This decadent eggnog cheesecake is life in my opinion. This is the dessert we have every year after Christmas dinner, but I haven’t seen a lot of eggnog in the stores yet, so I’m a little concerned. COVID, don’t you dare take eggnog cheesecake from me.

However, I wanted to make this dish a little more group setting friendly. Less work for you at the moment, when it’s all done ahead of time. You do deserve to not be running around when you’re entertaining friends and/or family during the holidays.

If you’re looking for cheesy and decadent but more on the savoury side, check out Lynn’s cranberry cream cheese dip. However, if you’re looking for sweetness, these eggnog cheesecake bites are for you. And you’ll be a start at your next gathering!

*This recipe makes 24 mini cheesecakes

For the eggnog cheesecake filling:

• 24 ounces of cream cheese, softened (dairy or dairy-free)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1 cup eggnog (or oat nog)
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• Opt: 1 tbsp rum

For the cheesecake crust:

• 2-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Crust directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line your muffin tins with liners. This will need to be done in batches.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and nutmeg in a small bowl. Press the mixture into the bottoms of the lined muffin tins. Bake for 7 minutes and set aside to cool.

Eggnog Filling Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, flour until well-combined. Make sure to beat the cream cheese on a low speed to keep air from getting into the batter. This helps prevent cracks in your cheesecake. Scrape down the sides and add the eggnog & nutmeg and mix at low speed until well-combined.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating slowly and scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition.

Divide the eggnog cheesecake filling amongst the graham cracker-lined muffin tins.

For the whipped topping:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
• 3 tbsp eggnog (or oat nog)
• 10 tbsp powdered sugar

Topping Directions:

Combine whip cream, eggnog, and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl and whip at a high speed until stiff peaks form. Decorate each mini cheesecake with the whipped topping, and dust over some additional nutmeg.

Dessert isn’t always high on my list

I am more of a savoury kind of person, and when I do opt for something sweet, it tends to be a chocolate chip cookie or something chocolate and peanut butter combo for that salty and sweet kick. For as long as I can remember though, I have loved cheesecake. Rarely do we get dessert when we’re out at a restaurant, but I think it was tap and barrel doing a set menu this past Spring and I opted in. It was a 3-course menu – appetizer, main and dessert – and there was a cheesecake option. I was so full, but I couldn’t resist getting it anyway.

I am pretty certain Jason almost had to piggyback me home because I was so full of tacos and cheesecake, but it was so worth it. Could they have given smaller slices? Heck yes. Would it still have been worth it? Absolutely!

Decadent and Dreamy Eggnog Cheesecake

Cheesecake seems to be a tradition in my family, for all major holidays. Thanksgiving is always a good old-fashioned pumpkin cheesecake and Christmas is always eggnog cheesecake. I feel like we always do cheesecake for Easter as well, but I can’t recall if it’s always the same or not. I think we did a lemon cheesecake previously and that was delicious. And then COVID happened, and we haven’t had it since.

This eggnog cheesecake, whether in traditional cheesecake form or mini-form, is deliciously decadent. While it’s a cold dessert, it still feels so cozy and warm. Because this cheesecake is so decadent, you only need a small amount, which is why I think this works so well in mini form.

I wonder if I can get my inlaws on board. Maybe I’ll just show up one day to a family event with some cheesecake. Not Passover obviously – you can’t eat anything delicious during that holiday 😉

So tell me, what is your favourite dessert to have? Or what is something your family has as a dessert staple? Or both!