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Check out these cute little pineapple upside-down cheesecakes - they mix smooth cheesecake with tropical taste in one bite. Each serving gives you silky cheesecake topped with sweet, caramelized pineapple that'll make your taste buds dance.
We spent ages in the kitchen tweaking this recipe until we got just the right mix of sweet, tangy and tropical in every mouthful.
Essential Components
- Cream Cheese: Use the full-fat kind at room temp for extra smoothness
- Graham Crackers: Crush them yourself for the best-tasting crust
- Pineapple: Works with fresh or canned, just make sure it's super dry
- Caramel: Grab some from the store or whip up your own batch
Cooking Instructions
- Crust Making:
- Grind crackers into fine bits. Mix with melted butter until it clumps when squeezed. Press firmly into muffin liners using the back of a spoon.
- Filling Creation:
- Whip cream cheese till fluffy. Slowly add sugar while beating. Drop in eggs one by one. Stir in vanilla just until mixed.
- Finishing Touches:
- Fill cups about three-quarters up. Tap pan to get rid of bubbles. Add pineapple chunks on top, pushing them in slightly. Bake until edges are firm but middle still wobbles a bit.
The mini versions turn out way better than making one big cheesecake - they cook more evenly and they're ready to grab and eat.
Cooling Strategy
Stop cracks from forming by letting them cool slowly - keep them in the oven with the door cracked open for 10 minutes after baking.
Fruit Preparation
Chop pineapple into same-sized half-inch chunks so they cook evenly and look pretty on top.
Make-Ahead Options
Bake them a day early to let the flavors mingle. Wait until serving time to drizzle on the caramel.
Other Fruit Ideas
Try them with whatever fruit is in season - fresh mangoes or caramelized peaches work great too.
These tiny treats show how you can take an old-school dessert and turn it into something fancy enough for any party or get-together.
Recipe Q&A
- → Why should the ingredients be room temperature?
- When cream cheese and eggs aren't cold, they blend much better and make your batter silky smooth without lumps.
- → What can I do to stop cracks in the cheesecakes?
- Mix gently and put a pan of water in the oven while baking to create steam that keeps them crack-free.
- → How much time do they need to chill?
- Let them cool in your fridge for at least 4 hours but they'll taste even better if left overnight.
- → Why is draining the pineapple important?
- Wet pineapple will make your cheesecakes soggy so make sure to pat the chunks dry after draining.
- → Can these be prepared ahead of time?
- Sure thing! Store them in the fridge and add the caramel drizzle just before you're ready to serve.