No-Bake S’mores Mini Cheesecakes

How to Make No-Bake S’mores Mini Cheesecakes

Ingredients for No-Bake S’mores Mini Cheesecakes:

• Graham crackers – The base layer for our cheesecakes! More on this below if you’d prefer to use a different cracker/cookie/biscuit here.
• Butter – The ‘glue’ that holds our graham cracker crust together. I prefer to use unsalted butter in all my baking – read why here.
• Semisweet chocolate – You can use dark chocolate or milk chocolate here depending on your preferred level of sweetness. I prefer to use a chopped baking chocolate bar rather than chocolate chips as chips contain ingredients that prevent them from melting smoothly. We don’t want any lumps in the filling!
• Cream cheese – Be sure to use a full-fat brick of cream cheese, such as Philadelphia brand, and never the type in tubs meant for smearing on a bagel. Ensure it’s completely at room temperature before beginning for a perfectly smooth cheesecake.
• Sugar – Just enough to sweeten our cheesecake without making it cloyingly sweet.
• Vanilla extract – For flavor.
• Heavy cream – Also at room temperature. The heavy cream helps create a silky-smooth, perfectly-set no-bake cheesecake.
• Large egg whites – At room temperature. These are the base of our marshmallow topping.
• Sugar – More sugar is a necessary component for the marshmallow, don’t reduce it.
• Cream of tartar – To help stabilize the marshmallow meringue, don’t skip it.
• More vanilla extract – Essential for flavor.
• Chocolate bar, for decoration – Traditionally, this would always be a piece of a Hershey’s bar – but you can use any chocolate bar you like. Just chop it into large, even pieces and place them on top of the torched meringue as a pretty finishing touch.

Overview of Instructions – How to Make Mini S’mores Cheesecakes:

1. Melt the chocolate. In a small heat-proof bowl, microwave the chocolate in 30-second increments until melted. Stir until smooth, then set aside to cool until just warm.
2. Prepare the pan. Spray the bottom and sides of a mini cheesecake pan with nonstick cooking spray. This is the pan used in the photographs but it’s currently out of stock, so here is an alternative! More on alternate pan options below.
3. Make the crust. Place the graham crackers in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add in the melted butter and pulse until moistened.
4. Divide the crust. Divide the mixture among the cavities of the cheesecake pan, about 1 ½ tablespoons in each. Firmly press into the bottom of each cavity. Set aside.
5. Make the cheesecake batter. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add in the vanilla and heavy cream, beating on low until combined, then increase speed to medium-high until thickened. Pour in the cooled melted chocolate and mix on low until fully combined.
6. Divide cheesecake evenly. Fill each cavity evenly. Lightly tap the pan on the countertop a few times to release any air bubbles. Using an offset spatula, smooth the tops of the cheesecakes.
7. Chill. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
8. Make the meringue topping. In a small heat-proof bowl, add the egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar. Set over a small saucepan of simmering water and whisk constantly over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, 2-3 minutes.
9. Move to mixer and whip. Transfer to an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Start beating on low speed then gradually increase to high, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add in the vanilla and beat until combined.
10. Pipe meringue on top of set cheesecakes. Remove to a piping bag fitted with a plain open tip, such as the Ateco #808. Pipe a dollop onto chilled cheesecakes.
11. Torch meringue. If desired, use a kitchen torch to lightly toast the marshmallow topping.
12. Finish with chocolate. Garnish with a piece of Hershey’s bar.
13. Serve! Return to the fridge until ready to serve.

How to Make the Best No-Bake Graham Cracker Crust

I’ve found in the past that no-bake graham cracker crusts can be super crumbly. This ratio of butter to graham crackers is perfect. The butter will solidify when chilled, holding the graham cracker together. Ensure your crust is firmly packed into each cavity of your mini cheesecake or muffin pan. The tighter the crust is, the less likely it is to crumble. A small object like a shot glass or tart tamper makes easy work of this.

You can also use pre-ground graham cracker crumbs – just mix well with the melted butter and proceed with the recipe.

Do I Have to Use Graham Crackers?

Graham crackers are the quintessentially American s’more cookie of choice, but alternatives will work just fine. You can use the same amount by weight of Teddy Grahams, digestive biscuits, vanilla wafers, Biscoff cookies, or any crunchy cookie you’d like! Biscoff cookies are a little richer than graham crackers (which are dryer), so add just enough butter until it holds together when pressed.

Tips for Making the Meringue Topping

The finishing touch for our Mini No-Bake S’mores Cheesecakes! I know asking you to make a meringue might seem intimidating, but I promise it’s super easy. Previously, readers tried using marshmallow fluff instead, and they said it just doesn’t look or taste as nice.

1. We are making a ‘Swiss meringue’. This means we’re heating the egg whites and sugar over a bain-marie (a heat-proof bowl placed over a pot of simmering water). This process slowly dissolves the sugar without scrambling the egg.
2. How to know when it’s heated enough. After a few minutes, carefully test the mixture by rubbing a little between your fingers. The mixture will be just warm to the touch. If you can no longer feel any granules, it’s ready to mix. If there’s a bit of a gritty texture, heat a little longer. Once the sugar has dissolved, move to the bowl of an electric mixer (or a mixing bowl large enough for the mixture to triple in size as it whips).
3. Whip it. Whip it good. Start low and slowly increase the speed to medium-high. You will be able to see the egg mixture change in color, texture, and volume as it turns into a beautiful, fluffy meringue. This will take a few minutes, so be patient. Once it’s thick and voluminous, mix in the vanilla.
4. How to know when it’s ready to pipe? Pull the whisk out of the mixer and turn it upside down. If the meringue bends to the side, continue mixing. If it stands straight up with a very slight bend on the end, it’s ready to pipe!

Do I Need to Torch the Meringue?

Not unless you want to. Kitchen torches are so fun to use! Torching the meringue is just for showmanship, fun, and prettiness – and a tiny bit of added texture. It also brings the complete s’mores vibe to these cheesecakes.

Is the Meringue Safe to Eat?

Because this Swiss meringue method cooks the eggs first, they are safe to eat – but if you or someone you’re serving is immune-compromised or pregnant, just use an instant-read thermometer to verify that your egg mixture has reached 160°F before removing from the bain-marie and whipping.

Do I Need A Special Pan To Make No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes?

I love my mini cheesecake pan for this recipe. Each cavity in this pan has a removable base, so you can easily pop the mini cheesecakes out of the tin, without the need for muffin liners or any fuss at all. They come out of the tin looking so perfect and beautiful. My Chicago Metallic pan (which you can see in the photos) is currently out of stock, but this alternative pan will work perfectly too.

Are All Mini Cheesecake Pans the Same Size?

During the testing process for this recipe, Team HTH learned that mini cheesecake pans are not one standard size, and most available online don’t do a great job specifying their sizes and capacities.

• My Chicago Metallic mini cheesecake pan’s cavities are almost 2″ wide at the top and hold approximately ⅓ cup liquid.
• That Chicago Metallic pan is currently out of stock, but this alternative pan has the same size cavities.
• If your pan’s cavities are larger (like many are, including some belonging to our team members), I recommend doubling the cheesecake portion of the recipe. The graham cracker base and the meringue topping will still work for either size pan as written.

How to Use Alternate Pans for Mini Cheesecakes

You can alternatively use a regular or mini muffin pan and liners:

• Using a regular-sized muffin pan with liners: This will make approximately 12 cheesecakes. Follow the recipe as written, using quality cupcake liners instead of spraying the pan with non-stick spray. Otherwise, the graham cracker crust might crumble and the cheesecake might stick when you go to remove them.
• Mini muffin tin with liners: This will make about 35 mini cheesecakes. Line the tin with foil or paper liners. Place 1 tablespoon of crust into each cavity, then use the bottom of a 1-teaspoon cookie scoop to firmly press the crust into the pan. Use the same scoop to scoop a heaping teaspoon of cheesecake filling into the cavities. You’ll need 3 Hershey’s chocolate bars for topping.

Can I Make One Large No-Bake Cheesecake Instead of Minis?

We haven’t tested this, so I can’t say for sure what size springform pan this would best work in. Instead, I highly recommend my ultra-indulgent Death by Chocolate Cheesecake recipe.

How to Store No-Bake S’mores Mini Cheesecakes

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Be sure to store flat, as the meringue topping will slide off if stored at an angle.

Can You Freeze No-Bake S’mores Mini Cheesecakes?

While we haven’t tried that, it should work just fine to freeze these un-topped mini cheesecakes. Place individual cheesecakes on a baking tray and freeze until solid, then move to an airtight container for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. Add the meringue topping once thawed.