Enjoy these Cheesecake Bites as a festive treat for the holidays; they’re sweet, creamy and delicious.

To start, bake the cheesecake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside for an additional hour without opening the oven door.

Remove the cheesecake and allow it to cool in the refrigerator. Next, in a large sauté pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced pears and halved grapes, sautéing for 3 minutes. Stir in brown sugar, honey and vanilla extract, cooking until the mixture reaches a desired syrupy consistency.

Allow the pear and grape garnish to cool to room temperature. Next, cut the chilled cheesecake into 30 pieces.

Generously top each piece with the pear and grape garnish, distributing the flavorful syrup over the cheesecake.

These cheesecake bites are perfect for special occasions or as a sweet ending to any meal. This cheesecake bite recipe is sure to become a favorite.

Prep Time:  20 minutes   |    Cook Time:  2 hours, 20 minutes   |    Total Time:  2 hours, 40 minutes   |    Servings:  10 (3 pieces per serving)

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 2 cups crushed  Benton  Graham Crackers
• 1/3 cup  Baker's Corner  Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup  Countryside Creamery  Unsalted Butter, melted

Cheesecake:

• 2 8-ounce packages  Happy Farms  Cream Cheese, room temperature
• 15 ounces  Happy Farms Preferred  Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
• 4  Goldhen  Large Eggs
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1 teaspoon  Stonemill  Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/2 cups  Baker's Corner  Granulated Sugar
• 1/4 cup  Baker's Corner  All Purpose Flour
• 16 ounces  Friendly Farms  Sour Cream
• 1/4 cup  Countryside Creamery  Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled

Pear and Grape Garnish:

• 2 tablespoons  Countryside Creamery  Unsalted Butter
• 3 pears, diced
• 1 cup red grapes, halved
• 1 cup green grapes, halved
• 1 grapefruit, zested
• 1 teaspoon  Stonemill  Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 teaspoon  Stonemill  Cinnamon
• 3/4 cup  San Zenone  Bianco*

*These are Seasonal items that are only in stores for a limited time and may no longer be available.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Line a 18 x 13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. For the crust: In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Press mixture into baking sheet. Reserve.
4. For the cheesecake: Cream together cream cheese and ricotta until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well combined. Pour on top of crust and bake for 1 hour.
5. Turn off oven and leave in oven for 1 hour. Do not open oven. Remove and allow to cool in refrigerator.
6. For the pear and grape garnish: In a large sauté pan, melt butter.
7. Add pears and grapes and sauté for 3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook until desired syrupy consistency is reached.
8. Allow to cool to room temperature. Reserve.
9. Cut cheesecake into 30 pieces and plate. Top with garnish.

Recipe Courtesy of Chef Alyssa, ALDI Test Kitchen