Mini Bacon Cheesecakes Food

BACON CHEESECAKE BITES

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 24-count mini-muffin pan with paper liners.
• For the crust: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the crumbs and stir until the mixture forms clumps. For the filling: Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, maple syrup, egg, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt together until smooth. Mix in the cooked bacon.
• Using the bottom of a shot glass or a small glass bottle, press 1 teaspoon of crust mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup. Using a small ice-cream scoop, scoop 2 tablespoons of filling batter on top of each crust and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

MINI BACON QUICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚. Roll out 1 sheet of pie dough on a lightly floured surface until very thin and about 14 inches in diameter. Cut out 12 rounds with a 2 3/4- to 3-inch cookie cutter. Repeat with the remaining sheet of pie dough. Press the rounds firmly into each cup of a 24-cup mini-muffin pan (preferably nonstick). Lightly prick the bottoms and sides with a fork.
• Bake the crusts until lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a small skillet over medium heat, turning, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then finely chop. Whisk the eggs, heavy cream and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl until well combined.
• Sprinkle the bacon in the bottom of each crust. Fill with the egg mixture and top with chives. Bake until just set, about 15 minutes (it's OK if some egg leaks through the pastry). Let cool 10 minutes, then remove from the pan.

MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Add the graham crackers to a food processor and pulse a few times to break up the crackers. Add the melted butter and pulse until the mixture is finely ground and resembles wet sand, with no large pieces remaining. (Alternatively, you can crush the graham crackers in a resealable bag with a rolling pin. Pour the crumbs into a bowl and stir in the melted butter to combine.)
• Line 4 cups in a muffin tin with paper liners. Divide the graham cracker mixture evenly between the cups. Use a small shot glass or the end of a wooden spoon to press the crumbs firmly into an even crust. Set aside.
• Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the lemon juice and vanilla and beat on medium speed until completely combined, about 30 seconds. Remove the bowl from the stand and stir the egg in by hand (do not use a mixer for this step).
• Divide the batter among the cups and tap the tin on the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake for 20 minutes, then let the cheesecakes cool near the oven--no drastic temperature changes. Chill the cheesecakes overnight, covered, in the fridge.
• Before serving, melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a double boiler or a heat-proof bowl fitted over a small saucepan of simmering water. (Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave on low in 20-second intervals, stirring between each.)
• To make the strawberry hearts, slice 2 to 3 planks off each strawberry and use a 1/2-inch heart-shaped pie crust cutter to cut out hearts from each plank. Reserve the rest of the berry for another use.
• Decorate each cheesecake with 2 teaspoons melted chocolate and sprinkle the hearts on the cheesecakes like you own the place.

SAVORY CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• For the crust: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of four 4-inch springform pans with nonstick spray.
• Mix the cracker crumbs, butter and pecans in a medium bowl until evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pans. Bake until the crusts are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool the pans on a rack.
• Once completely cool, spray the sides of the pans with cooking spray and line with strips of parchment.
• For the Cheddar-pimento cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, pimentos, Worcestershire, hot sauce and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied bacon and scallion greens.
• For the blue cheese cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, blue cheese, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the dates and shallots. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied walnuts and a drizzle of honey.
• For the mozzarella-basil cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the chopped basil. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the cherry tomatoes, drizzles of balsamic syrup and olive oil and a sprig of basil.
• For the goat cheese-herb cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, goat cheese, cream, parsley, rosemary, lemon zest, Worcestershire to taste and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Spread the jam over top. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment.

MAPLE BACON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: In a food processor, pulse the wafers, pecans, sugar and cinnamon until they reach a consistency that can be pressed. Work the butter into the mix until crumbly. Press uniformly into 1 large or 6 mini springform pans. Bake for 5 minutes.
• For the filling: In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, mix the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the sour cream and mix well. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time; mix well and scrape down the sides before adding the next egg. Add the maple syrup and extract. Pour into the pan with the baked crust, stopping 1/2 inch from the top of the crust. Bake for 12 minutes (if using mini pans) or 27 minutes (if using a large pan). After 5 or 10 minutes (depending on the size of pan), put the pieces of bacon into the cheesecake.
• For the topping: Mix the sour cream, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla and bacon fat in a bowl. Carefully pour spoonfuls of the topping on the cheesecake from the outside edges to the middle of the top. Be careful to not overfill the pan. Bake for an additional 5 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and cool in the refrigerator until set.
• For the candied bacon garnish: Cook the bacon until crispy and place on a rack. Mix the maple syrup with the extract and pepper and paint the mixture with a pastry brush on both sides of the bacon. Broil the bacon for 1 minute on each side. Crack more pepper over the bacon and cool until set. Garnish the cheesecake with the candied bacon.