Friday, March 15, 2013

Almond Cheesecake Muffins

The sister just had a birthday Wednesday! We celebrated the entire day. Actually it started the night before. She spent the night at my house and when she woke up we had coffee and Homemade Egg McMuffins. I made Turkey Lettuce Wraps for lunch. Then we moved the party to Mom and Dad’s where we had Seafood Gumbo. I surprised her with these Almond Cheesecake Muffins. I got the idea from a pin I saw on Pinterest. It was a beautiful white frosted cake covered in almond flowers with blueberry and raspberry centers. The pin turned out to be a bogus pin. It did not go to the original source, so I have no idea what kind of cake they decorated this way. But it did serve for great inspiration. I combined my cheesecake muffin recipe with the flavor of an Almond Cheesecake recipe I love. The Pinterest garnish just seemed like the logical topping on the cheesecake. They turned out so cute and delicious. I love the almond crunch in the batter and the garnish. This just may have to become a spring tradition.




Almond Cheesecake Muffins
Makes: 2 dozen

Ingredients


1 pkg. Amaretti (almond) cookies
3 (8 oz.) pkg. neufchatel cheese (1/3 less fat)
3 eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp ground allspice
2 Tbsp. amaretto (almond liqueur)
1/4 cup silvered almonds, toasted and chopped

Toppings:
Lite cool whip
Sliced almonds
Blueberries
Raspberries

Directions

Toast silvered almonds in a dry pan over medium low heat. Remove from heat when almonds are fragrant and slightly brown. Set aside to cool. Cream the cream cheese and sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla, all spice, and amaretto; beat until well mixed. 
Chop toasted almonds and fold in batter. Place 1 Amaretti cookie in paper lined cupcake pan.  Spoon mix on cookie until cup is 2/3 full.

Bake at 350° for 15 - 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Top each muffin with cool whip, a berry and decorate with a ring of sliced almonds around each berry. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.










Linking to:
Jam Hands: Recipe Sharing Mondays
Love Bakes Good Cakes: All My Bloggy Friends
Ms. enPlace: See Ya in the Gumbo
Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday Link Party
Taste and Tell Thursday
This Gal Cooks: Marvelous Mondays Link Party
Carole's Chatter: Food on Fridays-Desserts

6 comments:

  1. These are sooooooooo beautiful!!
    Really gorgeous with the "flower-like" look
    I love it :)

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  2. My mom loves almond desserts. I'll have to pass this on to her--if she hasn't clicked over here via your link already. Betting she has! I love the elegant look with the sliced almonds.
    Thank you for linking each week, Denise. I appreciate the support.

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  3. These are so cute!! I am definitely going to give these cupcakes a try! Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

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  4. Visiting from See Ya in the Gumbo at Ms en Place. I love these beautiful muffins, and they sound so delicious too!

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  5. These sound so yummy! I make mini cheesecakes with vanilla wafers - but almond sounds even better! Pinning this - so glad I found it at #GrowingCirclesHop.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Susan! I use vanilla wafers too! In fact that's how all this started. Love making mini cheesecakes. Thanks so much for visiting!

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