With summer heat upon us, the idea of ‘no baking required’ seems just right. Over the years I have never really made use of limes to any extent. Kiwi, on the other hand, seems to always add so much eye appeal it finds it’s way into many recipes. The thought that comes to mind when you pair them up is a refreshing, sweet-sour flavor.
This brings me to my little mini cheesecakes. I thought I would do my favorite thing, which is to give preparation options. The fact that they freeze so well makes them great for those times when you need a little dessert but have no time to make it. Enjoy!
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Ingredients
Crust
- 3/4 cup graham wafer crumbs
- 3 Tbsp margarine
- 1 Tbsp sugar
Cheesecake using Whipped Cream
- 250 grams cream cheese, softened
- 1 fresh lime, using juice & zest (lime juice concentrate can be used instead)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 85 grams lime Jell-O powder (reserve 1 1/2 tsp for glaze)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Cheesecake using Dream Whip OR Half & Half Cream
- 1 cup boiling water
- 85 grams lime Jell-O powder (reserve 1 1/2 tsp for glaze)
- 3 Tbsp lime juice
- 250 grams cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 pkg Dream Whip with the 1/2 cup milk & 1/2 tsp vanilla it requires OR use 1/2 cup half & half cream instead of Dream Whip
Cheesecake using Cool Whip
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 85 grams lime Jell-O powder (reserve 1 1/2 tsp for glaze)
- 250 grams cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 fresh lime, using juice & zest
- 2 cups Cool Whip, thawed
Kiwi Glaze
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 fresh kiwi, peeled & chopped
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp RESERVED lime jell-o powder
Ingredients
Crust
Cheesecake using Whipped Cream
Cheesecake using Dream Whip OR Half & Half Cream
Cheesecake using Cool Whip
Kiwi Glaze
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Instructions
Crust
- In a small bowl, combine graham crumbs, sugar & margarine. Divide evenly into mini cheesecake pan & press down firmly. At this point you can either bake them for 5-7 minutes at 325 F. or leave as is. Either way works.
Cheesecake using Whipped Cream
- In a medium bowl, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. In large bowl, with electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla, lime juice & zest; mix to combine. Sprinkle jell-o powder onto cream cheese mixture & mix until thoroughly combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in whipped cream until well blended & no streaks remain. Evenly divide among the 12 mini cheesecake pan cups. Cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before topping with glaze.
Cheesecake using Dream Whip OR Half & Half Cream
- In a medium bowl, combine boiling water, lime jell-o powder & lime juice; mix & let partially set. In a large bowl, cream cheese & sugar together; set aside. Using package directions, make Dream Whip (place in fridge until ready to use). Once jell-o is partially set, pour into cream cheese/sugar mixture (if using 1/2 & 1/2 cream add at this point) & beat to combine. If using Dream Whip, with a rubber spatula, fold into jell-o, cream cheese/sugar mixture. Evenly divide among the 12 mini cheesecake pan cups. Cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before topping with glaze.
Cheesecake using Cool Whip
- In a small bowl, dissolve lime jell-o powder with boiling water; set aside to cool. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, lime juice & zest until smooth. Add cooled, partially set jell-o & mix well. With a rubber spatula, fold in Cool Whip. Evenly divide among the 12 mini cheesecake pan cups. Cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before topping with glaze.
Kiwi Glaze
- In a small saucepan, cook sugar & chopped kiwi for a couple of minutes. Using a blender, blend to a smooth consistency; allow to cool slightly. Add 1 1/2 tsp RESERVED lime jell-o powder & mixing until glaze thickens. Cool slightly then using a spoon, divide evenly among the mini cheesecakes. Chill until set.
Recipe Notes
- If you prefer, you can double your crumb & glaze ingredients & make one large cheesecake in a 9-inch spring form pan.
- If you don't have a mini cheesecake pan just use a mini muffin pan with paper liners. It will work just as well.
- After I made these, I froze them completely. When I wanted to serve them, I set however many I needed out about 30 minutes ahead. There was never any difference in the quality of these cheesecakes in doing that.