Chocolate Berry Cheesecake Bites are cute little bites of heavenly cheesecake in a cookie heart shape mold topped with berries for the perfect Valentine's Day treat.
Why you are going to love these Chocolate Berry Cheesecake Bites
Bite sized for portion control
Creamy
Crispy chocolate crumb crust
Fresh berries for the win
Do you have a favorite kitchen gadget?
I am a foodie and I'm supposed to have at least a million kitchen gadgets. Right? However, I am actually quite deficient in this area. I really do love kitchen gadgets, but usually do not buy them for myself. I usually just make do with what I have. However, I think maybe it is time for Healthy World Cuisine to obtain a few upgrades in the kitchen tool area.
Mr. Anonymous knows I have a weak side for fun and interesting kitchen gadgets so he gave me a couple of very unique ones for our anniversary. I am happy that he supports my passion for cooking. However, I know what you all thinking. "Hey that is not very romantic!" At least it was not a shop vac..! ( Come on fess up... How many of you got a new vacuum cleaner or electric drill for your anniversary ...?)
Mr. Anonymous knows that if he can motivate us to enter the kitchen, the higher the probability that he will be able to reap some rewards or maybe some Chocolate Berry Cheesecake Bites.
One of the kitchen gadgets that was gifted to me was a Lékué Decopen. According to Lékué website and pamphlet, "The DECOPEN is the most recent, innovative product added to Lékué's TOOLS family, you can add design and flavour to all your dishes, whatever the occasion. Mix your favourite sweet and savoury sauces and have fun adding the finishing touch and giving flavour to salads, meats, fish and desserts. Also have fun with the kids, decorating their favourite dishes. The new, four nozzle model opens up even more possibilities to decorate and improve on your favourite foods.
I was off to put the Lékué Decopen to the test. I began experimenting the with the 4 nozzles with a little chocolate sauce. The first time I filled up the container and drew my name in the sauce with the smallest of the tips. Easy enough. I proceeded to tried each of the nozzles and the fan nozzle was by far the coolest decoration on the dish. Now, I just needed a small little dessert to show off my artistic work.
One full size Berry cheese cake coming up for one of my dearest little teenage fan, Jason.
Several little mini heart-shaped cheese cakes with cool Lékué DECOPEN Chocolate designs to keep my hungry teenagers happy too. I better hurry and photograph my little cheesecakes before they are inhaled. Please continue to read along to find out how to make this yummy little treat...
Chocolate Drizzled Berry Bites of Cheesecake Heaven
Recipe adapted from Tyler Florence from foodnetwork.com (You have to love his cheese cakes)
Serves 12 adults or 2 hungry teenage boys
This recipe will make one standard sized 8 inch cheese cake spring-form pan dessert or one 6 inch spring- form mini cheese cake and also about 12 bite sized mini cheese cakes.
Crust:
- 2 cups finely ground digestive biscuits (about 1 package of plain cookies, graham cracker or you could use chocolate biscuits as well) Graham crackers are hard to come by in Hong Kong.
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 stick unsalted melted butter
- cooking spray
Filling:
- 2 (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 pint sour cream
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping:
- Blueberries, strawberries or any fruit your little heart desires
- Powdered sugar- just a dusting
- Chocolate sauce (I used Hershey's)
Step 1: Preheat the over to 325 degrees F. (162 degrees Celsius)
Step 2: In a medium bowl combine all the crust ingredients (cookies, butter, sugar and cinnamon) with a fork until evenly moistened. Spray cooking spray on spring- form pans or tart pan, or cute heart-shaped tart pan around the bottom and sides.
Step 3: Pour the crumbs into the pan and use your fingers to pat evenly on the bottom and sides of your pans or tart pans. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.
Step 4: Make the filling: In a large bowl add cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, zest of lemon, and vanilla and beat until smooth and creamy
Step 5: Pour the cream cheese filling into the either your spring- form pans or small tart pans that has the cookie crumb filling. Be careful not to overfill as you will have a big mess.
Step 6: Wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the bottom and sides of spring- form pan and seal. Fill a baking pan or baking sheet with a enough water so that once you put the cheese cake inside the water level comes up about ¼ up the outer sides of the pan. (Putting the pan in a water bath prevents the cheese cake from cracking on the top) You can also create a water bath for the tart pans as well.
Step 7: Bake the cheesecakes for about 40-45 minutes or until the center of the pie comes out clean with a toothpick.
Step 8: Allow the cheese cake to cool at room temperature and then refrigerate at least 5 hours but best overnight. Run a knife around the edges of the spring- form pan or mini-tart pans and remove the cheese cake.
Step 8: Decorate cheese cake with berries or whatever your little heart desires. Decorate bottom of plate for the mini bite sized cheese cakes with chocolate designs using your Lékué DECOPEN and artfully place mini-cheese cakes around plate. Enjoy!
Step 9: Refrigerate and consume cheesecake within 3 days. (Ha Ha Ha... like there would actually be any left with my 2 hungry teenagers in the house after one day) You can also freeze cheese cake if it will not be used within 3 days, but best if consumed within one month of freezing.
Ingredients
- digestive biscuits -
- cinnomen -
- butter -
- cream cheese -
- eggs -
- sugar or sugar alternative -
- sour cream -
- vanilla -
- lemon zest -
- chocolate sauce -
ChgoJohn says
Now this is a gadget we can all get behind! I love all of its possible uses. And what better way to show us than by creating little cheese cakes. These are just too perfect! I could just see myself with a dozen, trying to arrange them "artfully." Within a minute, there'd be 10 bites. Another 2 minutes, 8 bites left. 5 minutes and I'm down to a half dozen. Another 3 minutes, with only 4 left, I think, "Why bother?" and grab the remaining few and head, happily, back into the kitchen. My guests never knowing what they missed.
Healthy World Cuisine says
John, you sound like my boys! As soon as I would just turn my head these mini cheesecakes started to disappear from the plate. Please note that I started out with 12 mini cheese cake heart bites and then notice I was down to 4 bites for the photo. Hmm what happened here? I must have gremlins! Take care, BAM
Balvinder says
This is really a fun gadget to work with. The berry bites look very pretty and heavenly.
Healthy World Cuisine says
I am so glad you stopped by. If I wanted to make the crust gluten free could I just use ground almonds in place of the crushed cookies and add some sugar along with the cinnamon? What options do you suggest? Take care, BAM
Yudith @ Blissfully Delicious says
What a cool gadget! I love how cute those little chocolate bites - perfect for a cocktail party!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I think they would be perfect for a cocktail party or just plain portion control. One perfect little bite. Thanks for stopping by. Take care, BAM
kathleen1richardson says
Your hubby knows the way to your heart just as you know the way to his! Lucky men in your family, getting to test all your creations. This one sounds so simple, with yummy and attractive results, BAM.
Keep writing...
Healthy World Cuisine says
I laugh when you say "test" my creations it is more like inhale them. I have learned the hard way over the years to never bring my dishes out to the kitchen table without first taking my portion off first. Take Care, BAM
dianeskitchentable says
Wowzaaaa! These are on my list even without the fancy swirly stuff although I think I could have lots of playtime with that little gadget. Right at the alter I told my husband to never, ever buy furniture or to gift me an appliance. As a joke one year though I did get him a toaster for our anniversary.
I was just about to do a blog about this chopper that I confiscated from my daughter. I thought it would be great for chopping onions, garlic, nuts. I'm still taking it for a test drive but so far I'm not impressed w/it - it was more effort to cut up the onions & then keep smashing this plunger down than if I just took the knife & chopped away. Of course I've drawn lots of blood w/the knife, but still....
Healthy World Cuisine says
I also think some gadgets are just a waste of time as it takes you longer to clean the gadget then to use. This one I just popped into the dishwasher.
I am glad to see you could have a little humor with your hubby. He might not remember the golf clubs or new cuff links you gave to him but he will always remember the toaster. A symbol of your love together. Have a fantastic week and take care, BAM
Choc Chip Uru says
Your husband is the best, this is the coolest invention ever 😀
Your super cute mini bites look delicious!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Healthy World Cuisine says
Even a little bit of chocolate in there for you, CCU! I know if you were here with me in Bam's kitchen we would have made a chocolate marbled cheesecake with a chocolate crust dipped in a chocolate glaze with chocolate sprinkles and a berry on top! That would have been fun! Maybe you can join me next time!
Dawn says
These are beautiful!! Nice job 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Dawn. Next I will be making stick figures as that is where my artsy fartsy curve ends! LOL
Bernice says
A very pretty dessert. I like that they are small to maintain portion control. Of course they look so good not sure I could only eat one!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Bernice. I see your point there and I guess for my 2 hungry teenage quality assurance analysts they thought of this the very same way. Inhaled in nanoseconds! Take care, BAM
Jeno @ Week Nite Meals says
Hi Bam! Your new kitchen gadget looks like fun! The Mr. did good! Isn't it nice when your family members appreciate having a wonderful cook and show their support? I rely on my little girl's enthusiasm to keep the fire going, it's great to hear her woo ahhing over dinner dishes, and really fun when she insists on joining me when I make goodies on the weekends.
The cheesecake heaven looks absolutely delicious, and that big cheese cake is just divine!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Jeno, you are so right with out our family support none of this would be possible. They are our number one fans!
Korena in the Kitchen says
Heh, if I had a nickel for every useless kitchen gadget I've been given over the years... hmmm. But I'm glad you are enjoying your new gadget. :)The cheesecake bites look amazing - reminds me I NEED to make a cheesecake at some point this summer! - and the heart-shaped tarts (another great gadget!) are so sweet!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I rarely use gadgets in my kitchen and that is why finally getting one was such a treat. I don't even have a proper bamboo steaming basket but instead use a my wok with a bowl and plate and a lid. How sad is that. It is time for a little fun in Healthy World Cuisine and start to accessorize. However, I agree with you I want to be the one to pick put the one's I really need or want as with such a small cook space we need to keep in simple and easy in our kitchens- not cluttered. Take care, BAM
Jasline says
Awww what an awesome gadget!! I love collecting baking gadgets, I have to restrain myself from even walking into one bakeware shop... I can't stop ogle and yearning for them (I can literally shop there for hours!) And that's an amazing cheesecake! Pretty, delicious and I'm sure gone within 1 second!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Jasline. Glad to hear I am not the only one that likes to look at kitchen ware. Hey are you okay in Singapore? We had a typhoon 9 here in HK last night, damage nearby and lots of flooding and high winds. The boys and I are just fine here just hoping you are okay. BAM
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
I was just thinking it was time to clear out my kitchen of gadgets that aren't being used. Then I can go get one of these:D How fun are those tips and the possibilities for decorating desserts is endless!! I love your little <3 mini treats.. I bet they were gone in seconds! xx Smidge
Healthy World Cuisine says
As I was telling John, I started out with 12 of these little mini heart shaped cheese cakes. However, because of my teenage quality assurance testers, I only ended for with 4 for my final pictures and then 2 and well now...all that was left for me was to lick the chocolate designs off the plate. Take care, BAM
thecompletecookbook says
What an incredibly awesome gift! You are going to have loads of fun!
Super cute mini puds.
🙂 Mandy
Healthy World Cuisine says
Even I, who was not born with the artsy fartsy gene, found it quite simple. I am sure you could make a masterpiece.
Rock Salt says
That looks like a great gift!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I know your jealous!
rabbitcancook says
Love your decopen and the nice stripes ribbon, your hubby is so thoughtful 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Mr. Anonymous is indeed my biggest fan and supporter. I am blessed. Take care, BAM