Quick ’healthier’ gluten-free, mini cheesecakes!

Refrigeration time only 15 minutes!

Want a quick and easy dessert that will impress this Christmas?

Then try these mini cheesecakes! Not only are they gluten free, they can be ready within 30 minutes. As well as, being enjoyed without a lot of excess sugar and processed ingredients!

I’m not claiming them to be a health food but as far as cheesecake is concerned, they are not bad going!

Adding oats to the biscuit base not only increases the fibre content but also reduces the amount of biscuit required, therefore decreasing the fat and sugar present.

Greek yogurt is low in fat and sugar, as well as being high in protein.

You don’t need to add any processed sugar to the cheesecakes to enjoy. Using natural sugars present in fruits is enough!

The setting time is less when making smaller individual cheesecakes. It also makes it easier to serve because it doesn’t require removing from a container or flat bowl.

Makes about 6-7 individual cheesecakes

Ingredients:

 2/3 tablespoons of porridge oats

3 gluten free digestives biscuits (crushed)

40g melted butter

6 tablespoons of thick Greek yogurt (preferably with no added sugar)

8 tablespoons of cream cheese

½ teaspoon of vanilla extract 

Pick a flavour:

 Lemon:

½-1 teaspoon of lemon zest (add to cream cheese mixture)

If you like it really zesty you could add a thin layer of lemon curd to the biscuit base before topping with the cream cheese mixture.

Orange:

½- 1 teaspoon of orange zest (add to cream cheese mixture)

Serve with orange segments and pomegranate seeds (optional)

Strawberry/Raspberry:

½- 1 tablespoon of strawberry/raspberry Jam (per cheesecake). Don’t add the jam to the mixture but spread a layer of jam over the biscuit base before adding cream cheese mixture (use a wet spoon stops the jam from sticking).

I would recommend using St. Dalfour French Jam available in most supermarkets. It has no added sugar, only what is present naturally in the fruit. Perfect for diabetics too.

Serve with fresh strawberries or raspberries and a spring of fresh mint leaves or chopped almonds (optional)

You could do the same with other flavour jams e.g. apricot

Method: 

1)     Crush oats biscuits together in a bowl (easy to use your fingers).

2)    Melt butter and mix well into the crushed biscuits and oats.

3)    Layer the bottom of each container with 2-3 tablespoons of the biscuit mixture and press down hard with a spoon.

4)    If your using a jam, spread a layer onto the biscuit base.

5)    Fold the yogurt, cream cheese and vanilla together.

6)    If you are using a lemon or orange zest add it to the mix now and stir.

7)    Top the biscuit bases with 2-3 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture.

8)    Add any fresh fruit and refrigerate for a minimum of 15 minutes.

It is best to make the cheesecakes on the day of consumption.

If you are throwing a Christmas Party make sure there is some dancing involved!

Dancing is one of the most effective forms of exercise when it comes to releases endorphins! Endorphins help you get that feel good feeling and work as a powerful yet non-additive painkiller! 

Take a look at this article and you will see just what I mean! I know it has made a big impact in my life.

http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/dancing-release-endorphins-5764.html

Dance more often for good health and fun!