Holiday Petite Cheesecakes Recipe

Ingredients

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 teaspoons Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate mini-morsels

18 vanilla wafers

1 (16-ounce) carton commercial sour cream

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mandarin orange slices

Green and red maraschino cherries

Semisweet chocolate mini-morsels

Milk chocolate

Cooking Directions

Beat cream cheese in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Divide mixture into 3 portions. Add Grand Marnier to first portion, mixing well. Add 1/4 cup chocolate mini-morsels to second portion, mixing well. Keep third portion plain. Place a vanilla wafer in each paper-lined muffin cup, spoon cream cheese mixture over wafers, filling cups three-fourths full. (Keep flavors separate.)

Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Combine sour cream, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, mix well. Place a heaping tablespoon of sour cream mixture over cheesecakes as soon as they are removed from oven. Spread mixture to edges. Bake at 375° for an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until topping is set. Leave in muffin pans, and refrigerate overnight. Garnish with orange slices, cherries, and chocolate mini-morsels, if desired.

Yield: 18 Servings