Introduction

These Gnome Mini Cheesecakes are a delightful no-bake Christmas treat that combines creamy cheesecake with festive decorations. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they bring a playful twist to a classic dessert with charming strawberry gnome hats.

The image shows small round cheesecakes on a white plate with a crumbly brown base and smooth pale yellow cheesecake layer above it. Each is topped with a thick ring of white whipped cream, shaped like a beard, and a red strawberry cut in half placed upside down like a hat on top of the cream. A small round beige candy or nut is placed just below the strawberry hat as a nose. There are extra whole strawberries dusted with powdered sugar around the cheesecakes, and more powdered sugar lightly covers the cheesecakes and the plate on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

For the Crust:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

For the Cheesecake Filling:

16 oz (2 blocks) cream cheese, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

Decoration:

Fresh strawberries (1 per cheesecake)
Whipped cream (store-bought or homemade)
Mini white chocolate chips or small candy pearls (for noses)
Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cupcake liners or reusable silicone molds to make removal easy.
Step 2: In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter until it resembles wet sand. Press about 1 tablespoon into each liner, then bake for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Step 3: Beat the softened cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla, mixing until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time on low speed, then mix in sour cream or Greek yogurt gently.
Step 4: Fill each muffin cup about ¾ full with the cheesecake batter. Bake for 18–20 minutes until centers are set but slightly jiggly. Cool in the oven with the door open for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Step 5: Wash and hull strawberries, trimming the tops flat. Remove cheesecakes from liners and top each with whipped cream to form a beard. Place a strawberry upside down as the gnome hat, add a dot of whipped cream at the tip, and press a mini white chocolate chip or candy pearl below as a nose.
Step 6: Dust with powdered sugar for a snowy effect and arrange on a festive platter for a charming holiday display.

Tips & Variations

Use a piping bag with a small round or star tip to neatly pipe whipped cream beards and hat details for a polished look.
For a tangier flavor, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream in the filling.
Mini cheesecake pans with removable bottoms can elevate the presentation by allowing clean removal without liners.

Storage

Store these mini cheesecakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Because of the fresh strawberries and whipped cream, they are best enjoyed fresh. If needed, bring to room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

How to Serve

The image shows small layered cheesecake desserts shaped like gnome faces on a white plate, placed on a white marbled surface. Each dessert has three layers: a bottom crumbly light brown base, a thick creamy pale yellow cheesecake middle layer, and a top decoration of white whipped cream shaped like a beard. On top of the whipped cream, there is a whole red strawberry standing upright like a hat, dusted with white powdered sugar. A small round beige candy is placed between the whipped cream and strawberry, resembling a nose. Around the desserts, there are fresh whole strawberries and pieces of green pine leaves for decoration. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these cheesecakes ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the cheesecakes a day in advance and decorate just before serving to keep the strawberries fresh and whipped cream looking pristine.

Can I freeze the mini cheesecakes?

Freezing is possible but not recommended due to the whipped cream and strawberries, which can lose texture. If you freeze them, remove decoration, freeze cheesecakes wrapped tightly, and thaw in the refrigerator overnight before adding fresh toppings.