Chocolate Cheesecake Santa Hats

Chocolate Cheesecake Santa Hats

I don’t know about you, but I’m all ready for Christmas, at least as far as putting my tree(s) up. But putting up the tree has gotten me in the mood for Christmas baking, not that it takes much. This is why I’m so excited to share with you the recipe for these adorable chocolate cheesecake Santa hats!

This is what I dream about at night, cheesecake and strawberries, followed by lots of chocolate. I know my blog’s name is Jo Cooks, but many times I wondered why I just didn’t call it Jo Bakes, because Jo loves to bake a lot more than cook. I really shouldn’t talk about myself in the 3rd person.

I meant to say double chocolate cheesecake Santa hats with an Oreo cookie crust, followed by a rich and decadent double chocolate cheesecake, topped with whipped cream and a strawberry on top! Totally adorable and freaking delicious! And most importantly, perfect for Christmas!

Anyway, I love making mini cheesecakes, like these Mini Salted Caramel Cheesecakes, and Mini Tiramisu Cheesecakes. I think they’re so adorable and the perfect size for a dessert. Well, that’s if you can stop at eating just one. Plus I’ll take any excuse to use my mini cheesecake pan. You really do end up with perfect cheesecake bites every time.

Chocolate Cheesecake Santa Hats

Servings: 25
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

•     18 Oreos finely crushed to about 1 3/4 cups*
•     2 1/2 Tbsp butter, melted and divided
•     2 large eggs
•     1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
•     2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened
•     1/2 tsp vanilla extract
•     25 fairly small, fresh strawberries (or more if cutting more squares)
•     1/2 cup + 1/3 cup heavy cream, divided
•     1 1/3 cups white chocolate chips
•     2 Tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with two large sheets of tinfoil (one going horizontally and one over the top of the other vertically.
2. Make sure your sheets are long enough that you'll have an overhang of foil over the edges of the pan. Also, be sure to mold it well to the pan). Brush foil with 1/2 tbsp melted butter.
3. In a mixing bowl, using a fork blend together crushed Oreos and 2 Tbsp melted butter until mixture is well combined and evenly moistened.
4. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish (the bottom of a flat measuring cup or glass works well for pressing crust), set aside.
5. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer set on medium-low speed, blend together cream cheese and granulated sugar until mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds.
6. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and mix until well blended. In a separate microwave safe bowl, heat white chocolate chips with 1/3 cup heavy cream on 50% power in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth.
7. Pour melted white chocolate mixture into cream cheese mixture and blend on low speed until combined. Tap bowl against counter top about 30 times to release some of the air bubbles then pour mixture over prepared crust in baking dish.
8. Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes then turn oven off and without opening oven door allow cheesecake to rest in warm oven for 15 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 3 hours or refrigerate for 6 hours.
10. Once cheesecake is fully chilled and set, remove from freezer or refrigerator and lift cheesecake out of pan using the foil overhang.
11. Cut cheesecake into squares (I'd recommend cutting them just a bit larger the the width of your strawberries. Also it's nice to keep some clean paper towels close by to clean your knife while cutting squares).
12. In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer set on high speed, whip remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream until soft peaks form, then add powdered sugar and mix until stiff peaks form.
13. To assemble: cut a flat top off of each strawberry and lay flat side down over top of cheesecake. Fill a pastry bag (or Ziploc bag and cut a small tip of corner) with sweetened whipped cream and pipe around strawberry then finish with a small amount over the top of the "hat".
14. Serve immediately (for do ahead- you can make cheesecake the day before then assemble within an hour of serving the following day). Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
15. *Don't use Doublestuff Oreos. I processed the Oreos in a food processor but if you don't have one you can place them in a large Ziploc bag, seal bag and finely crush with a rolling pin .
16. Recipe Source: cheesecake bites - Cooking Classy, Santa hat inspired by - daisy's world who adapted it from Erica's Sweet Tooth

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