12ouncesFull-Fat Cream Cheese, very soft (use brick-style cream cheese for best results)
1/2cupsour cream, at room temperature
3/4cupGranulated Sugar
1teaspoonsPure Vanilla Extract
1/2teaspoonkey lime extract
2large Eggs plus 1 Egg Yolk, at room temperature
1and 1/2 tablespoons All-purpose Flour
1/3cupkey lime juice
1teaspoonkey lime zest
For the whipped cream:
1/2cupheavy cream
1tablespoonconfectioners' sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners, lightly spray liners with non-stick spray and set aside.
For the Crust:
In the body of a blender or food processor, combine graham crackers, sugar, and salt; pulse until the crackers have been completely transformed into fine crumbs.
Add melted butter; stir well to combine. Add 1 heaping tablespoonful to each lined muffin cup.
Press the crust firmly into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven 5 minutes then remove from oven and set aside to cool. In the meantime, make your filling.
For the Key Lime Cheesecake Filling:
In the body of a high power blender, food processor, stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large bowl using a hand held mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth.
Add sugar, vanilla, and key lime extract and beat smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom of bowl as needed. Add in the eggs and yolk and beat until combined.
Turn the mixer off and, using a rubber spatula, gently stir in the flour, mixing just until combined. Stir in the lime juice and zest, mixing just until it's incorporated in the batter.
Divide the filling evenly among cups - pouring it on top of the prepared crust layer - adding about 1/3 cup to each mold. The molds will be very full. Gently wiggle the pan back and forth to level the cheesecake filling.
Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until cupcakes are puffed, set at the edges, and just a little jiggly in the center. Turn oven OFF and cool cheesecakes inside the oven, with the door cracked, for 5 minutes, before removing. Do not worry if the cheesecakes look cracked at this point!
Cool cheesecake cupcakes in the pan, placed on top of a cooling rack, completely, before transferring them to the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours.
Top each cheesecake cupcake with a dollop of whipped cream and a slice of lime right before serving.
Store in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, until needed. Cheesecakes will keep, without the whipped cream on top, for 5 days.
For the whipped cream:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the cream until it begins to thicken and hold soft peaks. Add in the confectioners' sugar and continue to beat for another minute.
Dollop onto the cheesecakes right before serving.
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