Brighten The Holidays With Some Cheesecake Cheer

Recipes and tips featuring a new cream cheese that is redefining cheesecake!

If you love rich, creamy cheesecake, it’s time to heat up the kitchen! With the holidays around the corner and no time to spare, three of Canada’s favourite home bakers are serving up some cheesecake cheer.

Our bakers’ inspiration this season? Arla Cream Cheese. If you haven’t tried it yet, swap it into any of your favourite cream cheese recipes and be prepared to taste the difference. You can thank us later!

Made with only four ingredients, Arla is the cleanest and creamiest cream cheese – you’ll even see the drop of water when you open the package showing how fresh it is. And the taste is next to none! Here are three recipes you can try.

Cheesecake in a Jar!

@JaimeDamak crafted this recipe for ease of gifting as it travels so well! Simply decorate some mason jars, layer in the ingredients and you’re good to go. For an added bonus, she created some savoury cheesecake appetizer balls and mini cheesecake bites with full recipes available on her Instagram page!

Recipe:

1 package Arla Cream Cheese (200G) (Can use Arla Lactose-Free Cream Cheese too)

1 cup of whipping cream

½ cup of sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

2 cups of mixed fruit

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 teaspoon of flour mixed with 2 tablespoons of water

Graham cracker cookies crushed (for crumbs – about 10 cookies)

Whip the cream. Set aside. Whip cream cheese, sugar and vanilla for 2 minutes. Once the mixture is soft, creamy and airy, fold in whipped cream. Set aside. In a saucepan, cook 2 cups of mixed fruit until sauce is formed. Add maple syrup, then add flour mixture. Thicken to desired thickness. In a glass jar, add 1 to 2 tablespoons for Graham crackers, 2-3 tablespoons of cream cheese filling and top with fruit sauce.

Gingerbread Dip

@Listen2Lena figured out how to create Christmas in a bowl with this cream cheese gingerbread dip that has fruit, cookies, pretzels and empty spoons diving in! A must-try, this dip is sure to be a hit this holiday season by both kids and adults alike! This recipe features the Lactose-Free Arla option, but if dairy isn’t an issue, you can choose the Original. And for a classic cheesecake with some festive inspiration, check out Lena’s rosemary and candied cranberry cheesecake or her mini blueberry cheesecakes.

Recipe:

1 package Arla Lactose-Free Cream Cheese, softened (or Original)

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp fancy molasses

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 cup whipped topping

Be sure to have cookies, wafers, nuts and fresh fruit on hand for serving

With a hand mixer, beat the Arla Lactose Free Cream Cheese until smooth, about one minute. Add the powdered sugar, brown sugar, fancy molasses and spices; mix until well combined. Fold in the whipped topping. Transfer dip to a serving bowl and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Serve with cookies, wafers nuts, pecan halves and fresh fruit.

Egg Nog Cheesecake Cups

@WakeUpandKale knows mini-sized bites are always more fun during the holidays, so she dressed up this classic cheesecake recipe with options for toppings and mix-ins that will have both young and old smiling ear-to ear.

Recipe:

Crust

1 cup almond flour

¾ cup oats

¼ cup melted coconut oil

2 tbsp maple syrup

Filling

10 oz Arla Cream Cheese*

¾ cup Greek yoghurt

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp lemon juice

½ cup coconut sugar

2 tbsp almond flour

2 tsp cornstarch

Method

*Let cream cheese come to room temperature

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line a muffin tin with liners.
2. For the crust: combine all ingredients in a high-speed food processor until a coarse texture forms. Press into bottom of each muffin tin.
3. For the filling: add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides occasionally. Distribute among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.
4. Bake 23-25 mins. Remove from oven and let cheesecakes cool completely. Then place in the fridge to firm up overnight and enjoy!

Flavour variations:

Raspberry swirl – swirl 1 tsp raspberry jam on top of filling

Eggnog – replace 1/2 the Greek yogurt with eggnog and add 1 tsp nutmeg to filling. Garnish with cinnamon

Dulce de Leche – combine 2 tbsp almond butter with 1 tbsp maple syrup and 2 tsp melted coconut oil. Swirl over top of each cheesecake cup before baking

For more information on Arla Cream Cheese visit www.ArlaFoods.ca

In partnership with Arla Cream Cheese.