Blueberry Lemon No Bake Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients:
Crust:
1 1/2 Cups Chocolate Sandwich Cookie Crumbs (about 12 cookies)
3 Tbsp Butter - Melted
1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
Pinch of Salt

Filling:
2 - 8 oz Packages of Neufchatel Cheese (can substitute cream cheese) - Room Temp
1 - 5.3 oz Greek Yogurt - Pour out excess liquid
3 Tbsp Honey
2 Tbsp Vanilla
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tbsp Lemon Zest
1/4 Cup Confectioners Sugar

Blueberry Topping:
18 oz. Fresh Blueberries (can be made with frozen)
6 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice (about 1 1/2 lemons)
Pinch of Salt
1 Tbsp Lemon Zest
1 Tsp Grated Ginger

In a food processor add the sandwich cookies, butter, coconut oil and salt.  Pulse until turned into crumbs, like a wet sand.

Place mini muffin wrappers in the muffin pan. Take a tsp of the cookie crumb mixture and place in each of the wrappers. (this should be enough crumbs for 48 muffins but might need a few more cookies if you come up short).  Press down to firmly pack the crumbs into the bottom of the tray and come slightly up the sides.  Place in refrigerator (or freezer) for at least 1/2 hour.

Using a stand or hand mixer, add in the cream cheese, yogurt, honey, vanilla, salt, lemon zest and confectioners sugar.  Start on low to combine everything then turn it up to whip everything until it's light and airy, about 2-3 minutes.  Taste for seasoning, you may need a bit more sugar or lemon or even salt.

Take a small ice cream scoop (the size used to make cookies, about 1") and scoop the filling into the muffin tins.  Smooth out the filling and carve a slight indentation in the center to form a small well to hold the topping.

Place the muffin tins back in the fridge to set up.

While the filling is setting up, start on the blueberry topping.  Pick through the blueberries to make sure there are no stems or bad berries.  Rinse the blueberries and then place in a pan with lemon juice, salt, lemon zest and ginger.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the blueberries have become thick, almost like a jam.

Pour blueberries into a bowl and stir occasionally, allowing to cool completely.  When cooled, scoop about 1 tsp of the blueberry topping onto each cheesecake bite and place back into the fridge for at least 2 hours.

When ready to serve garnish with lemon zest.

Enjoy!  #Cheftainment

* To make these slightly healthier, I use coconut oil in the crust and neufchatel cheese in the filling. It's essentially cream cheese but sort of healthier, you honestly can't taste the difference. I also use Greek yogurt where other recipes call for cream. Again, slightly healthier but also helps keep the filling firmed up and not as loose. As for the topping, you can use cherries, peaches, whatever you want to make it delicious.

Double Stuffed Oreo Cookies

1 pkg Devils Food Cake Mix

2 Eggs

¾ Cup Vegetable Shortening

½ tsp Salt

1 tsp Espresso Powder

8 oz pkg Cream Cheese – room temp

½ cup Butter – room temp

2 tsp vanilla

2 cup Powdered Sugar

In a mixing bowl add the cake mix, eggs, shortening, salt and espresso powder and mix about 2 minutes until everything is combined. It will look like a fudge consistency.

Take a cookie scooper or 2 teaspoons and make the cookie balls.  Place them on a cookie sheet lined w/ parchment paper.  I used a cookie scooper and they ended up being too big so maybe cut it in ½.  Flatten out cookies.

Place cookies in a 350 degree oven for 7-10 minutes.  (Mine took 9 minutes).  Place on a cooling rack for at least ½ hour.

In a bowl combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and 2 cups of powdered sugar.  Mix to combine.

Spoon frosting onto the cookie and place the other cookie on top.  Enjoy.

Original version of recipe from:

http://www.thepinkapronblog.com/cooking/homemade-oreo-cookies

Peanut Butter / Fudge / Marshmallow / Caramel Candy

INGREDIENTS

PIE CRUST:

25 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies

4 tablespoon butter, melted

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE:

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 stick butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

CARAMEL:

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup corn syrup

1/4 cup whipping cream

1/2 stick butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

MARSHMALLOWS:

½ bag mini marshmallows

CHOCOLATE FUDGE:

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

4 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp brewed / cooled coffee

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a food processor, break up the cookies & butter into small pieces and press into a buttered 9-by-9-inch baking pan. Bake for 11 minutes. 

For the peanut butter fudge: Put the confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, whipping cream and salt. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes and remove from the heat. Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla. Pour the mixture over the confectioners' sugar and mix. Spoon the mixture into the cookie pie crust until it is completely covered. 

For the caramel: In a small saucepan, combine the heavy cream, brown sugar, granulated sugar, corn syrup, whipping cream, butter and salt. Heat over low heat until the butter is completely melted. Gradually increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Continue to wisk until the temperature on a candy thermometer reads 250 degrees F. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla and pour over the peanut butter fudge. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, about 7-10 minutes until it forms a loose ball and pulls away from the sides.

For the marshmallows:  Sprinkle the marshmallows over the caramel layer evenly.

For the chocolate fudge: Put the confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the cream, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes and remove from the heat. Stir in the chocolate, coffee and vanilla until all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture over the confectioners' sugar. Beat with an electric mixer for 3 to 4 minutes until very smooth. Spread evenly over the marshmallow layer with a spatula. 

 Cool for about 30 minutes at room temperature for 30 minutes and then cool in fridge for about an hour. Then cut into 1” squares and serve.