Mini Cake Batter Cheesecakes

For the most part, I have a plan of what I'm going to post…for the most part.  Then, sometimes I make something and that plan goes straight out the window.  This was one of those times.  

We have been planning on going down to Mr. Schwartz's sister or my sister (in-law) and brother-in law's house to watch the first Vikings game for a while.  Things have been a bit let's just say "wild" at my day job so I hadn't put much thought in what I should bring.  I don't like to show up empty handed. So, after we already ran all of our errands on Saturday I thought "crap, what are we going to bring to Jenna and Chris'? Bahhh my life is so hard why do I never think of things in the store!?"  Then I saw a no-bake cheesecake mix and sprinkles sitting right next to it.  Sure enough I had half a bag of white cake mix sitting on top of that.  Hummm…what to do.  MINI CAKE BATTER CHEESECAKES that's what.  And TA-DA this recipe was born.  

Oh, and it was a good excuse for me to do a giveaway…scroll to the bottom to check it ouuut.  

 Start by making the crust.  Pay attention this is uber difficult.  Melt butter.

 Pour in graham cracker mix.

 Add sugar and stir.

 Add a little to each muffin cup.

 Press down gently to create the crust.  Done.

 The filling is equally difficult.  Add powdery mix to a bowl.

 Dump in some cake batter mix.  If you are wondering what to make with the rest of the bag check this recipe out.

 Add milk.

 Using a hand mixer, mix the heck out of it.  I only have two hands so just pretend you see a hand mixer mixing this.

 Quickly spoon over the crust.  This stuff sets quick.

 Then whip up some whipped cream.  I used the real deal and was pretty stinking happy about it.  If you have the canned stuff, that would do just fine as well.  However, you won't be able to make these ahead of time.  The fake stuff melts.

 Look what I did, figured out how to take a picture of it mixing.

 So mix and mix until it looks like this…

 Keep mixing a bit more until it is a little firmer.

 Put it into a zip top or pastry bag using the cup method.

 Pipe the whipped cream onto the cheesecake mixture.

 Sprinkle

And top with a little additional crust.  

 Enjoy.

 These are to diiiie for.

 For real.

Do it.  Word to the wise, whipped cream melts quickly, I didn't let it.  I popped these in the freezer and when it was time to travel I packed them in a thermal bag.  They made it safely and did not melt in the almost two hour car ride.  

 Okay, enough of the blabbing, let's get to the giveaway!  How would you like to win these adorable cupcake liners?

 I think you would.

See that rainbow of adorableness?  It could be all yours!  Just use the widget below to enter.  The contest will start tonight (September 9, 2012) and will go until Thursday evening.  Good luck and let me know if you have any difficulties with the widget.  : ) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mini Cake Batter Cheesecakes

(makes 12)

1 Package Jell-O No-Bake Cheesecake 

5 tablespoons butter, melted 

2 tablespoons sugar

2/3 cup cake batter mix (either white or yellow) 

1 3/4 cup milk (I used skim) 

2 cups heavy cream (or whipped cream from a can) 

2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles 

Combine the graham cracker crust packet with the melted butter and sugar.  Place cupcake liners in a cupcake pan and press crust into the bottom of each cup reserving about 1/8 cup of the crust for topping.  

In a large bowl, combine the cheesecake mix, cake mix and milk using a hand mixer.  Once things are combined, spoon onto the crust on each cup.  

In a sperate large bowl, whip the whip cream using a hand mixer.  Spoon into a zip top or pastry bag and pipe on the top of the cheesecake.  

Sprinkle remaining crust crumbles and sprinkles.  

Enjoy!

Recipe by: Mrs. Schwartz