Decadent Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes Recipe
Indulge in these Decadent Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes, a perfect blend of creamy cheesecake and crunchy graham cracker crust, topped with a caramelized turbinado sugar finish that delivers the signature brûlée crunch and flavor in a convenient, individual portion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 0.25 cups unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake Filling
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cups sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 3 large eggs
- 0.5 cups heavy cream
Topping
- Turbinado sugar (for caramelizing)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 325°F to prepare for even baking of the cupcakes.
- Prepare Pan: Line a cupcake pan with paper liners to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal.
- Make Crust: Combine the graham cracker crumbs with melted butter until the mixture is crumbly. Divide the mixture evenly into the cupcake liners, pressing down gently to form a compact crust base.
- Blend Cheesecake Filling: In a mixing bowl, blend softened cream cheese and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add Remaining Filling Ingredients: Incorporate sour cream, vanilla bean paste, and eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to ensure a uniform filling.
- Fill Cups: Spoon the cheesecake filling over the crusts in the liners, filling about 3/4 full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are set and the centers are slightly jiggly, indicating the perfect creamy texture.
- Cool: Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing condensation and soggy crusts.
- Chill: Refrigerate the cupcakes for at least 2 hours or overnight to fully set the cheesecake filling for optimal texture and flavor.
- Caramelize Topping: Before serving, sprinkle turbinado sugar over each cupcake and caramelize the sugar using a kitchen torch to create the classic brûlée crunchy top.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps in the cheesecake filling.
- If you do not have vanilla bean paste, high-quality vanilla extract can be used as a substitute but may yield a slightly less intense flavor.
- A kitchen torch is preferred for caramelizing the turbinado sugar; alternatively, you can use the broiler setting of your oven but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- For best results, allow cupcakes to chill overnight as this enhances the texture and flavor development.
- You can substitute coconut sugar or brown sugar in place of granulated sugar for slight variations in sweetness and flavor profile.
- To prevent cracking, avoid overbaking the cheesecake cupcakes; they should still jiggle slightly when done.
Keywords: vanilla bean cheesecake cupcakes, crème brûlée cheesecake, individual cheesecake desserts, graham cracker crust cupcakes, caramelized sugar topping
