Hot Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes

Are you looking for a non-cookie holiday dessert that is a. single serving and b. festive?  Well, have I got a dessert for you.  These Hot Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes are about to knock your socks off.  Not only are they extremely easy to make but they basically taste like whipped hot chocolate with a hint of peppermint.  Yeah, I think you will like them.  Let's do this.

 Start with a box of this.  Yes, I'm cheating but you have other things to do like wrap presents and drink Bailey's and coffee…most likely at the same time...

 Start by mixing up the crust.  Combine the crust packet and melted butter in a small bowl

 Like so...

 Scoop about 3/4 of a tablespoon of the mixture into each muffin cup.  I used foil and then added a festive paper liner.

 Press down gently

 Pour the filling mixture into a large bowl along with two packets of hot chocolate mix.

 Give it a quick stir

 Add milk

 And using a hand mixer mix it for about 2 minutes.  It will thicken up nicely.

 Like so.

 You will want to move pretty fast at this point because it thickens quickly.  Add the Oreo chunks and fold them in.

 Using a cookie scoop, place a scoop of filling in each cup.

 Using a small spatula spread the filling out evenly.

 Next, break a few candy canes and put them into a food processor.  If you don't have a food processor, put them in a plastic bag and take your aggression out on them.

 I let the food processor do my dirty work.  Set these aside for now.

 Now, work on the whipped cream.  Yes, whipped cream.  Pour a pint of heavy whipping cream in a large bowl.

 Break out that hand mixer again and whip the heck out of it.

 Until it looks like this.  You will want it pretty stiff so you can pipe it.

 Put it into a pastry bag, or plastic zip top bag with the corner cut off.

 Pipe the whipped cream in each cup.

 Top with the candy canes.  I do have to say, these do melt very quickly, as in less than an hour, so do this step right before you serve them otherwise they will be melted.  It didn't taste bad it just didn't look as pretty as it could have.

 Packed up and ready to go to A Very Humann Christmas.  Yes, we have a friend (soon to be married) who's last name is Humann.

 Anyway, these little buggers are out.of.con.trol.

 They are so easy to transport and pretty stinking festive if I say so myself.

 Much better than Christmas cookies...

Yum.

But if you still aren't sold on the whole something other than Christmas cookies for dessert thing, I have another cookie recipe coming very soon.  : )

Hot Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes
Makes 24 Mini Cheesecakes

1 12.6 oz box of Oreo No Bake Dessert
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 2/3 cup milk
2 packets hot chocolate mix
2 candy canes
1 pint heavy cream

Start by combining the crust mix and butter in a medium bowl with a fork.  Line two muffin pans with muffin liners.  Place 3/4 of a tablespoon or so in each muffin liner.  Gently press the crust into an even layer.

In a large bowl, combine the filling mix, hot chocolate packets and milk using a hand mixer.  Beat on low for 30 seconds then turn on high for about 3 minutes.  Then pour in the Oreo pieces and gently fold in.

Using a cookie scoop, scoop filling mixture onto each of the crusts.  Take a small spatula and evenly distribute the filling in the muffin cup.

Next, unwrap the candy canes and place in a food processor or large plastic bag.  Pulverize the candy canes by either using the food processor or your aggression aka a meat tenderizer, hammer or large skillet.

Then, pour the heavy cream into a large bowl.  Using the whisk attachment on a hand mixer, beat until thick and fluffy.  This should take about 2 minutes or so on high.  Scoop into a pastry bag fitted with your favorite tip (I use a large open star tip) or a large zip top bag with the corner cut off.  Pipe the whipped cream on each of the muffin cups.

At this point you can either pop them in the refrigerator if you aren't going to serve them right away.  When you are ready to serve, sprinkle with candy cane pieces.  Don't do that in advance as they melt into the whipped cream.  It doesn't taste bad, it just doesn't look as pretty.

Enjoy!

Recipe by: Mrs. Schwartz