Mini Springform Turtle Cheesecake

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Get the full flavor of a turtle cheesecake with this recipe for a mini turtle cheesecake made with minimal ingredients and an Oreo crust!

This recipe has an Oreo cookie crust and made with minimal portioned ingredients for the cake which include four ounces of cream cheese, granulated sugar, sour cream or crème fraîche, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, cornstarch and one egg. Oh, I almost forgot…caramel and chocolate sauce and pecans! How could I forget that! LOL

I love making mini cheesecakes in place of a full size cheesecake. For one thing the pans are so cute and I can make one, two or three mini’s! I use this 4-inch diameter mini springform three pan set .

Another reason I really enjoy making these mini springform pans is that when making cheesecake you don’t have to use a ton of ingredients meaning cream cheese as one cake only calls for four ounces.

Since the set comes with three pans I usually end up making the classic cheesecake , this turtle cheesecake and just a plain chocolate cookie crust cheesecake. Well, at least for now, but I am inspired to creating different recipes.

These mini pans make just the right size cheesecake for one and maybe even two people depending on if you are up for sharing. And if not, you have three pans where you can make one cake per person.

Mini Turtle Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients:

Crust

• 4 Oreo cookies with the creamy filling removed (about 1/3 cup)
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon butter melted

Filling

• 4 ounce cream cheese at room temperature
• 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 Tablespoon sour cream or crème fraîche
• 1 1/2 Tablespoon heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 egg at room temperature
• caramel sauce for drizzling
• dark chocolate sauce for drizzling
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 3 pecans (not chopped) for center of cake

Directions:

Prepare Pan

This recipe uses a water bath therefore prepare the mini springform pan by double wrapping the base with foil. This is done to make sure water does not seep through into the pan so be sure to get a good seal.

Tip: A water bath will help to keep the cheesecake from cracking in the center while baking.

Crust Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheight.

Melt butter in a small saucepan.

Crush Oreo cookies and sugar to a fine consistency.

Tip: I like placing the sugar and cookies in a sandwich baggie (be sure to remove air) and pound with a rolling pin and then roll the pin over the baggie to make a fine consistency.

Place crushed cookie mixture into a small bowl and add melted butter stirring to combine.

Transfer the mixture to the springform pan and using a spatula press down to make the crust.

Place springform pan in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack. Turn the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheight and start making the filling.

Filling Directions

Using an electric hand mixer blend together cream cheese, sugar, sour cream or crème fraîche , whipping cream, vanilla extract and cornstarch until smooth.

Add the egg and continue mixing just until completely blended.

Pour cheesecake filling into springform pan on top of the Oreo crust and gently tap pan on countertop to remove any air bubbles.

Place springform pan inside a larger pan and fill the larger pan with boiling water half way up the springform pan. Be careful not to splash water onto the cheesecake.

Place pans in preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes.

Then turn oven off and slightly open oven door allowing heat to escape all while leaving pan in oven to cool for about one hour.

Finish cooling cheesecake in refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Prepare for Serving

To avoid damaging the springform pan base I make a small cake board by using the pan and trace a circle on a small paper plate and covering the cutout with foil. This step is optional but I’m all for making sure not to damage the base of the pan because once it’s scratched it may start rusting.

After the cake has completely cooled take a straight icing spatula and run the spatula just inside between the pan and the cake very gently and slowly to release cake from sides of pan.

Unhook the clamp on the pan and slowly separate the side from the base.

Note: You can leave the cake on the base of the pan but I prefer to remove it because cutting the cake while it’s still on the base may scratch and damage the springform pan.

Remove the cheesecake from the base of the springform pan by gently sliding a spatula between the crust and the pan. It should release easily if you’re using a non-stick coated pan. Carefully place the cake on the cake board.

Decorate

Now drizzle the top of the cheesecake with caramel sauce and a dark chocolate sauce. Top with a few pecans and place chopped pecans on the side of the cake. Now that you’ve made this turtle cheesecake maybe you’d like to see my recipe for making a traditional mini cheesecake. I do hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does!

If you have time and or prefer making your own sauce toppings I have both a homemade caramel sauce and an old-fashioned hot fudge recipe that would be perfect for drizzling atop this mini turtle cheesecake recipe.

I AM EXCITED YOU ARE VIEWING JETT’S RECIPE FOR MAKING A MINI TURTLE CHEESECAKE AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW YOURS TURNS OUT!

***Please come back and share your comments and tell my readers how you like this recipe. If you have some other mini cheesecake recipes you’d like to see please include that in the comments too. ***

Recommendations for this recipe!