Red Velvet Cheesecake
Loading Video...
Recipe courtesy of Dan Langan

Mini Red Velvet Cheesecakes

Getting reviews...
  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 2 hr (includes cooling time)
  • Active: 50 min
  • Yield: six 3-inch cheesecakes

Ingredients

Crust:

Custard:

Cream Cheese Whip:

Directions

Special equipment:
twelve 3-inch round mini-cheesecake molds
  1. For crust: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. Combine the cookie crumbs, butter, light brown sugar and salt in a mixing bowl until sandy. Lightly spray six 3-inch round mini-cheesecake molds with nonstick spray. Portion out 2 tablespoons of crumb crust into each mold and press flat (the lid of the nonstick spray works great here! Just wipe it clean). 
  3. Bake for 8 minutes, then allow to cool while filling is prepared. 
  4. For the custard: Place a cake pan filled with 1 inch of hot water in the lowest rack of the oven. Whip the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth, for 1 minute. Add the granulated sugar, buttermilk powder, vanilla and salt, and blend on low speed for 1 minute. Use a spatula to scrape the bowl and paddle thoroughly. Blend until completely smooth for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk the eggs and egg yolks in a bowl until smooth. Add the eggs to the cream cheese in three additions, allowing each addition to combine before adding the next. Give the bowl and paddle another scrape.
  5. Warm the cream in the microwave until steaming, about 1 minute. Whisk in the cocoa and red food coloring until smooth. With the mixer on low, add the chocolate and cream mixture and blend just until combined. Divide the custard evenly among the 12 molds, filling each to about 1/4-inch from the top. 
  6. Place the cheesecakes on the center oven rack and turn oven down to 300 degrees F. Bake until puffed and slightly wobbly, with an internal temperature of about 160 degrees F, 42 to 48 minutes. Turn off heat and cool in oven for 25 minutes (the cheesecakes will sink slightly upon cooling). 
  7. For the cream cheese whip: Whip cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in a stand mixer until smooth and light, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cream and vanilla and mix on low until smooth. Scrape bowl and whip on medium-high speed until medium peaks form. Top each cheesecake with a large dollop and sprinkle with chocolate curls.