Make Mini Cheesecakes With This Unexpected Kitchen Item

Cheesecake lovers and fans, meet your new favorite kitchen shortcut: the ice cube tray hack. Instead of baking full-sized cheesecakes, you can whip up a perfectly portioned, bite-sized version with just a few simple steps. This trick is great for cocktail parties, packing into school lunches, or guaranteeing a steady stock of mini ice-cube-sized treats to be enjoyed bit by bit.

First things first, start with your mini cheesecake crust. You can either prepare a classic graham cracker pie crust for that iconic cheesecake taste or go a bit healthier by pulsing oats with melted butter in a food processor. Whatever base you choose, spoon the mixture into each spot on a silicone ice cube tray (flexible silicone makes removing your treats much easier), and press it down for a compact base. Next comes the cheesecake blend. You can go simple by mixing cream cheese, honey, and vanilla until smooth. Or you can go for a richer taste by whipping mascarpone with cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. You can even adapt more traditional recipes and mix up a ricotta and cherry cheesecake for your ice cube tray. Once you have your creamy cheesecake mixture, add a big spoonful to each ice cube divot.

Finally, when you have packed in your crust and added a dollop of your cheesecake blend, finish each little ice cube cake off with a slice of fruit, and freeze the tray for at least two hours before serving. The end result is a tray full of smaller-than-palm-sized creamy delights!

One of the great aspects of this hack is the ability to individually decorate and garnish each little cheesecake to suit the varied tastes of your party guests. Fresh fruit like blueberries, strawberries, bananas, and passion fruit are naturally sweet additions that perfectly balance the creamy richness of the cheesecake. You can even mix and match fruits for elegant combinations — try a lemon macron cake-inspired twist by adding a little lemon zest with a few raspberries.

If you don't have fresh fruit in season, marmalades and jams are a great way to add a tangy burst of flavor with a glossy finish — think cherry, strawberry, or even an orange marmalade for a citrusy-sweet kick. Similarly, nut butters like peanut butter or even almond butter can add a salty effect to your creamy mini cakes. For a more indulgent twist, sprinkle crushed candy pieces or toffee bits on top for a sugary crunch. Or go simple and just drizzle some chocolate or caramel sauce on each mini cheesecake. And if you want your cheesecakes to be maximally easy to serve, think about freezing each one with a popsicle stick, making them easy to enjoy.