Cheesecake with a layer of caramel over a graham cracker crust wrapped in luscious chocolate. A perfect, irresistible Valentine’s treat for your sweetheart.
We weren’t able to stop eating these decadent little bites. So creamy, smooth and delicious. I had to get them out of the house just to stop myself from eating them all.
For the last three years I’ve made Cheesecake Pops for my neighbor for her birthday. This year I wanted to change them up by adding some graham crackers. I was looking at recipes to determine the amount of crumbs to use and stumbled on the Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake Bites at Land O Lakes Recipes. The recipe was so easy, and we liked them even better than the Cheesecake Pops (which are amazing.)
I used the watermelon knife I bought this summer to cut the cheesecake. It is extra long and serrated so I didn’t have to drag the knife through the cheesecake. I just cut straight down and pulled it straight back up and then rinsed the knife under hot water before cutting the next section. (See that missing piece of cheesecake in the picture? My husband stole that corner when I turned my back to grab the camera. Irresistible!)
This recipe is a must try. It’s an elegant dessert, that’s easy to make. I was craving them for at least a week after they were gone.
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely crushed graham crackers (9 graham crackers)
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 20 caramels, unwrapped
- 2 tablespoons cream or half and half
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 (12-ounce) package (2 cups) real semi-sweet chocolate chips*
- 1/4 cup shortening
- *I used 12 ounces chopped Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Wafers
Directions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square baking pan with double thickness of aluminum foil, extending foil over ends of pan. Spray foil with no-stick cooking spray. Combine crushed graham crackers and butter in small bowl. Press onto bottom of prepared pan.
- Combine caramels and cream in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) 1 minute; stir. Continue microwaving 30 seconds; stir until smooth. Pour over crust in pan. Refrigerate while preparing cream cheese mixture.
- Combine softened cream cheese and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, beating just until combined. Stir in sour cream. Pour over caramel mixture.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until just set 2 inches from edge of pan. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Loosely cover; refrigerate at least 4 hours. (I chilled mine overnight.) Lift cheesecake from pan using foil ends. Cut into one inch squares about 49 squares. Place squares on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour before dipping in to chocolate.
- Combine chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (4 to 5 minutes). (I used a double broiler.) Dip each cheesecake square in to the chocolate; remove from the chocolate with a fork and allow excess chocolate to drip back in to the pan before placing the square back on to the parchment lined baking sheet. Let stand about 20 minutes or until chocolate is firm. Store refrigerated.
Notes
adapted from Land O Lakes
More great recipes for your Valentine:
Puff Pastry “Ravioli” Recipe with Gingersnap Mascarpone & Marionberry Sauce, Cookin’ Canuck
The Simplest Alaskan King Crab Legs and a Valentine’s Dinner Round-Up, Foodie Crush
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Strawberry Coulis, Barbara Bakes
Chocolate Cheesecake Swirled Hearts & Roses Cake with Whipped Chocolate Frosting, Phemomenon
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies, Two Peas and Their Pod
Valentine Brownies- Red Velvet Brownies With Cream Cheese Filling, Sweet Basil
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I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
Great recipe! My husband loves cheesecake and I love caramel on anything. This is perfect!
Those look wonderful! A divine treat.
Cheers,
Rosa
These are seriously my dream! Yum!
Chocolate, caramel and cheesecake . . . what could be better? Thanks.
When something I love that’s insanely decadent is turned into ‘bites’, I’m usually a happy camper because I think ‘OK, so two ‘bites’ instead of a big slice, will satisfy me without any extra time at the gym’. Ha ha, never works, I eat like a dozen before I even realize it. This is exactly what I would do to yours. Caramel, chocolate and cheesecake sounds almost as good as ‘You won a million dollars!’ – well, almost
They look amazing, Barb!
Oh…these look positively evil! So pretty, Barbara. Love all of those flavors together.
These look awesome and delicious! I’d have issues with not being able to stop eating them, too!
wow! these are very pretty with the white chocolate drizzled on top. i love chocolate and caramel. and cheesecake, of course!
PERFECT timing, I’ve been searching the Internet for a pretty Valentine candy to make, and your post today looks just like what I’ve been hunting for, thank you!!
Be still my heart.
What a beautiful creation! Perfectly sweet for Valentine’s Day…or any day.
I love your finishing touch on top, beautifully decorated.
Chocolate? Caramel? Cheesecake??? Oh my stars! This is my PERFECT dessert!! Looks wonderful!
These look amazing! A definite must try
These look so wonderful!! Sharing now
These look just lovely Barbara! What a fun Valentine’s treat!
These are lovely. Would make a great Valentine treat for someone special.
You make it look to easy, they look gorgeous and yum.
No wonder you couldn’t stop eating them… they’re cheesecake… in bitesize… covered in chocolate… YUM!!!
They look wonderful!
Ils sont trop beaux et @ croquer
Je te souhaite une bonne journée, ici les températures sont plus clémentes.
Valérie.
They look fantastic and I love graham crackers. Sadly I haven’t yet found a supply here in Australia
My mom and sister would love these!
These look devine! One of the few desserts my husband likes is cheesecake, and the bite-sized portions appeal to me…though I suppose it doesn’t matter if it’s “bite-sized” if I eat 20 of them. =)
I could seriously hurt myself with these!
Barbara, I am making these for my little girl’s teachers at school. Cheesecake and chocolate sounds like heaven.
these turned out so gorgeous! picture perfect (and delicious too I bet!)
Whoa, pop these babies in my mouth NOW! You are going to be one popular valentine with this doozy! Thanks for the link love too!!! XOXOXO
This is seriously the best thing I’ve seen online all day. I want!!
What a great little treat!
the minute my husband saw these he said “yeah, we’re making those tomorrow.” i really hope he follows through!
How adorable. I would never have thought cheesecake bites are hidden as a surprise. Love cheesecake. Wishing you an early Happy Valentine;s Day!
these are brilliant!! am trying them.. i just have to!!! i can imagine not stopping at one!!!
Just curious what did u use for the white decoration? Thanks!
Hi Mari. I used white chocolate mixed with a little shortening to make the white decoration. Thanks!
what yummy little bites
you know I can’t resist a bite!
Barbara, these bites are a wonderful treat for every Valentine! Love that they are cheesecake too
These cheesecake bites look really lovely and they are HOMEMADE!
wow I need to try these! I LOVE cheesecake and I LOVE caramel
This looks like so much fun
gorgeous bites mmm
These look amazing! Thanks for linking up to my v-day blog hop!
I’m sold! These sound like the perfect combination of ingredients in a sweet treat.
YUM! These are perfect for me! I’ve love to receive these as my valentine’s day chocolates! I love chocolate, caramel and absolutely adore cheesecake
Thanks for the great recipe~
Ohh these look delicious – definitely trying these out.
Wow! I can see why one is missing! These look so tempting, it would be difficult to eat only four.
~Judy
Oh my! I wouldn’t be able to resist these either. Chocolate, caramel and cheesecake all wrapped up in a bite sized treat!
ahh look absolutely wonderful!
they look really cute and perfect! so adorable
I love that these look like little candies…and then what a surprise when you bite into them. Much prefer these to chocolates!! Super recipe, Barbara.
Therse were great-I made them this weekend! Thanks for sharing this recipe, it will be used a lot at my house.
Hi VAl – thanks for taking the time to let me know you made them and liked them. They’re going to get made at my house a lot too.
Those look easy to make and very delicious
Stopping by from the SRC Facebook group.
Too pretty and too perfect for Valentine’s Day, Barbara! I love anything in tiny bites and covered with chocolate makes anything better. Happy V Day, baby!