Well, I survived yesterday. It turns out my throat massage ended up being a scalp massage. At 5:51 AM my little guy came to my bed and said, “Good morning Mommy, Happy Mother’s Day (yes, he was shrieking it)! It’s time for your massage!” Why is it no one is able to get up on a school day that early? So, I’m still alive. A scalp massage was much less hazardous than a throat massage but still, it was 5:51 AM. Ugh.
Anyways, here is a little treat I made for myself for Mother’s Day. Mini Peanut Butter-Finger Cheesecakes with a vanilla wafer crust. OMG, talk about indulgence. These tiny little things pack a serious sweet tooth punch.
If you don’t have a mini cheesecake pan, I highly suggest getting one. Or this would be an easy recipe to adapt to a larger springform pan.
Anyway, I know you’ll love it.
Let’s make it…
Here’s what you will need: Vanilla wafers, granulated sugar, butter, salt, cream cheese, peanut butter, an egg, heavy cream, Butterfinger and chocolate chips.
Combine 1 cup ground vanilla wafers, 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 Tablespoons melted butter and 1/8 teaspoon table salt. Divide mixture into bottoms of mini cheesecake pan and press until flat. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter until smooth. Beat 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2 Tablespoons heavy cream and 1/8 table salt until well combined. Slowly stir in crushed butterfinger. The recipe suggested 4 fun size bars, I used half of a king size bar or about 2 ounces of Butterfinger.
Evenly pour batter over baked crust. Bake for 20-22 minutes until cheesecake is set. Don’t forget to turn down your oven temperature to 300 degrees. Let cheesecake cool for 2 hours, then remove from pan (I refrigerated mine overnight before removing from the pan).
After cooling, your cheesecakes will depress a bit, creating a perfect well for the chocolate sauce.
Melt one cup chocolate chips in microwave in 30 second intervals. Stir in between intervals and do not overcook the chocolate. Add heavy cream in small doses to the chocolate and stir until chocolate is smooth and glossy. If you add the cream too fast you will get lumps. Microwave some more to get the lumps out. Spoon the chocolate over the tops of the cakes.
Spoon crushed Butterfinger over the top of the chocolate.
It wouldn’t be hard to eat all four.
Mini desserts always taste better than full size ones.
Take back any weird Mother’s Day gifts you got and get a mini cheesecake pan. You won’t regret it!
Mini Peanut Butter-Finger Cheesecakes
Adapted from Picky Palate
For the crust:
1 cup Vanilla Wafers, ground
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon table salt
For the cheesecake:
One 8 ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 Tablespoons heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon table salt
4 fun size Butterfinger candy bars (I used 1/2 a king size Butterfinger, about 2 oz.)
For the topping:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream
Crushed Butterfinger
Combine 1 cup ground vanilla wafers, 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 Tablespoons melted butter and 1/8 teaspoon table salt. Divide mixture into bottoms of mini cheese cake pan and press until flat. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter until smooth. Beat 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2 Tablespoons heavy cream and 1/8 table salt until well combined. Slowly stir in crushed butterfinger. The recipe suggested 4 fun size bars, I used half of a king size bar or about 2 ounces of Butterfinger.
Evenly pour batter over baked crust. Bake for 20-22 minutes until cheesecake is set. Don’t forget to turn down your oven temperature to 300 degrees. Let cheesecake cool for 2 hours, then remove from pan (I refrigerated mine overnight before removing from the pan).
After cooling, your cheesecakes will depress a bit, creating a perfect well for the chocolate sauce.
Melt one cup chocolate chips in microwave in 30 second intervals. Stir in between intervals and do not overcook the chocolate. Add heavy cream in small doses to the chocolate and stir until chocolate is smooth and glossy. If you add the cream too fast you will get lumps. Microwave some more to get the lumps out. Spoon the chocolate over the tops of the cakes. Spoon crushed Butterfinger over the top of the chocolate.
Makes twelve mini cheesecakes.
One Year Ago Today: My Heart…On the Outside
Kaitlyn says
those look HEAVENLY! i might request those for my graduation party instead of my mom’s triple chocolate cake! omg i’m drooling!
deeba says
I’m comin’ over Cathy..adopt me! is that tray similar to a muffin tray? Looks quite the same, though I suspect the sides must be straight. I’d better google it or I might not sleep tonight! At least I can dream about it! Well done MOM!
KathyB. says
Cheesecakes children will love too! My Hubby collects cheesecake recipes and has made a few super-rich and delicious cheesecakes over the years. I will add this one to his collection..and I ask again, how do you stay so tiny?
gfe-gluten free easily says
Oh, my–if only I’d known, I could have asked for one of these pans for Mother’s Day. 🙂 These are just beautiful and I’m imagining the taste. All I need to do is sub gluten-free animal crackers for the Vanilla Wafers or use my gf brown-edged wafers recipe and I’ll be good to go!
Uh, that scalp massage before 6 am certainly had to be invigorating. LOL
Hugs,
Shirley
Teri says
These look yummy! Glad you had a good & safe Mothers Day including a scalp/throat massage.
Teri
Diaryofamadbathroom says
Yum! Those look delicious.
Laura says
I love waking up to this….oh and those boys are c-u-t-e.
Rindy R says
I wouldn’t have even minded a “Throat” message if I could have ended the day with one of these in my tummy. What is better then Peanut Butter and Chocolate – oh that’s right Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Cheese cake!!!!!! You’re one lucky mommy!
Doreen Frost says
Oh Gracious!!!! These look amazing!
Thank you so much for sharing!
:)Doreen
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
How lovely that you were wakened for Mothers Day with such enthusiasm! In a few years, the kids will be too old to drag themselves out of bed that early, even for a special occasion, and you’ll think back on yesterday and wish they were still young again. Ah, well. You’ll always have mini cheesecakes…
Barbie with a T says
Those were the cutest little cheesecakes! I bet they tasted as good as they look too. I am happy to see you are still alive, with a good head massage, I see it helped you to come up with a decadent dessert!
Mental P Mama says
Mini food has no calories. Right?
Jamie says
OMG is right! This is pure decadence itself! Amazing and scrumptious and we moms absolutely deserve this! Happy Mother’s Day!
Leah - Chef Maven says
WOW… I gain wait just by reading your blog posts!… Ive been under and in the books for my finals this week – so I havent stopped by as often as I would have liked…but had I – I would have at least gained 5 pounds – minus two pounds from drooling all over reading your posts!…lol
Melynda says
I cannot wait to try this! Really glad about that throat thing being wrong!
Fencepost says
A scalp massage sounds good. Well…better than a throat massage.
And top it off with those little sinful things. Sounds like you had a great day!
Ciaochowlinda says
OMG – I’ve been a Butterfingers lover since childhood. I have to stay far far away from this recipe. toooo tempting
Asthmagirl says
Wow. My teeth hurt just looking at it! But I’m sure I could eat one or two!
Hope your scalp feels great!
Culinary Wannabe says
I bet these are dangerous in mini form. The butterfinger is the real selling point for me – yummy!!!
imom says
I can seriously taste those babies just from reading the recipe!
Jennifer says
Criminey these look good. I could inhale them all in one sitting. I seriously could.
Katrina says
Holy heavenly yum! I do want one of those pans!
megan says
I have a mini cheesecake pan an LOVE it!!! This recipe looks to die for (perhaps by throat message?)and I like that it’s scale back to make only 12 cakes.
Marjie says
Mini desserts are always best! And as soon as you say cheesecake, much of the world is ready for that, myself included! Glad your mother’s day was a good one.
dawn says
Holy cow Batman, now that’s dessert! Wow, I mean delicious. I have been wanting to order one of those pans. Now I will.
Jacqueline says
Just opening the email and seeing the first picture, made me say “oh, my dear Jesus…” out loud. And I’m a Buddhist!
LilSis says
Those look amazing! I just might have to get me one of those pans.
nina says
I’m speechless looking at these amazing little cheesecakes!! OMG I am so going to make them!!!
Andi Sexton (rrlscrapgal) says
YUM!! I want these!!!
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie says
These are such perfect mini treats! Scrumptious!
Mary says
I’m glad you survived your day. The cheesecake is to die for.
dawn says
that is a cavity in the making for sure. I bet there aren’t any left? how do you stay so skinny???
The Duo Dishes says
Too good to be true. Those could be a blessing and a curse in one!
Auds at Barking Mad says
Those look so good. I just wish I didn’t hate peanut butter. But, eldest loves them and I’m tempted to make some for her! She can never resist chocolate and peanut butter.
Well, I’ll make some for her once I have a kitchen again. *sigh*
Trisha says
Wow – these made me almost feel like I don’t have a cold! Imagine if I actually had some here to eat! Surely I would be healed!
giz says
I love that!! That would be the ultimate perfect gift for me. It ranks right up there with seeing the kids on Mother’s Day.
Danielle says
h-o-l-y c-r-a-p…
They look fantastic!
Pam says
Oh my! I would love one of these little beauties right now. Butterfingers are my very favorite candy bar. They look fantastic!
Brian says
You have a way with peanut butter and chocolate. These look amazing. I’ve never heard of a mini-cheesecake pan. Now I have something to look for. Thanks. Great photos by the way. Hope the move is going smoothly.
Alisa says
Just when I started liking you again. You went and did this??
Seriously?
I think I’m only a little sorry it wasn’t a throat massage. 🙂
Helene says
Your little one is so cute. And this treat is yummy. Have a good day.
Jescel says
Oh, you’re kids are so cute. I’m sure you enjoyed your litte massage, despite the time! :o) and those mini-cheesecakes– a picture of decadence! and now, i am wanting to buy those mini-cheesecake pans more than ever! :o)
tom | tall clover farm says
These should be placed in a new blog Category: Recipes to be made and consumed in one sitting.
[email protected] says
OMG I LOVE butterfingers!!
This looks amazing!
Isn’t that the truth about kids waking up with no problems on the weekends!
All three of mine are up earlier than they have to get up for school. Maybe its the cartoons and video games they get to play while I’m still sleeping!
Happy Mother’s Day to you!
pam says
Okay, two things that I must have. Mini cheesecake pans and then these mini cheesecakes!!!!
Fun House Jennifer says
OMG I am going to HAVE to make these! Nilla wafers and Bufferfingers are two of my favorite things!!
Marlene says
All I have to say is Oh. My. Lord.
I love you, you know that right?
HoneyB says
Its cute how we who love to cook/bake had no problem making ourselves treats for Mother’s Day!
lo says
Well, well.
Looks like the perfect accompaniment to that throat…er… scalp massage 🙂
Oh, yeah. And YUM.
pigpigscorner says
aww…yours kids are so cute! The little things look really sinful…yum yum
Blond Duck says
You’re killing me.
Mrs. L says
MMMMMM…Butterfingers are my favorite candy bar so these are right up my alley!
RobinSue says
Yes a carotid (throat) massage would put you out of commission! These ittle cakes are a taste of heaven! What a great treat for yourself. But then again those chocolate covered strawberries would be enough for me!
Lisa says
These have got to be the very best looking confection I have seen in ages! I will be making these as soon as possible.
Egghead says
Cathy my bum is going to be bigger than the moon if you keep this up. My husband makes me try most all of your recipes. Gah!
elra says
LOL, glad you didn’t have any throat massage!
This Mini Peanut Butter-Finger Cheesecakes, look so good, the crust look so scrumptious too.
Cheers,
elra
Debbie says
Just saw the pics of your boys and they are adorable!!! The mini cheesecake looks so good…too good. How could I not want to make that. I have to try these sometime soon…love Butterfingers!!!
Caroline says
I love your blog and I read that you are Polish (I am, too!). My dad and I enjoy cooking Polish food together, so I was wondering if you ever cook Polish food for your family. I think seeing a Polish food-related post would make our day! 🙂
Spinach Tiger says
OUTSTANDING! This would be one cheesecake my husband would eat.
snowmoonelk says
please, please, please put me out of my misery and tell me where I can get butter fingers here in the UK!!! Or some kind of substiture??? HELP ME!! I need to make these.
melissa says
WOW! WOW! WOW!
They sure do look so good.
I actually have a Mother’s Day gift I wish I could take back and get that pan instead.
Sara says
You had me at butterfinger – these look absolutely amazing!
Woman in a window says
I’m sobbing right now. Those are beautiful!
Bunny says
WOW these look fantastic, oh yeah I could in hale 4 of these, and that would be just the begining!!
Karen Deborah says
oh my gawd.
Claudia says
I love mini-desserts, too. These look amazing – what’snt to like? And I miss being woken up with little ones at the side of the bed wanting to “help.” Enjoy!
Kayola says
Oh my stinkin’ heck! My mouth is wtering for something sweet and it’s almost 11:00 p.m. that looks so dang yummy! I always crush a package of large butterfingers and mix with vanilla ice cream and put on a graham cracker crust and then sprinkle butterfinger on top and freeze….it is a hit when it’s so HOT! THIS IS A FOR SURE GONNA TRY! Love your massage story…
theungourmet says
Oh my lands these look outstanding! I think they would be dangerous to have lying around over at my house.
I have never had a throat massage!
grace says
absolutely decadent. good for you, satisying your own craving, but shame on you, because now i crave some too. i’ll bet the cheesecake factory wishes they had an offering like this.
annbb/TSannie says
Even with jogging 5 miles a day, I don’t understand why you don’t weigh a thousand pounds! I am impressed!
Tami Lyn says
I would like to massage my throat with a couple of these bad boys. MMMM, cheesecake. Oh, Heath bars on top maybe, oh goodness gravy I have to find one of those pans!
Rachel (S[d]OC) says
I almost licked the screen when I saw that first photo. That looks really impressive. That looks like it came from a high-end pastry shop!!!
It’s not even lunchtime and I want some cheesecake (although I’m not one to regard the time of day for which it is proper to eat something).
Marguerite says
Those looks SOOOO good!!!!
Anna says
Cathy, do you think using a mini muffin pan would work with these? I don’t want to go out and buy a new pan just for one dessert.
Liesl says
I love cheesecake! What a great way to spend your Mother’s Day! I bet those were delicious!
amy says
yumsyums:)
Angelique from Bitchin' Lifestyle says
Thanks for such a detailed recipe! It truly looks fantastic. I wonder if it will turn out like the Oreo one I tried. I’ll let ya know~
Krista says
Have mercy! I WILL try these one day! What a great recipe.
Noble Pig says
You know I’m not sure. I mean, you probably could but the wells in a mini-muffin pan are very small compared to a mini cheesecake pan and the cheesecake pan has removable bottoms. I probably wouldn’t because I don’t think the mini muffin pan would be a very substantial size for this dessert. There are so many recipes available for mini cheesecakes so I don’t think your purchase would leave you with only one dessert option. My opinion anyways.
Anna says
Thanks! I didn’t realize the sizes were so different; it’s hard to tell from photos. Yes, I’m sure I would use that pan a lot if I bought it! I just wanted to make these for a function I have coming up this weekend and didn’t know if I could get a pan before then, but I’m going to try now!
Noble Pig says
If you have A Williams-Sonoma near you, try there.
Chris says
That is ridiculously good looking. A definite must do! Here via For The Love Of Cooking.
Alison says
To adapt this to a regular sized cheesecake, should I just try a regular sized springform pan and add some cooking time?
snowmoonelk says
OK, but I STILL don’t know what butter fingers are???!!!
PruittSusanna says
It is known that cash makes us autonomous. But what to do if someone has no money? The only one way is to receive the personal loans or just small business loan.
WoodardAmanda says
I strictly recommend not to hold back until you earn enough amount of money to order different goods! You can just take the personal loans or just credit loan and feel comfortable
IrisGlover23 says
If you are willing to buy a house, you would have to get the home loans. Furthermore, my mother all the time uses a bank loan, which occurs to be really reliable.
physiotherapy says
You are right dude these are the mouth watering stuff…feels like having it…
massage school utah says
Just a good stuff man u are right at this point.
Laurie says
I used your recipe as the basis for a regular sized cheesecake that I gave to our neighbor for plowing our driveway!!!!! It was gorgeous and he loved it!!!!!!