Mini Blackberry Lavender Cheesecakes | Best Mini Cheesecakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to use a water bath for mini cheesecakes? ›

Bake the cheesecakes in a standard 12-count muffin pan. There's no need for a springform pan and no need to mess with a water bath. Mini cheesecakes are not only easier than a full cheesecake, they take half the time to prepare!

The secret to testing a cheesecake for doneness: Jiggle it. Define jiggle, you say? Gently shake the cheesecake (wearing oven mitts, of course). If the cheesecake looks nearly set and only a small circle in the center jiggles slightly, it's done.

Too much air and your cake will collapse because it simply can't hold onto all that air. Overbeating can add too much additional air and/or large air bubbles which the cake can't support, causing it to collapse in the oven.

Cheesecake is clearly a different animal from bundts or cupcakes, but sour cream has a place here too! Combined with even more densely rich cream cheese, sour cream actually tempers the star ingredient a touch, softening its texture. It also adds another layer of tangy flavor and moisture to a cheesecake.

But it's less possible to bake an excellent cheesecake without one. Big, showstopper cheesecakes baked without a water bath are more likely to overbake, which will give them a curdled texture, cracks in the surface, and lopsided tops.

Bake your cheesecake in a water bath.

After you prepare the cake in the springform pan, put it in a roasting pan, then fill the roasting pan with about 1-inch of water before placing it in the oven.

How to Store Mini Cheesecakes. Store the mini cheesecakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Never let them sit at room temperature for more than two hours at a time.

Avoid Overcooking

DON'T overbake. Overbaking a cheesecake can cause cracks on the surface. The center of the cheesecake should still be a little wobbly, the filling still pale, and the outer ring slightly puffy and firm. It will continue to cook as it cools and maintains that smooth and rich texture.

Because cheesecake is a custard, it won't be completely firm when done. The easiest way to make sure you don't overbake it is to give it a little jiggle. Take a wooden spoon and give the cake pan a gentle tap on the side. The cake should jiggle just a little in the center if it's done.

What happens if you over mix cheesecake batter? ›

Cheesecake Accomplished

Avoid Overmixing: Unlike other cakes, where beating air into the batter is key, overmixed cheesecake can rise, fall and then crack from that excess air. Keeping ingredients (cheese, eggs, liquids and flavorings) at room temperature can help.

Regular cheesecake relies on heavy cream and sour cream to thin the batter and create a silkier, creamier texture. New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese which is why it's so dense and rich. Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special.

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

The addition of cream gives a velvety, smooth texture, but too much of it and you begin to mask the cream cheese flavor. Sour cream supports the underlying tang of the cream cheese, but, if overdone, it takes over as the dominant flavor. You need a little of each -- cream for texture and sour cream for flavor.

Step 10: Corn Starch Added

It did result in a more cake like texture as well. If you want to add something to thicken your cheesecake then I would definitely recommend this over flour to thicken it.

A water bath helps cheesecakes cook evenly, ensuring the edges don't bake faster than the center. The process gently bakes the custard slowly, ensuring a smooth and creamy filling. Otherwise, the dessert may get a rubbery texture. It also prevents cracking along the surface and browning on the top.

The key to a water bath is preventing water from touching your cheesecake. You are going to do this by creating several layers of a tinfoil barrier around the bottom of your springform pan. Our chef wraps the bottom of her pan 3 to 4 times to prevent water from reaching her cheesecake.

A water bath, also known as a bain marie, is simply a pan of hot water that protects your delicate cheesecake while it's baking in the oven. This method not only helps the cheesecake not crack on top, but also ensures the cheesecake will come out smooth and creamy.

A water bath, also known as a bain marie, is our secret to the perfect cheesecake. It produces steam that wafts throughout the oven, helping to ensure that the cheesecake cooks evenly and stays nice and creamy. It also moderates the heat on the sides of the pan so that they edges don't cook much faster than the center.