Lighter Mini Cheesecakes will have you enjoying Easter with less guilt! Portion control and less fat make this easy dessert perfect for any occasion!
The inspiration behind this recipe:
Are you looking at the calendar and thinking to yourself.... Oh, crap....in another week or two I'm going to have to shed my winter coat and put on shorts, capris or other clothing that is going to reveal the fact I've been enjoying comfort food a wee bit too much this winter?
I'm with ya friends.
I've been going out for walks every single nice day and I have good intentions....really I do! But then another holiday that is all about the sweet treats just HAS to roll around. Thank you very much, Easter!
Here's a dessert to help you get through Easter with minimal waistline damage!
I'm not much of a baker so when I post a dessert recipe, it will be fool-proof and super-simple! Besides being easy, these Lighter Mini Cheesecakes are reduced-fat but have all the flavor of rich cheesecake.
This recipe is inspired by one on AllRecipes. I've been making it regularly for a client of mine who is a heart patient.
Tips for making Lighter Mini Cheesecakes:
- Instead of regular cream cheese, I've been using Neufchatel cheese (also known as light cream cheese) and it works just as well as anything full-fat.
- The recipe calls for using a "Nilla" wafer to serve as the crust. Nabisco now makes a reduced-fat "Nilla" wafer. Yay!
- Because of the lower fat content, the Lighter Mini Cheesecakes have a tendency to "shrink in" a little bit as they cool. This effect can be reduced by placing them in the refrigerator before they have a chance to cool entirely--about 10 minutes after removing them from the oven.
- For Easter, garnish these Lighter Mini Cheesecakes with sweetened coconut and mini bird eggs to look like a bird's nest. However, it's best to do that right before serving. The rest of the year, a fruit topping is perfect!
Happy Easter!
More dessert recipes with a touch of healthy:
Lighter Mini Cheesecakes
Ingredients
- 12 reduced-fat vanilla wafers
- 2 packages (8-ounce) reduced-fat cream cheese - (Neufchatel)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice - about 1 large lemon
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¾ cup Sweetened shredded coconut
- 36 mini bird eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line muffin tins with 12 paper baking cups. Place a vanilla wafer in each one (centered).
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs, lemon juice and sugar. Beat until smooth.
- Divide filling equally among the 12 baking cups. (The filing will come to about ¾ of the way to the top.)
- Bake for 17-18 minutes or until set and top just lightly cracks.
- Cool on a baking rack for 10 minutes, then refrigerate 1 hour.
- Top with sweetened coconut and 3 bird eggs per cheesecake.
Notes
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Candy Glaser says
Very good! I just used regular cream cheese and regular Nilla wafers I forgot to get light and I dyed the coconut in different colors. Looked good!
Carol says
Hi, Candy, Thanks so much and so happy you loved and this recipe worked out so well for you! Thanks again!
Michelle @ thelastfoodblog says
These are lovely, perfect for a lighter Easter treat!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
I am with you on the "damn I can't hide behind my oversized sweaters" sentiments! These desserts look indulgent but healthy enough to be guilt-free!
heather @french press says
these really do make the perfect Easter dessert!
Joan says
Thanks for sharing. They are cute and perfect of a lighter easter dessert.
Jorge Jurado says
Perfect for the Easter holiday, will try not to indulge in too many of these!
Jenna says
These cheesecakes look so cute and perfect for Easter!
Jorge Jurado says
Perfect for the Easter holiday, will try not to indulge in too many of these!