Rachel and I went to DC this past weekend and the cherry blossoms are budding! There’s still nothing on the trees but you can see the buds getting ready to bloom. It’s supposedly already cherry blossom festival time around here but if you’re here now, you won’t see much. Hopefully in the next couple weeks, it’ll really start to bloom and the tidal basin area will be full of pretty pink flowers!
If you come to DC, I highly recommend seeing the monuments at night. This has been something I’ve always wanted to do but never got around to it. Really, just didn’t want to sit in traffic to go to DC since I already work there. Rachel has always wanted to do a nighttime monument tour so since she was in town, we decided to do it Saturday night. It was so awesome. It’s probably the best time to see monuments, honestly. They’re all lit up and you get to see much more detail than in the daylight. At first I thought it was going to be scary roaming the grounds at night but it’s actually not bad. There are still a lot of people out around sunset and beyond. Just watch your surroundings and go with a friend and you’ll be fine :) we did a lot of walking and I think I earned a couple blisters from that walk! It was definitely worth it though :)
How cute are these mini cheesecake nests?! The perfect little treat for Easter! I’m obsessed with the chocolate speckled eggs. I get a bag each year around Easter time. I have a bowl sitting on our ottoman right now and I’ve almost gotten to the bottom of the bowl. I’m thinking I’m going to have to get another bag before Easter comes and goes!
These mini cheesecake nests are super easy to make and you can get the kiddos to come help you decorate them after you’re done! I think the toasted coconut for the ‘nest’ is simply adorable.
These are perfect for Easter and a great activity to do with the kids!
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3: 8 ounce packages of cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Speckled chocolate eggs
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line one 12-cup muffin pan completely with muffin liners and line half of a second 12-cup muffin pan with muffin liners so you have 12 lined cups in one muffin pan and 6 lined cups in the other muffin pan.
- In a medium bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and melted butter. Evenly divide mixture amongst the muffin cups and gently press into the bottoms of the muffin cups.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese, vanilla, and remaining sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low until just incorporated.
- Spoon mixture over the crusts.
- Bake 25-30 minutes, or until the centers are just set. Cool completely then refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Top each cheesecake with toasted coconut flakes and chocolate eggs.
Recipe from Philadelphia Cream Cheese from the Cooking Light magazine
*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
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You guys looked like you had so much fun and ate so much good food judging by IG! :)
And these nests? I CAN’T HANDLE THE CUTE. Cheesecake is my fav, but CUTE cheesecake? Dead. Pinned!
These are just too cute!
The sore feet were totally worth it! Best viewing of the monuments ever… and great company. ;) These cheesecakes are seriously the cutest!! The kids would LOVE them!
What a nice Easter treat!
Adorable!!! Love these fun Easter-y spring desserts!!
Such a fun Easter themed dessert. Well, I would eat them anytime of year. Too cute!
How cuuuuute! And my sister was in DC this weekend, too. The weather looked absolutely gorgeous. Hope you had a great time!
eeee these are so adorable! i love all things cheesecake AND the cadbury mini eggs are definitely my downfall this time of year!
These mini cheesecake are too adorable! Swoon!
These are so darling! I love how festive they are!
This may be silly but in Step 2 I’m just missing that the graham crackers are supposed to be in the mixture for the crusts, right?
Ah yeah, I missed adding the graham cracker crumbs! Thanks! I edited the recipe :)
Cute? Beyond cute & these treats look soon very tasty!!
these are absolutely adorable Julie!
These little cheesecakes are adorable!
these look so delicious, omg, I love them!
Julie, these mini cheesecakes are equal parts adorable and delicious! I absolutely adore the little birds nests you made from them!
These are so darn CUTE Julie! The first time I saw the monuments was at night, and I’ve never ever forgotten it. What a great trip!
I love these, Julie!!!
Hi Julie, I really enjoy all of your recipes and these cheesecakes are adorable. For planning purposes, you say to line two 12-cup muffin pans, however, the recipe states it serves 18. Again, I am only asking for planning purposes. Thanks for your recipes.
Hi Glenna, thanks for the message. I’m glad you enjoy all my recipes. Thanks for pointing out the mistake. I should probably clarify that you should line a full 12-cup muffin pan and then line a second 12-cup muffin pan but only half of it. I’ll go on and correct that now so there is no confusion. Hope you enjoy!
How adorable! Perfect for Spring!!
These little cheesecakes look so cute! I have got to try them! :)
love these Julie! everyone’s said it already but for reals, these are beyond cute!
These are so cute!! And perfect for Easter!
Beyond cute and perfect for Easter, Julie! Loving your simple but very effective styling and photography here. So inviting for spring! Thank you for sharing and enjoy the rest of your week! P.S. Yes, monument viewing at night is best!
Just made these for Easter. Total disaster. Anyone planning on making these, start checking around 8 minutes. I rotated my pans around 15 minutes and they were already set, but idiot I am I trusted the recipe and ended up with cracked, sunken, over baked junk. Not blaming blogger, but the recipe itself.
Hi Jennifer – so sorry they didn’t turn out for you. I just can’t think of a reason why they’d be that way. At 8 minutes there is no way it would be done at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Did you fill them up almost all the way? If they were sunken, it’s because the middle wasn’t cooked so that’s why they sank. The batter is slightly thicker than other cheesecake recipes; was yours that way? Anyway, that’s a bummer they didn’t work out for you.
So cute!!!
These are ADORABLE, and definitely making their way to my Easter menu!!
Send me all recipes to my in box. Thank-you