Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake Tartlets
Chocolate shortbread mini tartlets filled with buttery salted caramel and topped with a fluffy no-bake cheesecake.
Hi! How are you guys? No I really mean it, how are you guys??? What is going on with you? What’s happening in your life these days?
I am slowly getting over that nasty bug I was complaining about last week. It was a doozy! I’m still stuffy and I have this hacking cough I can’t seem to kick, but, happily, I’m overall doing so much better. I think it might have been the flu! My little ones and I all three were miserable with it, but the husband somehow never came down with it. He’s the only one out of our little family who had the flu shot earlier this season. What are your feelings on the flu shot? Yay or nay? I’m not super anti-vaccine but I am a little cautious about that stuff. I didn’t let my kids get more than two inoculations per month, and I always tried to carefully weigh out the risks vs. benefits. All that being said, I do think that next year I will go ahead and get the shot. It’s just been such a tough winter for me this year, and when Mom isn’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!
I have to tell you how much I really love all of your comments and sweet thoughts and wishes. I get all sorts of encouragement from you guys, through this blog and through my Facebook page, and it really means so much! I know that a few of you were also suffering with winter illness right along with me, so I hope you are doing better! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for taking a few minutes out of your busy day to leave me such kind and uplifting messages. I truly feel so blessed to count you as a friend 🙂
So- today kicks off my husband’s birthday extravaganza! Do you remember hearing about his 40th birthday in this post? Well, tonight he’s partying it up with his friends, tomorrow my brother and sister in law are coming in for the family party later tomorrow night, and then Sunday is the Superbowl! Lots going on. I’m thinking about making Snickers cupcakes for the party, and then we’ll be putting out some yummy snacks on Sunday, like chips and dips, buffalo wings, and loaded potato skins. What comes to your mind when you’re thinking about game-day desserts? For me, it’s gotta be really indulgent, and it’s gotta be finger food. No fancy plates or utensils when you’re sitting on the sofa with your eyes on the television. These little treats cover both bases! And they are so perfectly pop-able, just right for a sweet game-day snack.
These babies are a mashup of three of my most favorite recipes. My Simply Perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookie forms the crust of the tart. These cookies are uber-chocolatey, from all the cocoa powder, and a little less sweet, which is perfect for pairing with my gooey, sweet, and buttery Simply Perfect Salted Caramel Sauce. A fluffy no-bake cheesecake tops them off!
After I posted the recipe for Simply Perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookies, I had a lot of readers tell me that their dough was dry or crumbly. You’ll want to start with just 1 1/4 cups of flour, and mix mix mix to see how it comes together, before adding any more than that. If it’s really clinging to the sides of the bowl, add a little more flour, like a tablespoon at a time, mixing, until it looks like this:
It should not be dry or crumbly. It should hold together really nicely. If you roll it out to 1/4-inch thickness, and cut it with a 3-inch diameter blossom cutter, it forms a little mini-tart shell when you bake it over the back of a mini-muffin tin. Press carefully around the top edge, with your fingertips, to seal any cracks. They’re perfect for filling with yummy things! Like salted caramel!
Really this whole idea came to be simply as a vehicle to get more salted caramel into my face. Seriously, this stuff is so good. Like, insane! Your eyes will roll back in your head. I have a whole step by step caramel making tutorial here. It’s really easy and it only takes about 10 minutes. You’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff after you’ve tried this! One and a half batches will fill all the chocolate tartlet shells. Go ahead and make two batches- you’ll definitely find a use for the leftovers. I find a spoon works really well 😉
The no-bake cheesecake topping is basically just whipped cream with a little cream cheese added in. There’s only one thing that tastes better than salted caramel, and that’s salted caramel with cheesecake. Just be sure and whip the cream really nice and stiff before you add in the softened cream cheese. That way it stays really thick and pipe-able. I used a Wilton 4B tip to top the tartlets with a kiss of fluffy goodness.
These chocolate caramel cheesecake tartlets are like a cross between a cookie and a candy. They are really so splurge-worthy!
I hope you guys have a really fun weekend! Doesn’t it feel so good to be almost done with January now? Next up is Valentines Day, and then Spring will be right around the corner! I’m so ready for warmth and sunshine!
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Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake Tartlets
Ingredients
- 1 batch Simply Perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookie dough
- 2 batches Simply Perfect Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1/3 cup (78.86 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 ounces (42.52 g) softened cream cheese, (I used reduced fat)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- optional: chocolate vermicelli,, for garnish
Instructions
Make the Tart Shells
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Roll the cookie dough to a thickness of ¼ inch.
- Cut with a 3 inch diameter blossom cookie cutter, and carefully place over the back of a mini muffin tin.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
Make the Topping:
- Whip the cream until stiff peaks form.
- Add in the sugar and vanilla.
- Whip in the soft cream cheese until completely incorporated.
Assemble the Tartlets:
- Fill each tart shell with about a tablespoon of caramel.
- Top with cheesecake topping.
- Garnish with chocolate vermicelli.
These are so cute! These would be super cute at a tea party! 🙂 Pinning! Thanks for linking up at Sweet & Savoury Sundays! This is one of my favorites and will be featured tomorrow! <3
A tea party! What a great idea…! I love it! Thanks so much for hosting the party and for featuring my work 😉 Hope you’re having a fun weekend, Lorraine!
Flu can take you down!!!! I myself was suffering from cold last week and wanted nothing more than a dozen warm blankets and a hot chocolate in my bed! I hope you’re alright now! 🙂 These mini tarts!!! I AM IN LOVE WITH THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that idea to use the bottoms of the cupcake pan is GENIUS!!!! ^_^
Thank you, Samina, and yes, I’m so much better now! It took a while to get over it but I think I’m finally there. It feels good to be excited to bake and post again, and I’m able to do more fun stuff for my kiddies, too. Hopefully that was the last illness for me for a good long time! It’s been a rough year, lol! Thanks so much for your sweet comment, I’m so happy you liked the idea! <3
Just WOW! I stumbled over your blog and OMG your recipes looks awesome and sound so delicious. I think I need like 3 weeks vacation and start making them. Thanks for sharing!!!
http://love-your-ego.blogspot.de
Thanks so much, LoveYourEgo! I’m so happy you stumbled over. Thanks for the great feedback! 😀
Omg these look ridiculously amazing. Can’t believe I’ve never thought of using a dough cutter to shape cups before! So excited to try these, I bet they would be great for valentine’s day!
Thanks, Shells! I agree, these are a perfect little sweet for your Valentine! I’m so happy you like them, thanks for the sweet comment… <3
Soooo, my life’s been quite hectic this week due to exams and lots of school assigments, but it’s nice that I’m over the flu now! Best wishes to you darling, I really wish you get better so soon!
These tartlets look amazing! I absolutely adore the chocolate + caramel + cheesecake combo, and that last shot is making my mouth water *–*
I’m so glad to hear you are doing better, Consuelo! I am too, and what a great feeling it is to have that behind me now. The flu is the WORST and I hope I never get it again. Good luck with your exams and assignments, dear!
Oh Allie these little cheesecakes look fabulous!! You amaze me everytime I read your blog and see your wonderful creations!!
xox Amy
You’re too sweet for words, Amy! Thank you so much for the kind words and for always being so supportive and encouraging. It means more to me than you could ever imagine! <3
OMG I just love your blog. Your photography is so my style (or where I’d like to be) and these tartlets are so darn cute! I love how you made the shell chocolate and they just look perfect. 🙂
Thank you so much, Connie! I’m a HUGE fan of your blog as well (I follow you on fb ;)) so I’m so honored by your sweet compliments! Thank you so much for reading and saying hi! 😀 😀 😀
Hey! I ‘m just wondering. I want to bake brownie cups using these fabulous tartlets. So I’ll bake them first (for how long?) and then fill them with the brownie batter. But for how long shall I bake the tartlets for not ending up with overcooked tartlets or/and runny brownies? Thank you!
That sounds like a really fun idea Dora! I don’t know what brownie recipe you’re using though, or how long the brownie part will need to bake so it’s tough to say… The cookies/shells bake for 10 minutes so if the brownies need much more than that I’d worry the cookies would burn. Let me know if you get it figured out, ok? Good luck!
These look gorgeous and yummy! Do you think they would go well if made, frozen, thawed and served? I am trying to come up with a lot of things I could make for my birthday ahead of time so I am not rushed off my feet on the night.
Thank you so much, Christie! I think you could easily freeze the tart shells and caramel, but I don’t know if the cheesecake part would hold up too well since it’s whipped cream. The caramel sauce is really shelf stable though, I’ve kept jars in the cupboard for months and they are great. Happy Birthday! 😀
Thanks for the reply. I know cream freezes well just don’t know about whipped cream. Thanks for your help
My pleasure, Christie! Ya, I don’t think the whipped cream would hold up too well. It usually starts to lose its volume and get runny even just in the fridge after a few hours. But you could definitely do everything else ahead, no prob! Good luck 😉
OMG… this is so adorable!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Melia! I’m so happy you stopped by and thanks for the sweet comment 😉
I know exactly the cough you are taking about. It is so hard to get over that. AND, to top it off, if you want to go to the store (or anywhere) and that cough starts coming out… everyone and their dog looks right at you like you are the plaque of the earth! Am I right? I’m glad you’re feeling better, though.
These little tartlets are so gorgeous. I swear I was caught in a trance before I could start reading. They are just so decadent looking… and a piece of art!
SO. Right! I couldn’t even get a word out without coughing the other day while shopping. So bad! You are so sweet, Gloria. Thank you so much for the lovely compliments. Honestly I’ve been having a terrible struggle with photos lately. Ugh. Just stuck in a bad rut. :o/ Hope you’re having a great week though and enjoying your beautiful surroundings!
These looks delicious!! Love the idea of making tart shell in a different shape!
Thanks, Sweet Macaron! The shape is nice because it’s pretty, but also it helps to form the cookie dough over the muffin tin without pleating. It worked out really well! Thanks for reading and for the nice comment 🙂
OMG! These look fabulous. You did such a great job! This is getting pinned. 🙂
Thank you so much Tiffany! I’m so happy you liked them so much and thanks for the pin! 😀
I’m so glad you’re feeling better, Allie! Whatever’s going around this year is brutal. I never get a flu shot (too darn lazy to go) but I think next year I will. I was wiped out for 2 weeks from the flu, then my throat/sinuses and even my eyes got all infected. It was awful. My husband then got sick after me and he’s had a horrible cough that isn’t getting any better. Sigh. Anyways, I wish Mr. Allie a wonderful birthday and I know that you are going to spoil him rotten since you’re a rock star wife. These tartlets are absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for all the step by step photos. I would’ve never figured out how you made the tart shells (I’m not very smart). Love these!
A) you are super smart don’t lie! Lol… B) Ugh that sounds so terrible! Being sick is the worst and it’s been happening to me way too much lately. After this last one I’m definitely going for the flu shot. What an ordeal you’ve been through! My flu was two weeks too but luckily no infections, at least not yet (knock on wood!). I hope your hubby gets himself to the doc asap- before it turns into something serious like bronchitis or pneumonia, heaven forbid! Take good care, you two, and thanks for the birthday wishes! <3 <3 <3 Oh and ps- are you thinking about going to the Blog Her Food conference by any chance?
Yeah, he really needs to see the doctor. He says his throat hurts a lot so it’s probably infected like mine was. As for the Blog Her Food Conference – gaaaah, why are all the amazing conferences out east?! I’m planning on going to the Food & Wine Conference in July which is in Florida, so I won’t be going to Blog Her (which is also in Florida!). Maybe next year? Are you planning on going to any other conferences or will this be the only one this year?
I’m not really sure what I’m doing, to be honest! I hadn’t even thought about the Food and Wine one… so now I’m thrown for a loop, lol! I’ll have to look into it. One I know I will be attending for sure is Eat, Write, Retreat, since it’s practically in my back yard. I really hope your hubby gets to a doc soon! It sounds like he needs antibiotics. Hugs to you guys!!
Pretty much the most gorgeous tartlets ever Allie! I knew as soon as I saw them that you had used your chocolate sugar cookie dough which I LOVE 🙂 Pinned!
You know me too well, Trish! I’m so happy you liked and thank you so much for the pin! Hope you and your boys are keeping warm! 😀
Oh. My. Word! They are just too cute. I bet they taste amazing too!
Thanks Melanie! They were a big hit last night! I hope you had a fun weekend 😉 I just saw a comment of yours on another blog- I didn’t realize you were a Philly girl too! I’m born and raised… and still living just about 30 minutes outside of the city. Is it snowing where you are today? We are snowed in, yet again!
Born in Philly. Lived there for 19 years. Now live closer to Harrisburg, PA. Yup, snowing again. Looks like I need to do some shoveling. Ugh!
Have a great Monday!
Gah! Please tell me you are going to the Blog Her Food conference this May! I’m in desperate need of a travel buddy!