Raspberry Mini Cheesecakes

RASPBERRY MINI CHEESECAKES

TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 30 MINS (INCLUDES CHILLING TIME)

PREP TIME: 10 MINS

COOK TIME: 20 MNS

yield: 12 servings

INGREDIENTS:

·         12 round shortbread cookies, 2 inches in diameter (the Keebler Brand Sandies work great)

·         1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

·         1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

·         1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

·         2 large eggs

·         Fresh raspberries for garnish, optional

DIRECTIONS:

1.       Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. Place one cookie in the bottom of each of the liners. Dollop with 1 teaspoon jam each.

2.      With an electric mixer (stand mixer or hand mixer), beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the condensed milk, beating and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs one at a time, and mix until smooth, about 2 minutes more.

3.      Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners. Bake until they are set, about 20 minutes (the centers may seem a bit jiggly but the outer edges should feel firm to the touch). Transfer the muffin pan to a wire rack and cool to room temperature. The muffin liners will shrink away from the sides of the tin as they cool. Refrigerate the muffin pan (with the liners still in the pan) until the cheesecakes are cool and set, about 1 hour.

4.      Remove the cheesecakes from the muffin tin. Microwave the remaining jam until slightly thinned, about 30 seconds and use it to glaze the cheesecakes. Garnish the top of each cheesecake with a fresh raspberry, if desired. Serve.