August is already knocking at the door, this year is flying by. But before a new month starts, there’s always the excitement of the last Monday of the month, with Reveal Day of The Secret Recipe Club. For those who are new to this concept, bloggers are paired in secret, have a few weeks to stalk their assigned site, and everyone in the club blogs about their recipe on the exact same day and time. Nothing cooler than that, you must admit… This month I was paired with Colie’s Kitchen. Nicole, who hosts the site, is “a full-time college student, with a full-time life of organized chaos.” Ha! I can totally relate… She is married and a “bonus mom”, what a great expression, much better than step mom, I guess I can relate to that too. I had quite a few options selected as possibilities for my assignment, like her Lasagna Rolls, her Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins (great idea!), her Oh My God Macaroon Pie, and her Cauliflower Cheddar Fritters. But, as is often the case with The Secret Recipe, I took the sweet path, and ended up with these super cute single bite (ok, a couple of bites) desserts…
MINI CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE BITES
(from Colie’s Kitchen)
3 Packages of Neufchatel, softened
1 + 1/4 cups sugar
1 (8 ounce) container of dairy sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 eggs
28 Oreo cookies halves, removing the cream center
28 cupcake tins/liners
Heat oven to 300 degrees F.
Beat cream cheese and sugar until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla and beat until fully mixed.
Beat in cocoa and flour. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until well blended.
Remove Oreo filling with a butter knife and add one half of a Oreo to each cupcake tin. Fill each tin with one large spoon full of cheesecake filling until you have filled all 28 then go back and top off each tin with any extra filling.
Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a rack.
Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours. Store covered in refrigerator or in the freezer.
ENJOY!
to print the recipe, click here
Comments: I cannot tell you how much fun I had making this recipe! The toughest part was discarding the filling of the Oreo cookies. Part of me wanted to throw caution to the wind and behave like my former self of decades ago: shamelessly open the Oreos, scrape them clean, and try to sneak the cookie halves to the trash can without my Mom realizing. That never had a happy ending. At most, I could get by with a couple of cookies, then pay a price for my behavior. Waste not. Ever. Do you know how many kids in the world went to bed hungry last night? Apparently, I did not. (sigh)
The idea of using Oreos as a base for these cheesecake bites is a strike of genius! Perfect size for cupcake liners. Because the recipe made so many and I only have one muffin baking pan, I got the disposable aluminum pans at the grocery store, and was quite pleased by how well they worked. No difference in quality of baking, although in the name of full disclosure, I confess that I dropped one of the disposable pans while taking them out of the oven. Huge big mess, coupled with language even more colorful than the cupcake liners. I am glad there are no hidden cameras in our home…
If you follow my blog, you know that I never add the caloric content of any of my recipes for the simple reason that I don’t pay attention to it. But, since Nicole provided that info, I will share it with you: one of these babies has only 134 calories, which, as far as dessert is concerned, sounds pretty moderate to me. Keep in mind this interesting linear fit, though. It can be cruel to your waistline.
Nicole, thanks for such a cute recipe that was very appreciated by our colleagues at the department… I hope you had as much fun as I did with my assignment this month.
As usual, if any of my readers would like to see all assignments for my group, click on the blue amphibian at the end of this post, and enjoy the ride through the blogosphere…
ONE YEAR AGO: Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Grated Tomato Sauce
TWO YEARS AGO: A Taste of Yellow to Honor Barbara
THREE YEARS AGO: Gratin of Beefsteak Tomatoes
FOUR YEARS AGO: Tour de France Final Stage: PARIS
FIVE YEARS AGO: Snickerdoodles with a Twist
Bewitching Kitchen 
These would be so much fun to make and share during the holiday season. I think I’ll have to start practicing now though 😉
LikeLike
Agree, they would be wonderful for holiday season, you could make some regular cheesecakes, some chocolate, add strawberries… imagine how cute they would look!
LikeLike
You CAN buy the oreo cookies without the filling, I’ve heard. 🙂 A wonderful recipe. Kudos to both you and Colie.
I make a vanilla version of these mini cheesecakes using ‘Nilla Wafers as the base. A perfect 2 bites. I’ve been meaning to dig out the recipe to make a batch.
LikeLike
Nilla Wafers, that is also a great idea! I never noticed the naked Oreos for sale, but I must confess that I don’t even go through the cookie aisle in the grocery store, we never get any. Savory crackers, yes, but cookies, never.
LikeLike
I love the bonus mom idea! I also love these little cheesecakes.
LikeLike
Bonus mom… perfect!
LikeLike
Thanks for working in my kitchen this month!! I hope you enjoyed the mini cheesecake bites as much as I love them. Like you it’s all I can do to throw out the Oreo centers, but I do it anyway…. and cry a little tear as I do it!! Thanks again!! 😉
LikeLike
Glad you liked the post, Nicole! I also shed a respectful tear at each cookie that was so deeply abused. But it was for a good cause, as you know so well!
LikeLike
Oh your calorie graph made me laugh! What an utterly perfect idea to use whole cookies as the base of the bites, I will most definitely be filing that away for later! Great pick this month.
LikeLike
You know how it goes… I was making a graphic at work, one thing led to another…. 😉
LikeLike
I love this idea for a dessert, especially using the Oreo cookies for the base. Only problem I see with these, despite the seemingly moderate calorie count, is that I would never be able to stop at just one!!
Sue
LikeLike
Restraint is a difficult quality to master…. but it builds character 😉
LikeLike
Hmmmm, I wonder if we could just put a whole oreo into the bottom of the cupcake paper. I might just have to try that. Great pick this month.
LikeLike
Come to think of it, I think it could be nice to leave the filling and just remove one of the halves? I think that the whole Oreo could be too tall for the cheesecake part to form a nice layer. But, it is definitely worth considering the idea…. 😉
LikeLike
Ha, I love that graph! These sound fabulous. Happy reveal day!
LikeLike
Thanks, Becky! I thought the graph was a bit of an eye-opener 😉
LikeLike
Fantastic idea using the Oreo cookie as the crust, but why must you do away with the cream filling and not use the entire cookie? Looks like you might have a little wiggle room with the cupcake liner. Maybe not. In any case, these sound wonderful!!!
LikeLike
Oh, for some reason your reply went straight to the spam folder, glad I checked that folder today….
yes, it is definitely worth exploring the possibility of using the whole Oreo and enjoying it, filling and all….. double deliciousness ;0-)))
LikeLike
Perfect portion control for a delicious sounding cheesecake. Despite the graph, though, I’d probably mindlessly eat one after another until I’d consumed over 1000 calories in dessert alone…no self control! Great pick this month 🙂
LikeLike
They are quite irresistible… it broke my heart when I lost 6 of them to the oven door and the kitchen floor, barely missing the rug. Drama follows me.
LikeLike
LOOK at those little beauties Sally – they look amazing and are a perfect SRC pick for this month too! Such lovely cake cases and cakes, fabulous! Karen
LikeLike
Thanks, Karen! Those were very well received in our department, little morsels of sweetness…
LikeLike
Wait, what? You didn’t lick the Oreos’ filling? What a waste Sally! Just kidding 😉
Sounds like you had blast making these cheesecake bites. What’s better than have fun in the kitchen, right?
LikeLike
You are making tricky questions today. I confess. I did lick two cookies clean. I could get by with only one, but I like even numbers, so for good measure I licked a second one. But I did not use the leftovers for the dessert, I tossed them. You know, I am a food blogger by night, but microbiologist by day. 😉
LikeLike
Looks like a great recipe. I love both mini desserts and cheesecake. 🙂
LikeLike
You and me both! 😉
LikeLike
2 things:
1. I would be tempted to put the whole cookie in the bottom. Cheesecake on top. All is well. Yes?
2. Nabisco sells a package of chocolate wafers that is like a thin oreo without the filling. Our stores carry them near the ice cream toppings (why, I don’t know), so check there if you can’t find them with the other cookies.
Great SRC pick!
LikeLike
I will definitely look for those chocolate wafers…. I rather not be tempted by Oreo fillings 😉
LikeLike
These mini cheesecakes sound wonderful, calorie graph or not I would have a problem just eating one.
LikeLike
Hard to stop at 139….. I fully agree… 😉
LikeLike
These look so good – and I love the fact that if you only eat one that the calories aren’t too bad. And graph, smaph, I’d go for 6 of them regardless of the calories. I went to a birthday party recently and the main cake served had nuts in it, but they also served lots and lots of smallish cupcakes. I’m allergic to nuts, so I ate 7 cupcakes instead.
LikeLike
Oh, that is funny…. seven cupcakes! that is some accomplishment! 😉
LikeLike
Haha I love your graph!! I’d be all the way at the top— I have no control when it comes to desserts. 😉 These sound yummy!!!
LikeLike
That graph is very enlightening… 😉
LikeLike
Or… you could have bought a second package of Oreo cookies and made Double Stuffed… just sayin’ =) Great post Sally!
LikeLike
Oh, yeah… let’s go Double Stuffed! I shall re-do that graphic, though… 😉
LikeLike
I love cheesecake and mini cheesecake is even better! I don’t put the calorie count on mine too – love your graph! I had your lovely blog this month and really enjoyed looking round. Your butterscotch brownies went down a real treat. Happy reveal day!
LikeLike
Great to see you here! Those butterscotch brownies were really delicious, I love anything with butterscotch flavor!
Happy Reveal Day to you too!
LikeLike
I am so up to the task of removing filling from Oreos!
LikeLike
Well, I will definitely invite you over before I make another batch…. 😉
LikeLike
I wouldn’t be able to stop at just one! Happy Reveal Day!!
LikeLike
Happy Reveal Day to you too! It is true that having just one requires a lot of will power!
LikeLike
Great choice for this month’s recipe, Sally. I once made a similar cheesecake that used vanilla wafers as the base I like yours better and not just because of the Oreos. I’ll vote for chocolate every time. 🙂
LikeLike
Chocolate is a natural winner…. although I must say butterscotch flavor fights for the spotlight… as well as Nutella… and caramel 😉
LikeLike
these mini cheesecakes are just so cute! perfect for my afternoon treat when my sugar cravings hit.. love it!
LikeLike
And, keep in mind Nicole says they freeze very well, so you can always bake a batch and save for days to come!
LikeLike
Wonderful 🙂 how do you get involved in this… I’d love to do it!!! Liz x
LikeLike
Liz, you can go to the site secretrecipe.com, and on the top banner there is a link “JOIN SRC”
now, keep in mind there are some requirements (blog needs an index, a minimum number of recipes etc) – and the popularity of the group grew so much that there is a big waiting list to join. But, it’s so much fun, the earlier you submit your request, the earlier you can play 😉
LikeLike
Thanks Sally, I tried, but it didn’t come up 😦 do you could you copy the direct link for me? Thanks… Liz x
LikeLike
here we go…
http://secretrecipeclub.com/join-src/
let me know if you have troubles, I can always get in touch with you by email and put you in contact with the moderators directly
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
Sally, these are so darn cute! Sucha great dessert to take to a party or a picnic. I’m printing this up right now. I totally want to join that secret recipe club…it sounds like so much fun! Is it a closed group, or can anyone join? ❤
LikeLike
It would be awesome if you joined! you can do it by visiting this link
http://secretrecipeclub.com/join-src/
there is a long waiting list, but…. if you hang in there, at some point you will become a member!
LikeLike
Awesome! Thank you so much…. I’ll sit and wait patiently 🙂
LikeLike
Such a funny and easy to understand graph. For those who sometimes are worried about calories and nutritional value, you can check it on http://happyforks.com/analyzer. When we replace sugar to stevia or erythitrol, we can take another one cheescake bite and don’t feel guilty.
LikeLike
Thanks for the link! I will stop by and play with it tonight….
LikeLike
Cheesecake is one of my all time favorites! Your mini cheesecakes look so delicious, I am afraid I could eat far more than 6 bits, so you need to add to your chart! 🙂
did you see my recent post; Skirt Steak Tacos
LikeLike
You realize you could break the thousand calorie mark, right? 😉
LikeLike
Yum! These look absolutely delicious. Great pick this month!
LikeLike
Thanks, Tara!
LikeLike
oh my goodnesss. Wow! I love everything about these little bites especially the fact they are mini and so I can eat more than normal- right? LOL! No seriously great combo with the chocolate and it looks perfectly baked
LikeLike
They turned out delicious, and with just the right amount of decadence! 😉
LikeLike
I love individual cakes of almost any sort, but these are so special with their Oreo base. Colorful language…you, Sally? say it ain’t so! 😉
LikeLike
Mmmmm….. my son would absolutely ADORE those. I am definitely saving these to give a try – soon!! Great SRC pick this month!!
LikeLike
I adore chocolate-cheesecake! Your colleagues are so lucky!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Chef Ceaser.
LikeLike