5 Gnome Mini Cheesecakes Your Dessert Squad Will Love

Picture this: you’re hosting a dinner party, and your guests are already raving about the main course. But then you bring out these adorable little treats – Gnome Mini Cheesecakes that look like tiny woodland creatures peeking out from creamy, dreamy cheesecake tops. Suddenly, everyone’s phones are out, cameras are clicking, and you’ve officially become the host with the most! These Gnome Mini Cheesecakes aren’t just desserts – they’re conversation starters, Instagram gold, and pure happiness served in bite-sized portions.

I stumbled upon this Gnome Mini Cheesecakes recipe idea during a particularly stressful week when I desperately needed something whimsical to lift my spirits. After countless kitchen experiments (and maybe a few frosting mishaps), I’ve perfected these Gnome Mini Cheesecakes that never fail to bring smiles to faces. Trust me, once you see how easy these Gnome Mini Cheesecakes are to make, you’ll be finding excuses to whip up batches for every occasion.

5 Gnome Mini Cheesecakes Your Dessert Squad Will Love

---

• Author: Amy
• Total Time: 3 hour 15 minutes

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Bring a whimsical touch to your dessert table with these Gnome Mini Cheesecakes! Each bite-sized cheesecake features a buttery graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and adorable gnome decorations made from whipped cream, strawberries, and chocolate chips. Perfect for children’s parties, garden-themed gatherings, or as a creative gift, these charming treats are as fun to make as they are to eat.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Cheesecake Base:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

16 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup sour cream

For the Gnome Decorations:

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Red food coloring

15 fresh strawberries

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

2 tablespoons shredded coconut

Pretzel sticks (broken into small pieces)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

2. Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl until the mixture resembles wet sand.

3. Press about 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the bottom of each liner, using a small glass to compact.

2. Make the Cheesecake Filling

4. Beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy (≈3 minutes).

5. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until combined.

6. Mix in eggs one at a time, just until incorporated.

7. Fold in vanilla extract and sour cream until smooth.

3. Bake the Cheesecakes

8. Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full with cheesecake batter.

9. Bake 18-20 minutes, until centers are slightly jiggly. Avoid browning the tops; reduce oven temperature by 25°F if needed.

10. Cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate at least 2 hours.

4. Decorate Your Gnomes

11. Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar to soft peaks. Reserve some white for beards; tint the rest red for hats.

12. Hull and halve strawberries for gnome hats.

13. Pipe white whipped cream around the bottom third of each cheesecake for the beard.

14. Place a strawberry half on top for the hat. Add mini chocolate chips for eyes and a tiny pretzel piece for the nose.

15. Sprinkle shredded coconut around the base to create a woodland effect.

Notes

Room temperature ingredients are key: cold cream cheese or eggs can create lumps.

Do not overbake: cheesecakes should have a slight jiggle in the center.

Piping technique: work in small circular motions from the outside in for fluffy, realistic gnome beards.

Cooling matters: refrigerate fully before decorating to prevent toppings from sliding.

Storage

Refrigerator: up to 5 days in an airtight container with parchment layers.

Freezer: plain cheesecakes (undecorated) up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before decorating.

Healthy Alternatives & Swaps

Lower calories: use Neufchâtel cheese or a 1:1 mix of Greek yogurt and light cream cheese; swap heavy cream with whipped coconut cream.

Gluten-free: use gluten-free vanilla wafers or almond flour with honey.

Sugar-free: replace powdered sugar with erythritol or stevia.

Serving Suggestions

Serve on a wooden board with fresh berries and mint for a woodland theme.

Pair with light dessert wine or flavored coffee for adult parties.

Perfect for gifts: pack in clear containers tied with ribbons.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12 mini cheesecakes
• Calories: 285
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 185mg
• Fat: 22g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 5g

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cheesecake Base:

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sour cream

For the Gnome Decorations:

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• Red food coloring
• 15 fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons shredded coconut
• Pretzel sticks (broken into small pieces)

Timing Breakdown

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Baking Time: 18-20 minutes
Cooling Time: 2 hours
Decorating Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Serves: 12 mini cheesecakes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing Your Gnome Mini Cheesecakes Base

Start by preheating your oven to 325°F and lining a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and granulated sugar until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press about one tablespoon of this mixture firmly into the bottom of each liner – I like to use the bottom of a small glass to get them perfectly compact.

Creating the Creamy Filling

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it’s completely smooth and fluffy – this usually takes about 3 minutes with an electric mixer. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated (overmixing can cause cracks). Finally, fold in the vanilla extract and sour cream until the batter is silky smooth.

Baking to Perfection

Divide the cheesecake filling evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the centers are almost set but still slightly jiggly. The tops shouldn’t brown – if they start to, reduce the temperature by 25 degrees. Let them cool completely in the pan before refrigerating for at least 2 hours.

Crafting Your Adorable Gnomes

While your cheesecakes chill, prepare the decorations. Whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form, then divide into portions. Leave some white for beards, and tint the rest with red food coloring for the hats. Hull your strawberries and cut them in half lengthwise – these become the iconic gnome hats.

Assembly Magic

Once chilled, carefully remove the cheesecakes from the liners. Pipe white whipped cream around the bottom third of each cheesecake for the beard. Place a strawberry half on top for the hat, add two mini chocolate chips for eyes, and use a tiny piece of pretzel for the nose. Sprinkle shredded coconut around the base to create a woodland floor effect.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 285
Fat: 22g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Protein: 5g
Sugar: 15g
Fiber: 1g
Sodium: 185mg

These values are estimates and may vary based on specific ingredients used.

Healthy Alternatives and Dietary Swaps

For Lower Calories

Replace full-fat cream cheese with Neufchâtel cheese or a 1:1 ratio of Greek yogurt and light cream cheese. You can also substitute the heavy cream with whipped coconut cream for a lighter topping.

Gluten-Free Options

Swap graham crackers for gluten-free vanilla wafers or almond flour mixed with a touch of honey. The texture remains just as delicious, and your gluten-sensitive friends will thank you.

Sugar Alternatives

Use powdered erythritol or stevia in place of regular powdered sugar. The taste difference is minimal, but the blood sugar impact is significantly reduced.

Tips for Best Results

Always use room temperature cream cheese – this prevents lumps and creates that perfectly smooth texture we’re after. If you forget to take it out early, cut it into cubes and microwave for 15-20 seconds.

Don’t skip the cooling time! Rushing this process will result in decorations that slide right off your Gnome Mini Cheesecakes. I learned this the hard way during my first attempt, and let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

When piping the whipped cream beards, start from the outside and work inward in small circular motions. This creates a more natural, fluffy beard texture that makes your gnomes look absolutely charming.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest mistake I see people make is overbaking. These little beauties should still have a slight jiggle in the center when you remove them from the oven. They’ll continue cooking as they cool, so trust the process.

Another common pitfall is using cold ingredients. Everything should be at room temperature for the smoothest mixing and best texture. Cold eggs and cream cheese create a lumpy batter that’s nearly impossible to fix.

Don’t overmix once you add the eggs – this incorporates too much air and can cause your cheesecakes to puff up and then collapse, creating cracks.

How to Store Leftovers

Store your finished Gnome Mini Cheesecakes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Place them in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to prevent the decorations on your Gnome Mini Cheesecakes from smudging.

For longer storage, you can freeze the plain Gnome Mini Cheesecakes (without decorations) for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before decorating. I don’t recommend freezing the decorated Gnome Mini Cheesecakes, as the whipped cream and fresh strawberries don’t hold up well to freezing.

Serving Suggestions

These adorable Gnome Mini Cheesecakes are perfect for garden parties, children’s birthdays, or any time you want to add a touch of whimsy to your dessert table. Serve your Gnome Mini Cheesecakes on a wooden board surrounded by fresh berries and mint leaves for a charming woodland theme.

For adult parties, consider pairing Gnome Mini Cheesecakes with a light dessert wine or flavored coffee. The creamy richness of these Gnome Mini Cheesecakes complements both beautifully.

They also make fantastic gifts – pack your Gnome Mini Cheesecakes in clear containers tied with ribbons for hostess gifts that are sure to impress.

Conclusion

These Gnome Mini Cheesecakes have become my go-to recipe when I want to create something that’s equal parts delicious and delightful. There’s something magical about watching people’s faces light up when they see these little characters peeking back at them from the dessert plate. The combination of creamy cheesecake and whimsical decoration creates an experience that goes beyond just satisfying a sweet tooth – it creates memories.

The best part? They’re surprisingly simple to make once you get the hang of the decorating process. Don’t worry if your first batch doesn’t look perfect – even wonky gnomes have character and charm!

For more Recipes follow me in Pinterest.

Frequently Asked Questions