Mint Cheesecake Bites

This is hands down one of my favorite cheesecake recipes. The mint gives it a fresh and different from your average cheesecake taste, the texture is wonderful and creamy and well, how can you go wrong with a Oreo base? You can't! This is also easy to put together and it seems pretty fool proof. Not a fussy cheesecake recipe at all. Win Win.

Anyone who really knows me, knows that I love or I am in love with cheesecake. I really have nothing negative to say about cheesecake. It is wonderful in every way. My mother in law learnt this about me early on and so way back in the day when my husband and I were first married she made this for me. I was hooked from the get go. I was excited to make it to take to a family get together we had on Christmas Day. I love the green and then serving it on the red plate just brought it all together and made it pop. Gorgeous and delicious!

Mint Cheesecake Bites





3 cups chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs (40 cookies)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
4 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese (softened)
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
6 or so drops green liquid food coloring (I just eyeballed it-I think I used 8 drops)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used milk- use what you have or what you like)
1 tsp vegetable shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cookie crumbs and butter; Press mixture into an aluminium foil lined 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Stir in peppermint extract and food coloring. Spread cream cheese mixture onto prepared crust.

Reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for 35 minutes or until mostly set. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill for 8 hrs.

Place chocolate chips and shortening in a small heavy duty resealable plastic bag; seal. Submerge bag in hot water (or melt in microwave) until chocolate melts; Knead gently until mixture is smooth. Snap a tiny hole in one corner of plastic bag; drizzle chocolate of cheesecake. Cut into squares.

Yields about 24 cheesecake bites.

ENJOY!