Description
These Snow Globe Cheesecake Bites with Cookie Crust are adorable mini cheesecakes topped with cute fondant snowmen and enclosed in clear gelatin domes to resemble festive snow globes. With a buttery cookie crust base, creamy cheesecake filling, and sparkling sugar ‘snow,’ these bite-sized treats make a fun and elegant dessert for holiday parties or winter celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Crust
- 1 cup crushed graham crackers or vanilla wafer cookies
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
Cheesecake Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- â…“ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp sour cream
Gelatin Domes
- Clear gelatin sheets or powder, prepared according to package instructions
Decorations
- White fondant
- Orange fondant
- Black fondant
- Edible glitter or sugar crystals (optional, for snow effect)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Crust: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a mini muffin tin with paper liners. In a bowl, mix the crushed cookies, melted butter, and sugar until well combined. Press about 1 teaspoon of this mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup to form the crust layer.
- Bake the Crust: Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake the crusts for 5 minutes. Once baked, remove from the oven and let the crusts cool completely before adding the filling.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth and creamy using an electric mixer. Add the vanilla extract, sour cream, and egg, then mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Fill and Bake Cheesecakes: Spoon the cheesecake filling over the cooled crusts, filling each cup about ¾ full. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the centers are set but still slightly jiggly. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Chill the Cheesecakes: After cooling, refrigerate the mini cheesecakes for at least 2 hours to fully chill and firm up before decorating.
- Create the Gelatin Domes: Prepare the clear gelatin according to the package instructions. Pour the gel into silicone half-sphere molds to form clear domes and let them set completely in the refrigerator until firm.
- Make the Fondant Snowmen: Roll the white fondant into small balls to form the snowman’s body and head. Use small pieces of black fondant to create eyes and buttons, and orange fondant for the carrot nose. Assemble and decorate each snowman as desired and set them aside to harden slightly.
- Assemble the Snow Globe Cheesecake Bites: Carefully remove the chilled mini cheesecakes from the muffin tin. Place a fondant snowman on top of each cheesecake. Sprinkle a little edible glitter or sugar crystals around the snowman to simulate sparkling snow.
- Cover with Gelatin Domes: Gently place a prepared gelatin dome over each cheesecake and fondant snowman, ensuring the snowman is fully enclosed within the dome. Chill until ready to serve, keeping the gelatin domes intact and clear for the best visual effect.
Notes
- You can substitute vanilla wafer cookies for graham crackers to alter the flavor of the crust.
- Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened for a smooth cheesecake filling.
- Be gentle when placing the gelatin domes to avoid cracking.
- These bites are best served chilled and consumed the same day for optimal gelatin clarity.
- Use silicone molds for easy removal of gelatin domes.
