Santa Hat Mini Cheesecakes (High Protein Recipe)

Indulge in the festive spirit with our Santa Hat Mini Cheesecakes – a delightful blend of creamy cheesecake atop a buttery graham cracker crust, crowned with strawberries and whipped cream to resemble Santa’s iconic hat. These adorable treats are the perfect bite-sized joy for spreading holiday cheer at any gathering.

Guess what I’ve been up to lately? Just baking up some holiday magic in the form of Santa Hat Mini Cheesecakes, and I couldn’t wait to share the joy with you! 

Seriously, these little guys are the cutest and most delicious addition to any festive gathering. They’re not only adorable but also insanely delicious. 

Perfect for spreading the holiday spirit one tasty treat at a time. So, grab a cup of cocoa, cozy up, and let me spill the festive beans on this delightful dessert.

If you love these little santa hats you may also want to try my 30 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes With Few Ingredients.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THE SANTA HAT MINI CHEESECAKES

1. Prep Time Bliss: No one wants to spend hours in the kitchen, right? Well, these little cheesecakes won’t keep you waiting. Quick prep time – we’re talking minutes, not hours.
2. Foolproof Crust Creation: Say hello to the perfect crust! Thanks to the food processor, creating an even layer of graham cracker crumbs mixed with unsalted butter is practically foolproof. Even layers for the win!
3. Creamy Dreaminess: Picture this: a creamy, dreamy filling whipped to perfection. Trust me, it’s like a winter wonderland in your mouth.
4. Santa Hat Charm: And here’s where the magic happens – those strawberry Santa hats! Dive into your own curated collections of creativity as you dip them in melted white chocolate and place them on top. Cue the “aww” moment!
5. Bite-sized Joy: These mini cheesecakes are the perfect size. Not too much, not too little – just right. Ideal for sharing or keeping all to yourself; I won’t judge.
6. Easy-Breezy Cleanup: With an oven temperature that won’t have you sweating, a quick cooking spray on the muffin tin, and an easy transfer to a wire rack, cleanup is a breeze. More time for you to enjoy the rich flavor of these Santa hat cheesecake bites.
7. Timeless Appeal: Whether you’re a seasoned lover of cheesecake or diving into the world of baking for the first time, these little cheesecakes are universally charming. Perfect for any occasion, but especially great for spreading holiday cheer.

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED FOR THE CUTEST CHRISTMAS CHEESECAKES

You will need the following ingredients listed below to make this delicious dessert (the exact measurements, nutritional information and full recipe are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

• Graham cracker crumbs – alternatively can use oreo cookies or glutino gluten free cookies as the base if desired.
• Unsalted butter
• Cottage cheese
• Unsweetened plain greek yogurt
• Plain cream cheese – vegan cream cheese also works.
• Sugar-free pure maple syrup
• Vanilla extract
• Large egg
• Baking powder
• Vanilla protein powder
• Organic strawberries – as they are not in season at this time of year, make sure you’re buying fresh ones!
• Whipped cream – can make homemade whip cream or use cool whip as well.

HOW TO MAKE THE HIGH PROTEIN CHEESECAKE TREATS

1. Start by preheating your oven to 350F. Line 8 muffin tins with muffin liners and set aside.
2. Crush up graham cracker crumbs in a blender or food processor. Mix in melted butter and press to bottom of muffin tin liners.
3. Using your blender again, add all ingredients for cheesecake batter. Blend on high until smooth.
4. Add to top of graham cracker crusts and bake for 38-41 minutes.
5. Don’t remove the mini cheesecakes from the oven right away. Open the oven door instead and turn oven off to let cool. This will prevent the cheesecakes from caving in the middle.
6. Once they have cooled to at least room temperature, put them in the fridge overnight to set.
7. Now comes the fun part. Place a sliced strawberry on top of each mini cheesecake, creating the adorable Santa hat look. Add whipped cream all around the edges of the strawberry, as well as on top of the hat.
8. Dust with powdered sugar for the full snow effect, and enjoy your santa claus cheesecakes.

HOW TO STORE

Once you’ve created these adorable and delicious treats, you’ll want to keep them fresh for as long as possible. Here’s how you can store your Santa Hat Mini Cheesecakes:

Refrigeration is Key:

• The best way to keep the flavors intact and maintain that perfect texture is by storing your mini cheesecakes in the refrigerator.
• Place them in an airtight container or cover them tightly with plastic wrap to prevent any unwanted odors from affecting the taste.

FAQS

CAN I MAKE THESE CUTE DESSERTS IN ADVANCE FOR A HOLIDAY PARTY?

Absolutely! These mini cheesecakes are great for preparing ahead. 

Just be sure to store them in the fridge until it’s time to dazzle your guests. I also like leaving off the toppings till serving as well.

The flavors actually tend to meld and get even better after a little chill time.

DO I HAVE TO USE THE PROTEIN POWDER IN THIS RECIPE?

This recipe was created to be a high protein alternative to traditional cheesecake. I would not recommend removing the protein powder as it may change the consistency.

DO I ACTUALLY HAVE TO LEAVE THE CHEESECAKES IN THE FRIDGE OVERNIGHT?

I do strongly recommend leaving them to cool overnight to set. However you can try them after 4 hours of setting time.

Other Treats To Try Over The Holiday Season!

• Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
• Christmas Sugar Cookie Fudge Recipe
• Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chewy Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
• Soft And Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
• Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Crinkle Cookies
• Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars

IF YOU THIS DELICIOUS HOLIDAY TREAT PLEASE LEAVE IT A COMMENT IN THE COMMENT SECTION AND STAR RATING. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN PIN THIS RECIPE ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING @basicswithbails and #basicswithbails