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    Home » All Recipes

    Easy Cheesecake Cupcakes

    Apr 2, 2022 · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    If you love cheesecake but don’t want to make a whole one, make a pan of cheesecake cupcakes.  They’re rich and creamy and so easy to make. Plus, you only need five ingredients to make a batch.

    Table of Contents hide
    Why This Recipe Works.
    Ingredients.
    How to Make Cheesecake Cupcakes.
    Topping Suggestions
    How to Store and Freeze.
    Cheesecake cupcake on a plate topped with whipped cream and one raspberry.

    Why This Recipe Works.

    • Cream cheese gives the cupcakes a dense, creamy texture. 
    • Bringing the ingredients to room temperature makes for a lump-free batter.
    • Baking in a muffin pan eliminates the need for a water bath. 

    Ingredients.

    • Cream cheese. Similar to a New York-style cheesecake, these cupcakes are made with only cream cheese. It gives the cupcakes a dense and creamy texture. Use traditional cream cheese, not whipped cream cheese. 
    • Granulated sugar. A little granulated sugar adds sweetness. 
    • Eggs. Add the eggs one at a time. This allows the eggs to fully mix into the batter. 
    • Vanilla extract. Substitute vanilla extract with any extract you like. For a lemon-y flavor, add two teaspoons of lemon juice and the zest of one lemon.
    • Vanilla Wafers. Makes a small crust. Substitute the vanilla wafers with a graham cracker crust, if you’d like. Or omit the cookies. The recipe works without them.

    How to Make Cheesecake Cupcakes.

    1. Start with room temperature cream cheese and eggs. If there’s one “secret” to making smooth and creamy cheesecake cupcakes, it’s temperature. If the cream or eggs are cold, the batter can be lumpy. It’s worth taking the time to warm the ingredients before mixing.

    How to quickly bring cream cheese to room temperature.

    • Fast. Cut cream cheese into small pieces. Place on a cutting board. Make sure the pieces aren’t touching. Let sit out for 30 minutes to one hour.
    • Faster. Cut the cream cheese into small pieces. Fill a small bowl with warm water. Let the water sit in the bowl for about three minutes to warm the bowl. Drain the water and quickly dry the bowl. Place the cubes of cream cheese into the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a towel to keep the warmth in. After five minutes, stir the cream cheese.
    • Fastest. Remove the cream cheese from the foil wrapping. Place the block on a plate. Microwave on low in 20-second bursts until soft. 

    How to quickly bring eggs to room temperature. 

    • Place eggs in a bowl of warm, not hot, water for three minutes. The water should be about 90 degrees. Warmer than that and the eggs might cook.
    1. Mix the batter gently. Keep the mixer speed low when making the batter. If you beat air into cheesecake batter, the cupcakes might sink a lot when they cool.
    2. Use Vanilla Wafers for the crust. Vanilla wafers are a quick and tasty crust for cheesecake cupcakes. The cookies are a little smaller than a standard-size cupcake pan. But it’s enough to give the cupcakes a little flavor and texture.
    3. Bake until set. The cupcakes take about 18 minutes to bake. Look for the tops to look set and not shiny. Near the end of baking, they puff slightly. As the cupcakes cool, the filling settles. If the cupcake batter was overmixed or the cupcakes were overbaked, the filling can crack or sink. This does not change the flavor. 
    1. Chill before serving. For the best flavor and texture, chill the cupcakes for at least two hours before serving.

    Topping Suggestions

    Do cheesecake cupcakes need a topping? That’s up to you. I think they taste great with or without a topping.

    • Whipped cream.
    • Dollop of either sour cream or full-fat plain Greek yogurt.
    • Fresh berries.
    • Jam or marmalade.

    How to Store and Freeze.

    Store: Keep the cupcakes in the refrigerator for up to four days. 

    To freeze: Place cooled cupcakes into a freezer container and freeze for up to three months. 

    To thaw: Remove the cupcakes from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator. Let thaw overnight. 

    Cheesecake cupcake on a plate topped with whipped cream and one raspberry.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print

    Easy Cheesecake Cupcakes

    Cheesecake cupcakes are rich and creamy and really easy-to-make. Use softened cream cheese and room temperature eggs for a silky smooth batter.

    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 18 minutes
    Chill Time 2 hours
    Total Time 2 hours 23 minutes
    Servings 12 cupcakes

    Ingredients

    • 12 Nilla (vanilla) wafer cookies
    • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened (453 grams)
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar (5 ¼ ounces; 148 grams)
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature (4 ounces; 113 grams out of shell)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Place one Nilla wafer cookie in the bottom of each cupcake cup.

    2. Beat 16 ounces of softened cream cheese in a medium bowl on low speed until smooth. Add ¾ cup granulated sugar. Mix on medium speed until sugar is combined, about one minute.

      Stop the mixer and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Mix for an additional 15-seconds.

    3. Add 1 egg and mix on low speed until smooth. Scrape the bowl. Add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

    4. Scoop mixture into prepared muffin pan, filling each cup about ¾ full.

    5. Bake until set, about 18 minutes. Remove pan from the oven. Let cupcakes cool in the pan. Then place the pan in the refrigerator to cool for at least 2 hours.

    6. Store the cupcakes in the refrigerator for four days. Freeze for up to two months. Thaw cupcakes in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

    Recipe Notes

    Ingredient Notes.

    Cream cheese. Use block (regular) cream cheese, not whipped. Full fat cream cheese gives the best flavor and texture but low-fat cream cheese can be used. Avoid fat-free cream cheese, it makes the cupcakes gummy.

    Lemon cheesecake variation. Add the zest of one lemon and two teaspoons of fresh lemon juice. 

     

     

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angel says

      April 12, 2022 at 11:17 am

      Could I make this with swerve sweetener instead of sugar?

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        April 25, 2022 at 1:21 pm

        I haven’t tried them with Swerve but several people have. It’s worth a try!

        Reply
    2. Laura says

      April 24, 2022 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      I tripled the recipe and made 36 mini cheesecakes. They are so good. Super easy to make too!

      Reply
    3. Olivia says

      July 10, 2022 at 2:07 am

      5 stars
      Just lovely and so easy to make!

      Reply
    4. Debra Garcia says

      December 25, 2022 at 7:20 am

      Why do they form a well in the center even after carefully following the instructions?

      Reply

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    Elizabeth Barbone

    Elizabeth Barbone is the founder and recipe developer behind Cook Fast, Eat Well. A food writer for over 15 years, she's built a reputation for creating easy recipes that work.

    Learn More →

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