Not Your Mamas (Mini) Cheesecake

Dessert sounded pretty good today and Cheesecake is one of my favorite ones.  Most of the times I can't just have one proper slice of cheesecake. I usually say it's one but I cut the "one slice" about three times too big.  This recipe makes it easier to just stick with one serving... although you might be inclined to take two since they are so delicious.

Ingredients:

- Crust:

5 plain graham crackers (if you want to get super creative, maybe use some cinnamon sugar ones) yumm!

3tbl brown sugar

3.5 tbl butter, melted

small pinch of salt

- Cheesecake:

8-oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 (heaping) cup sugar
1 large egg
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350F and line your muffin pan with some pretty little liners. To prepare your crust start by crushing your graham crackers in a bowl.  I used a meat mallet which seemed to work pretty well but you way be able to get away with a mug or another sort of sturdy flat bottom item.

2. Once the crackers are crushed, add the rest of the crust ingredients and mix together well.  This will be slightly crumbly so don't worry if it doesn't turn into your typical doughy like crust.

3. Mix together your cheesecake ingredients except your chocolate chips.  Beat together until there are no more lumps.

4. Now you are ready to assemble your cheesecakes.  First, evenly fill the bottom of your muffin cups and push them down with your fingers so is it tightly packed.  Leave about just enough left over to top the cheesecakes at the end like a crumple.  Maybe 1/3 ish of a cup.  Follow the crust by adding a couple of chocolate chips.  Evenly divide cheesecake batter and top with a couple more chocolate chips.  Finally, top with the rest of the crust crumble.

5.  Bake 20-25mins until cheesecakes are golden brown on top and are set.  The batter should not jiggle when you shake the pan.  Let cool and enjoy!