Pin A delightful assortment of bite-sized cheesecakes and tarts, perfect for parties or sweet cravings. These trendy mini desserts are easy to serve, visually appealing, and bursting with flavor.
I first made these mini dessert bites for a birthday celebration, and guests absolutely loved sampling the trio of flavors. Their small size makes them perfect for sharing and tasting without feeling too heavy.
Ingredients
- Graham cracker crumbs: 100 g (3.5 oz) for mini cheesecakes
- Unsalted butter: 40 g (3 tbsp) melted for both some cheesecakes and chocolate tarts
- Cream cheese: 200 g (7 oz) softened
- Granulated sugar: 50 g (1/4 cup)
- Large egg: 1
- Vanilla extract: 1/2 tsp
- Fresh berries: for topping cheesecakes
- Chocolate sandwich cookies: 100 g (3.5 oz) finely crushed for chocolate tarts
- Dark chocolate: 100 g (3.5 oz) chopped
- Heavy cream: 75 ml (1/3 cup)
- Sea salt flakes: for garnish
- Ready-rolled shortcrust pastry: 1 sheet
- Lemon curd: 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Powdered sugar: 1 tsp for dusting lemon tarts
Instructions
- Prepare pan and oven:
- Preheat oven to 170℃ (340℉). Grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin.
- Mini cheesecakes:
- Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press 1 heaping teaspoon into the base of 8 muffin cups. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Spoon over crusts. Bake for 12–15 minutes until set. Cool, chill, top with berries before serving.
- Mini chocolate tarts:
- Mix crushed cookies and melted butter. Press into 8 muffin cups. Chill 10 minutes. Heat cream to simmer, pour over chocolate, stir until smooth. Spoon ganache into crusts. Chill 30 minutes until set. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes.
- Mini lemon curd tarts:
- Cut 8 rounds from shortcrust pastry, press into muffin cups. Prick bases with fork. Bake 8–10 minutes until golden. Cool completely. Fill shells with lemon curd and dust with powdered sugar.
Pin 
Making this trio is a family collaboration. Everyone gets their favorite job: mixing, filling, or adding toppings. We love creating new combinations for special occasions.
Required Tools
Mini muffin tin, mixing bowls, electric mixer or whisk, small saucepan, spoon or small scoop
Allergen Information
Contains: Dairy, Eggs, Wheat (gluten), Soy (may be in chocolate/cookies). Always check packaged ingredients for hidden allergens.
Nutritional Information
Each bite is approximately 110 calories with 7 g fat, 10 g carbs, and 2 g protein.
Pin Enjoy the mini dessert bites trio as a sweet finishing touch for your party table or as a charming homemade gift. Serve chilled for best flavor and texture.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → How do I prevent the mini cheesecake crust from becoming soggy?
Press the graham cracker crumbs firmly into the muffin tin base and bake briefly before adding filling to create a sturdy, crisp crust.
- → Can I substitute heavy cream in the chocolate ganache?
Yes, full-fat coconut milk can be used as a dairy-free alternative for a rich and smooth ganache.
- → What is the best way to chill the mini bites for optimal texture?
After baking or assembling, chilling in the fridge for at least 30 minutes helps the fillings set properly and enhances flavor balance.
- → Are there gluten-free options for these mini desserts?
Replace the graham crackers, cookies, and pastry with gluten-free versions while keeping the preparation methods the same.
- → How can the lemon curd tarts be garnished for presentation?
Light dusting of powdered sugar or small fresh fruit pieces add visual appeal and complement the tartness nicely.