Description
Spooky jack-o’-lantern cheesecakes bring Halloween spirit to dessert tables with adorable pumpkin-shaped treats. Creamy orange-tinted cheesecake nestles inside chocolate cookie crusts, delighting guests with festive seasonal charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups Oreo cookies, crushed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) melted butter
Cheesecake Filling:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Topping and Decoration:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
- Gel icing colors (yellow and orange)
- Optional: little ghost decorations
- Optional: candy corn
Instructions
- Prepare a cupcake pan by lining with festive paper liners and lightly coating with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Create a crumbly crust by pulverizing Oreo cookies with sugar and melted butter, then distribute evenly across the liners. Briefly bake at 350°F for 5 minutes to set the base.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend cream cheese until smooth, gradually incorporating sugar, flour, sour cream, vanilla extract, and eggs until the mixture becomes silky and uniform.
- Divide the cheesecake batter into three separate bowls, using food coloring to transform one portion into vibrant yellow, another into rich orange, while leaving the third portion pristine white.
- Carefully layer the colored batters into each cupcake liner, starting with yellow at the bottom, followed by orange, and topped with the white layer to create a gradient effect.
- Bake the mini cheesecakes in a preheated oven at 325°F for approximately 20 minutes, ensuring the centers are just set but still slightly jiggly.
- Allow the cheesecakes to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up.
- Whip heavy cream with sugar until it forms stiff, billowy peaks, then generously pipe or spread the cream atop each cheesecake.
- Add playful Halloween-themed decorations like candy corn or spooky ghost sprinkles to complete the festive jack-o’-lantern-inspired desserts.
Notes
- Choose high-quality cream cheese at room temperature for smoother, creamier filling without lumps.
- Gently fold eggs into cheesecake mixture to prevent over-mixing and maintain light, fluffy texture.
- Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for vibrant Halloween colors without altering batter consistency.
- Consider using parchment paper liners for easier removal and cleaner presentation of individual cheesecakes.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 404
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg