Valentines Day Treat #1

So the few people that subsribe to PGCCT recently received an email that said I would be sharing some recipes for sweet treats that they could make for their loved ones (or themselves) for Valentine's Day! I will be doing a few different posts with quite a few recipes that I have tried and loved, or have just made up and turned out amazing!

I found this recipe back in the summer. We were heading to someone's house for a BBQ and I HATE going to people's houses emptyhanded, so I made a delicious dessert! How does Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cupcakes sound? Pretty amazing right? Original recipe is here, and listed below!

Salted Caramel Topping

Ingredients:

~1 cup sugar

~6 tbsp salted butter, cut up into 6 pieces

~11/2 cup heavy cream

~1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Heat sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly (make sure you are using a high heat resistant rubber spatula or wooden spoon).

2. Sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a thick brown, amber-colored liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn.

3. Once sugar is completely melted, immediately add the butter. Be careful in this step because the caramel will bubble rapidly when the butter is added.

4. Stir the butter into the caramel until it is completely melted, about 2-3 minutes.

5. Very slowly, drizzle in 1/2 cup of heavy cream while stirring. Since the heavy cream is colder than the caramel, the mixture will rapidly bubble and/or splatter when added.

6. Allow the mixture to boil for 1 minute. It will rise in the pan as it boils.

7. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of salt. Allow to cool down before using.

**Make ahead tip: You can make this caramel in advance. Make sure it is covered tightly and store it for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Warm the caramel up for a few seconds before using in a recipe. This caramel is OK at room temperature for a day if you're traveling or gifting it.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cupcakes

Oreo Cookie Crust

Ingredients:

~18 whole Oreos (Double Stuf or regular)

~1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake Filling

Ingredients:

~16 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature

~3/4 cup sugar

~1/4 cup yogurt*

~2 large eggs

~1 teaspoon vanilla extract

~1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (or regular size)

~homemade salted caramel sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line two 12-count cupcake pans with 18 liners.

2. For the crust: In a food processor or blender, pulse the whole Oreos into a fine crumb. Stir the cookie crumbs and melted butter together in a medium sized bowl. Press 1 heaping Tablespoon of mixture into the bottom of each liner, see picture above for a visual. You should have enough for 16-18 cups. Bake in batches for 5 minutes and allow to slightly cool as you prepare the filling.

3. For the filling: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the sugar and yogurt and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract and mini chocolate chips.

4. Spoon batter into the crusts until nearly full. Bake each pan for 20-23 minutes. The centers will still be slightly jiggly, that's OK. The centers may also have risen up quite a bit, but they will deflate as the cheesecakes cool. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature, at least 1 hour. Transfer to the refrigerator and allow to chill for at least two hours.

5. Right before serving, top each cheesecake with salted caramel and additional chocolate chips, if desired. Cover cheesecakes tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store cheesecakes (without caramel) in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

When I made these, I didn't have a set of hand mixers or my stand mixer that I have now (thanks mom!!!), so I had to grind up my Oreos in a blender, which was harder than it sounds. I also had to mix the cream cheese in said blender.... I also accidentally added the chocolate chips INSIDE the mixture and blended. Normally that wouldn't be a problem if I were using a mixer, but the blender just grinded them up....they still tasted pretty damn delicious!

You guys have just under a week to figure out what to get your guys or gals for Valentines Day, and if I hadn't already bought Cory something, I would probably make him these (I might just make them anyways)! These cupcakes are so good, they were the hit of the BBQ we went to. You can always decorate them to fit your VDay theme by using cute heart shaped cupcake liners or even adding those conversation hearts to the top of them instead of more chocolate chips!

Enjoy, and stay tuned for more Valentine's Day recipes!!!

~S