Cheesecake Bites with Diploma Picks (Print Version)

Creamy bite-sized cheesecakes with graham crust, fresh berries, and decorative diploma picks for celebrations.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Cheesecake Filling

04 - 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 2 tablespoons sour cream

→ Topping

09 - 1/2 cup fresh mixed berries, diced
10 - 2 tablespoons fruit preserves, optional

→ Decoration

11 - Graduation diploma picks or decorative paper picks

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 24-cup mini muffin pan with mini cupcake liners.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until evenly incorporated.
03 - Spoon 1 teaspoon of crust mixture into each cupcake liner and press firmly to compact.
04 - Bake crusts for 5 minutes until lightly set. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
05 - Beat softened cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy using an electric mixer.
06 - Add egg, vanilla extract, and sour cream to the cream cheese mixture. Blend until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
07 - Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of cheesecake filling over each crust, smoothing the tops level.
08 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until centers are set but retain a slight jiggle when gently shaken.
09 - Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
10 - Refrigerate cheesecake bites for at least 1 hour until completely chilled.
11 - Top each chilled cheesecake bite with fresh berries. Optionally, warm fruit preserves and brush lightly over berries for gloss.
12 - Insert diploma picks into each cheesecake bite just before serving for festive presentation.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They're surprisingly elegant for a handheld dessert, making any gathering feel more polished than it actually is.
  • The combination of buttery crust and silky filling comes together in just over an hour, so you're not spending your whole day in the kitchen.
  • Those diploma picks transform what could be a plain dessert into something photo-worthy and thematic for celebrations.
02 -
  • Softening cream cheese isn't optional—pull it out 30 minutes before you start, or chop it into pieces and leave it on the counter. This one detail prevents lumpy filling that no amount of beating can fix.
  • Don't skip the wire rack after cooling in the pan; it allows air to circulate underneath and prevents condensation from making the bottoms soggy.
03 -
  • Use a spring-loaded ice cream scoop or melon baller to portion filling evenly and quickly across all 24 bites—it saves time and guarantees consistency.
  • If cracks do form (which happens to all of us), a strategically placed berry or a dab of sour cream completely hides them, and nobody ever knows the difference.
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