Best Mini Heart Shaped Cheesecake Recipe

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This mini heart-shaped cheesecake recipe ranks among my top picks for any special occasion dessert, but really…who needs an excuse to make this dish when it’s so darn good?!

Mini cheesecake bit in a heart shape. Text overlay reads "Heart shaped cheesecake bites".

I hope you’ll enjoy having a bite (or five) with this quick and easy recipe, just in time for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.

This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. For more information, please see my disclosures.

Background: Why I love these mini cheesecakes

I grew up in a traditional family that expresses love in many ways, not the least of which is sharing good food. My mother, the eldest of six kids, learned to cook traditional Mexican-American cuisine at a very early age.

Cooking became her passion. We kids became her eager guinea pigs.

We always seemed to have homemade cakes, pies, or cookies hanging around the house. (I had the love handles as a kid to prove it.) And every now and then…

…my mom would make these mini cheesecakes.

Mini cheesecakes on a plate with cherry topping and mint leaves.

Bottom line: These little cheesy bites remind me of my childhood, which is why it’s my great pleasure to share them with you.

Heart Shaped Cheesecake Recipe Supplies

To begin making this cheesecake recipe, you’ll need the following supplies.

Baking supplies

Ingredients

  • 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese
  • 5 Eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 pint sour cream
  • 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling or seasonal fruit (optional)
  • Graham cracker crumbs

For my special valentine cheesecake recipe, I purchased a heart muffin pan.

While this non-stick pan doesn’t require cup liners, I still recommend using them to make the perfect cheesecake. Here are some of my favorite pans with a heart or love theme.

If you don’t want your mini cheesecakes in the shape of a heart, you can also use these mini muffin tins. You’ll get all of the indulgence and less of the guilt.

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Heart Shaped Cheesecake Recipe Steps

1. Begin by beating the softened cream cheese and eggs until smooth.

Beating eggs and cream cheese for heart shaped cheesecake recipe.

2. Gradually mix in 1 cup of sugar and vanilla. Set aside remaining sugar for topping later.

3. Pour cheesecake batter into muffin pan until 3/4 full.

Mini cheesecake dessert in heart shaped muffin pan.

4. Bake at 325° for 40 minutes or until set.

The cakes should look fairly firm but may jiggle slightly in the middle when done. If using a mini muffin pan, the cheesecakes may take 30-40 minutes to bake.

Note: Many cheesecake recipes call for setting the pan in a water bath to bake. There’s no need for that in this version. 

However, using a water bath can help regulate the temperature and prevent too much browning, cracking, or sinking. You can read more about water baths for cheesecakes here.

5. Mix sour cream and remaining sugar. Add a dollop of the mixture to each heart-shaped cheesecake, and return the pan to the oven for 6 minutes.

Heart shaped cheesecake mini cupcakes.

6. Cool the cheesecakes at room temperature 20-30 minutes.

Tip: If you chill the cheesecakes in the refrigerator, you may have an easier time removing them from the muffin pan, especially if you choose not to use any muffin cup liners.

7. Garnish with the fruit topping of your choice and add graham cracker sprinkles.

The recipe calls for cherry pie filling as the topping, which I highly recommend. However, you can also substitute fruit like raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries, and then garnish with an herb like mint.

I love sprinkling graham cracker crumbs on top, like a deconstructed cheesecake.

Mini cheesecake bites in the shape of a heart with raspberries and blueberries

Serving style for cheesecakes

You can display your finished heart-shaped cheesecakes with a simple plate presentation, or you can try using a fancy three-tiered tray or platter. 

You also have the option of making a large heart-shaped dessert, like my cheesecake flan recipe.

Cheesecake storage tips

Heart shaped mini cheesecake with raspberries and blueberries.

Now, let’s be real. You may not have any cheesecakes left over after you make these. However, you can easily store this dessert for later if you have enough self-control to yield leftovers.

  • Store these cheesecakes in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Use a paper towel or plastic wrap under the lid to maintain maximum freshness.
  • Did you know you can freeze cheesecake?! These mini cheesecakes will keep in the freezer for up to one month.
  • For best results, store the cheesecakes far away from children who can see above the countertop. (For the safety of the cheesecake, that is.)

The best part of freezing these cheesecakes is you’re always ready to entertain at a moment’s notice. What an easy way to impress your guests!

If you end up making this heart-shaped cheesecake recipe, please give me a shout on the First Day of Home Instagram or Pinterest pages.

Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later! Also, if you liked this heart-shaped cheesecake recipe, I appreciate you leaving a good review below.

Heart shaped mini cheesecake recipe.
Heart shaped cheesecake recipe

Best Heart Shaped Cheesecake Recipe

Author: firstdayofhome.com
Make delicious mini heart shaped cheesecakes with this quick and easy recipe. A heart shaped cheesecake makes the perfect addition to any Valentine's Day, birthday, bridal shower, wedding, anniversary or special occasion.
4.8 from 4 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 160 kcal

Ingredients
 

Cheesecake ingredients

  • 3 packages cream cheese ((8 oz. per pkg.))
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

Topping ingredients

  • ½ pint sour cream
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 8 oz cherry pie filling ((canned, optional))
  • 4 oz graham cracker crumbs ((optional))

Instructions
 

Prepare cheesecakes

  • Beat softened cream cheese and eggs together until very smooth.
    Beating eggs and cream cheese for heart shaped cheesecake recipe
  • Beat in 1 cup sugar and add vanilla.
  • Pour cheesecake batter into muffin tins, preferably with liners, until 3/4 full.
    Mini cheesecake dessert in heart shaped muffin pan
  • Bake at 325° for 40-minutes for regular 12-count muffin tin. Note: The recipe may yield up to 20 cakes. Also, there is no need to use a hot water bath.

Prepare topping

  • Blend remaining 1/4 cup of sugar with the sour cream.
  • After baking the cheesecakes, add a dollop of sour cream-sugar blend in the center of the cakes and return to oven for 6 minutes.
    Heart shaped cheesecake mini cupcakes

Cool and serve

  • Cool at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
  • Before serving, add a spoonful of cherry pie filling on each cake and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top. 
    Heart shaped mini cheesecake with raspberries and blueberries

Nutrition

Serving: 20peopleCalories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 7gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 303mgPotassium: 149mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 174IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 144mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @firstdayofhome or tag #firstdayofhome!

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12 Comments

    1. Hi, Nikitress. This recipe will make about 20 portions, but it depends on the size of your cupcake pan. We had some extra batter when we used the heart-shaped muffin tin (which holds 12), so we made some extra mini cheesecake bites. I’d say 20 regular muffin-sized portions is about what you should plan. (People love the mini cheesecake bites for parties, too.)

  1. I love the little molds. These are so cute. I love little desserts like this as they are just the right size and everyone gets their own.

  2. 5 stars
    These little cheesecakes are adorable and a perfect bite-sized treat for Valentine’s Day! I can’t wait to try them!