cool completely at room temperature.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to achieve the optimal texture and flavor melding.
- Serve chilled and enjoy these delectable apple pie cheesecake bites.
Notes
- Ensure graham cracker crust is packed tightly to create a solid base that won’t crumble when removing from the tin.
- Use firm baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balanced sweetness in the filling.
- Control moisture by draining excess liquid from cooked apples before adding to the cheesecake base to prevent soggy bottoms.
- Adjust egg quantity for dietary needs: replace one egg with 1/4 cup applesauce or mashed banana for a lighter, vegetarian-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 158
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 96 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg