Berry cheesecakes

I know, I know.  It's more food but it is that time of year and I seem to have become a bit of a fiend in the kitchen right now.

 

It's amazing how the thought of having people over for Christmas has made me get off my butt and get things done.  Not that I'm doing much housework, that always seems to get put off as I am very good at finding other things to occupy my time.

 

The latest concoction has been Berry Cheesecakes.  I've been wanting to try these for years and kept putting them in the too hard basket or kept telling myself that I would be about the only person in the family to eat them because they're full of berries.

 

In the end I thought, stuff it, I want to try these so I'm going to make them.

 

They are seriously EASY to make.  Much more so with a food processor to blitz up the biscuits into crumbs.  I think that's one of the reasons I hadn't made them in the past because I've had a couple of terrible attempts at crushing up biscuits the old fashioned way... with a rolling pin.

 

This time I just bunged it all in the food processor, added some melted butter and presto...lovely cheesecake bases made in about 30 seconds.

 

 

 

 

I divided the mixture between twelve cases then pressed them into a nice flat base with the back of a spoon.

 

Then I mixed the rest of the ingredients together which consisted of ricotta, mascarpone, sugar, some vanilla and eggs.

 

 

 

 

Once the mixture is all smooth and creamy then I tossed in some frozen mixed berries.  I threw out the frozen strawberries because they go so soggy and blah when they defrost and just use the raspberries, blackberries and blueberries (at least I think that's what they were.)

 

 

 

I folded the berries through the mixture then divided it evenly between the twelve cases.

 

 

 

I ended up with a bit of mixture leftover and couldn't be bothered blitzing up some more biscuits so I just poured it straight into some Christmas tree moulds I had to see how it would turn out.

 

 

 

After about 25 minutes in a moderate oven they were ready.

 

 

 

Super easy and the verdict is....DeLICiOUS!!! 

 

Well I think so.  No one else in the family wants to try them.  I'm sure lovely hubby would but he's at work so I'm about to see how well they freeze otherwise I'll be a blimp before Christmas is over.

 

Here's the recipe if anyone wants to try it.

 

 

Berry Cheesecakes

 

(Makes 12 ... plus a little more)

 

 

For the base:

 

125g plain biscuits, crushed

60g butter, melted

 

For the filling:

 

250g ricotta cheese

250g mascarpone cheese

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 cup frozen mixed berries

 

 



Combine the biscuit crumbs and butter in a bowl or food processor.  Divide evenly between 12 patty paper lined muffin tins and press firmly to make the base.

 

Beat the cheeses and sugar together until smooth.  Add the eggs and vanilla and beat well until combined and smooth.  Then fold in the berries (yes, while they are still frozen).  You could also use fresh berries (or cherries) or whatever is in season.

 

Spoon evenly into the cases and bake at 160 degrees (fan forced) for 20 to 25 minutes.

 

Allow to cool then serve with cream or ice-cream or just gobble them up as they are.

 

 

 

xx Susan