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I came across my Mom’s recipe for Merry Cheesecakes wedged in the pages of a cookbook. Written in her very legible, left-handed cursive writing on the back of a dry-cleaning coupon circa 1995, I knew right away it was the perfect holiday recipe to share. I thought to myself, how lucky I haven’t lost this scrap of paper yet. But of course, it was only a matter of time before I discovered this recipe is all over the internets too. These merry mini cheesecake bites are perfect for the holidays. I know you’ll love them… they’re practically famous.
Ingredients for Merry Cheesecakes:
1 cup unbleached, all purpose flour
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
NOTES: Best when served cold. I used 2 tablespoons of fresh key lime juice in place of the lemon juice and they were extra delicious.
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare the baking pan. Preheat oven to 350(F). Line the bottom of an 8×8″ baking pan with wax paper or non-stick foil and make “handles” for easy removal from the pan after baking.
Make the crust. With an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar. Add flour. Blend until incorporated and add chopped walnuts. Mixture will have the consistency of very coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 cup of mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture into pan. Bake at 350(F) for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool.
Make the filling. In another bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar. Mix until smooth, then incorporate the egg, milk, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over baked crust. Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup crust mixture over filling. Bake until topping is golden brown and filling is set, 25-30 minutes.
Cool. Chill. Cut. Enjoy. Allow to cool completely on a rack, then chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Use wax paper “handles” to remove from pan. Cut into bite-sized squares and enjoy!
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These look fabulous! I’d save this recipe on a dry cleaning slip too!
Haha! Thanks for dropping by Barbara! My Mom laughed about that one… I quizzed her to see if she could guess the date :)
Going through my recipes in the past couple of days, I found this same recipe on a 3 x 5 card from many years ago with the name of the lady who gave it to me (who I do not remember at all). Anyway, the recipe is not complete at the end of the back of the card and I don’t seem to have the second card of the set.
Thought I would try the internet and your recipe is exactly the same as mine up to the point mine stops. Thanks so much for completing mine. Isn’t the Internet great!.
How funny, Carole. Happy to help. :)
It seems whenever my Mom gives me one of her classic recipes she has the caveat, “I got it off the back of (insert food product here).” lol
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE. WE MOVED AND I HAD LOST MINE. my YOUNGEST son LOVES THESE. i DID FIND ONE ON THE INTENET, AND i THOUGHT THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING. THEY DO NOT TASTE LLIKE THEY USED TO. SO ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. i GOT UP AND GOT ON THE INTERNET, AND FOUND THESE. wHEN I SAW THE DATE. AND SOME OF THE INGRED. I SAID.THAT WAS WHAT WAS MISSING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL MAKE SOME MORE,WITH THIS RECIPE. SOUNDS LIKE THE ONE I LOST. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU. THANKS AGAIN.
Can you freeze these?