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Mardi of Eat. Live. Travel. Write. won the last Hay Hay it’s Donna Day cooking event and is hosting this month’s Hay Hay it’s Donna Day, a food blogging event in which a blogger chooses a recipe by Australian cookbook author Donna Hay. The host/hostess of the HHDD event invites all their blog reading and cooking/ baking friends to recreate the recipe and send in a link to their blog post by the end of the month.
Mardi chose a super easy dessert recipe, Blackberry Cheesecake Pots. We love cheesecake at our house, so when Mardi asked me to participate in the challenge, I was happy to join in. Mardi will post a roundup on June 5th and ask people to vote on which interpretation they like best. She’ll announce a winner (and the next host/hostess) on June 15th.
I love blackberries and they were on sale at the market, so that was an easy choice. I almost always use reduce fat cream cheese, so that was the first change that I made. We, like many Americans, tend to like our desserts a bit sweeter, so I increased the amount of sugar I added to the cheesecake mixture.
Finally, as far as I’m concerned, cheesecake needs a graham cracker crust. So I decided to add a layer of graham cracker crumbs to the bottom of the dish, followed by a layer of blackberries and then topped with the cheesecake mixture, a little whipped cream, more graham cracker crumbs and a perfect blackberry on top. A quick, elegant and delicious dessert.
Donna Hay’s Blackberry Cheesecake Pots
Ingredients
- 4 graham crackers
- 1 T. butter melted
- 8 oz. light cream cheese Neufchatel
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 oz. fresh blackberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Process the graham crackers in a food processor to create crumbs. Add melted butter, stir well to combined. Spread on baking sheet. Toast in the oven 3–5 minutes until crumbs start to brown. Cool.
- Process the cream cheese, sugar, cream and vanilla in a food processor until smooth. Add half the blackberries and process until just crushed.
- Spoon a tablespoon of graham cracker crumbs into four ½ cup-capacity dishes, layer on a few blackberries. Divide cheesecake mixture evenly between the dishes and garnish with whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs and blackberries. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Serves 4.
dining room tables
I like the combination of the flavors and also the colors are so pretty! I want to scoop it now!
Jessica
This dessert looks as beautiful as I'm certain it will taste!
I think I'll make mine with some vanilla wafers!
You know…chocolate graham crackers would be good too!
jessyburke88@gmail.com
elra
This is such a gorgeous looking dessert Barbara. You know I tried once to make cheesecake with a regular sweet pastry, it didn't really work as well. So definitely use graham crackers, either homemade (which is better), or store bought if I am in a hurry.
Have a nice weekend Barbara.
Elra
Jamie
These are just beautiful! I love the color and they look thick and creamy. I also love the crumbs you've added for the added flavor and crunch. Great dessert, Barbara!
Marisa
I love it! I totally agree on wanting things sweet and that cheesecake always needs graham cracker crust :D. It looks really good!
Fahrenheit 350°
These look divine, but after a 12 hour day this post is just torture! I need it!
Maria
What a lovely dessert!
lisaiscooking
The layered effect with the graham cracker crumbs sounds great! I love the color from the blackberries too.
Barbara
Marvelous recipe, Barbara! I love desserts like this…you can use lovely summer fruits and make it ahead of time. The blackberries give it such a lovely color!
Kim
I love everything about these, the color, the presentation, all of it!
Joanne
Cheesecake without a graham cracker crust is like a night without stars. Tragic.
These cheesecake pots look delicious. Perfect with the fruity twist the blackberries give them!
MaryMoh
This looks very refreshing with it beautiful colour and creamy look. Must be very delicious. I love it.
Baking Addict
wow love the colour and flavours. Cheesecake in a pot – genius. Perfect for summer 🙂
faithy, the baker
it's beautiful..the color is beautiful and lovely presentation too! Yummy!
sweetlife
blackberries added such a nice color to your festive treat..yum
sweetlife
Chetana
Barbara…in love wit the color….between cool recipe.
Anncoo
I love cheesecake too! Love the way you present this lovely dessert ;))
Amanda
These are beautiful Barbara! I bet they taste incredible 🙂 Stumbled!
Kat
Beautiful dessert and presentation.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
Hehe you and I are definitely on the same wavelegth mum! I'm going to do something with blackberries today! 😀 xxx