#GASTRONOMIA Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Cupcakes

I’ve been over and over my deep, undying love for cheesecake, and also my reluctance to make a full size one because I will undoubtedly eat it all myself. Recently I’ve been experimenting with various ways to have cheesecake in individual, more portable portions that make it slightly easier to prevent the gobbling situation – mainly because it is so easy to give away and share with others. These raspberry cheesecake cupcakes were a natural choice for me, a lover of both cheesecake and cupcakes (and raspberries!)

I didn’t make any major changes to this recipe. However, a water bath is suggested to prevent the cakes from cracking. I didn’t have a pan big enough to create a bath for a cupcake pan. I skipped it all together and it worked out fine. My cakes didn’t crack or sink, so I think a water bath is unnecessary.

The raspberry marbling on the top is beautiful and adds a pop of color with a touch of raspberry flavor. I made these sweet treats for a get together with friends and once they were set out on the table, they did not last long. Most people who had one quickly had another – so I guess maybe these aren’t completely immune to overindulging. But two of these is still healthier than a whole full size cake, right? And you’re unlikely to get more than two because they will all have disappeared before you have the chance.

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Cupcakes

Yield: 32 cupcakes

Ingredients:
For the crust:
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
3 tbsp. sugar

For the topping:
6 oz. fresh raspberries
2 tbsp. sugar

For the filling:
2 lbs. cream cheese, at room temperature
1½ cups sugar
Pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325˚ F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar. Stir together with a fork until well blended and all the dry ingredients are moistened. Press 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the bottom of each cupcake liner. (I like to use a small drinking glass to easily and evenly press the crumbs down. One of Andrew’s sippy cups works wonderfully.) Bake until just set, 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.

To make the raspberry puree, combine the raspberries and sugar in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth, then pour through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds.

To make the cheesecake, beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer until fluffy. Blend in the sugar until smooth. Mix in the salt and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

To assemble, spoon 3 tablespoons of the cheesecake batter over the crust in each cupcake liner. Dot a ½ teaspoon of the raspberry puree in a few dots over the cheesecake filling. Use a toothpick or a wooden skewer to lightly swirl and create a marbled effect.

Bake until the filling is set, about 22 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking. (They will look quite puffed initially but will return to normal quickly.) Transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to the refrigerator and let chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

Source: barely adapted from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes

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