••••MINI LEMON MERINGUE CHEESECAKES!
Yield: Makes 12 cheesecakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes, plus
Mini Lemon Meringue Cheesecakes
Ingredients:
Crust:
- 24 Nilla wafer cookies
- 2 1/4 tsp granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
- 12oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2C granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 egg
Lemon curd:
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2C granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
Mergingue:
- 2 egg whites
- 1/2C granulated sugar
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a mini cheesecake pan.
- In a food processor combine crust ingredients. Divide mixture among prepared cheesecake cavities, adding one small cookie scoop to each. Press down firmly to create an even layer. Bake for 5 minutes.
- Decrease oven temperature to 325°F.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together cream cheese and sugar. Mix in sour cream, followed by lemon juice and lemon zest. Finally add egg, mixing until batter is smooth and streak free.
- Add one heaping medium scoop to each cavity. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Cool in pan to room temperature. Transfer pan to refrigerator to chill cheesecakes thoroughly, at least 6-12 hours or more.
- Prepare lemon curd. In a double boiler over simmering water, whisk all ingredients for 8-10 minutes. Press through a fine mesh strainer, into a small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing to the surface of lemon curd so to avoid a skin forming. Cool to room temperature. Place in refrigerator to cool completely and continue to thicken.
- Carefully remove cheesecakes from pan, removing pan disc from the bottom of each crust. Using a piping bag fit with a small round tip or a spoon, carefully add a small amount (roughly 1-2 tsp) lemon curd to each cheesecake. Return to cheesecakes to refrigerator.
- Prepare meringue. Add egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar to a metal stand mixer bowl over simmering water. Whisk for several minutes or until sugar is dissolved and whites are warm. Move metal bowl to mixer, beat on low increasing to high until mixture is stiff and glossy, roughly 5 minutes. Add vanilla, mixing in well. Transfer to a piping bag with desired tip, pipe onto chilled cheesecakes. Use a kitchen torch to lightly brown the meringue frosting.
- Serve immediately. Store remaining cheesecakes in the refrigerator.
