Leftover Cranberry Sauce Mini Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

By: Denise Bustard36 Comments
Posted: 10/19/14Updated: 12/17/20

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Leftover cranberry sauce mini cheesecakes make the most of any leftover cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Swirled into the batter and served with a dollop on top!

So you may have witnessed my cranberry sauce rant in my Raspberry Balsamic Cranberry Sauce post. If not, here's the summary: I am a total, crazy, cranberry sauce nut.

Well this year, I went a bit overboard...I made a double batch of cranberry sauce, and ended up with probably a liter of sauce for 8 people...and there were leftovers...oh so many leftovers!

And looking at the leftover cranberry sauce, and a few blocks of cream cheese that just happened to be hanging out in my fridge, this mini cheesecake recipe was spontaneously born.

Reasons you'll ♡ this leftover cranberry sauce mini cheesecake recipe

it's the perfect way to use up any leftover cranberry sauce
it's tart and sweet (but not too sweet)
they are pretty and are great for a party

Whenever I make cheesecakes of any kind, I think of my friend Alison, whose parents threw a cheesecake party every year when I was growing up. Every guest brought a cheesecake, and there was a lot of sampling, then voting for the best cheesecake. One year my mom won a mushroom scrubber. Let's just say you don't win for the prize, you win for the glory 😉

Every single time I attended this cheesecake party, I would end up eating SO much cheesecake, a sliver of this one, a bite of that one, and before I knew it, I ended up overly stuffed and uncomfortable, and wondering why did I do this to myself? And vowing that I would never eat another slice of cheesecake again.

But how could I stay away? Not possible. It's cheesecake.

This mini cheesecakerecipe isthe absolute perfect portion size. You get a good dose of cheesecake, and you won't have that over-full regretful feeling. {Cheesecake hangover?}

These little guys are actually incredibly easy to make, using muffin papers and a muffin tray. They come together in a matter of minutes and bake up in 20 or so.

Like all cheesecakes, you do need to let them set up in the fridge for a few hours...that is the hardest part about cheesecakes, am I right? The waiting.

Well...they are definitely worth the wait. Creamy cheesecake swirled with cranberry sauce, and don't forget to dollop some more on top! This mini cheesecake recipe was the perfect way to put a dent in my leftover cranberry sauce.

Tips & equipment for cranberry sauce cheesecake

I love this muffin pan and these parchment muffin liners
You'll need an electric hand mixer
Looking for more mini cheesecake recipes? Check out these Mini Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes with a Pretzel Crust, these Greek Yogurt Key Lime Cheesecakes, or these Brown Butter Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Blondies

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Mini Cheesecake Recipe

4.50 from 8 votes

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Print Rate

Leftover cranberry sauce mini cheesecakes make the most of any leftover cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Swirled into the batter and served with a dollop on top!

Ingredients

Crust:

▢ ½ cup graham cracker crumbs (56 g)
▢ 1 tablespoon sugar
▢ 2 tablespoons butter (melted; 28g)

Cheesecake:

▢ 8 oz cream cheese (at room temperature {light or regular})
▢ ¼ cup sugar (50 g)
▢ 1 egg
▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla
▢ 7 tablespoons cranberry sauce

Topping:

▢ 1 cup cranberry sauce

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Line a standard-sized muffin pan with 7 large muffin liners.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs and sugar, until mixture is crumbly. Divide evenly amongst lined muffin tray {should be 1 or so tbsp per cheesecake}. Press gently with your fingers to flatten.
In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl several times. Mix in the egg and the vanilla. Spoon over the crust until muffin papers are ¾ full.
Add one tbsp of cranberry sauce over tops of cheesecakes. Swirl gently with a knife.
Bake for 20 minutes. Centers may still jiggle slightly. Cool completely in muffin pan, then transfer to a resealable container and cool for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
To serve, top with an additional 1-2 tbsp cranberry sauce.

Tips:

Any cranberry sauce recipe may be used.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cheesecake, Calories: 292kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 68mg, Sodium: 197mg, Potassium: 74mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 586IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 42mg, Iron: 1mg

Author: Denise Bustard

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Reader Interactions

Susan Casey says
Posted on 11/26/21 at Posted on 11/26/21
I love cranberry sauce..Thanks for the great idea.I was actually looking to see who else uses cranberry sauce on cheesecake..
Reply
- Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
  Posted on 11/28/21 at Posted on 11/28/21
  Hi Susan, we hope you enjoy if you make this recipe! Please report back to let us know how it turns out if you do make it 🙂
  Reply
Terri says
Posted on 12/30/18 at Posted on 12/30/18
Ever tried making these in the mini-muffin ‘tis?
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 12/30/18 at Posted on 12/30/18
  Hi Terri! I haven't tried it. Hopefully if someone else has they will chime in 🙂
  Reply
Eve says
Posted on 12/1/18 at Posted on 12/1/18

Second time making this recipe this holiday season. I put the recipe into MyFitnessPal and they're surprisingly low carb/some protein for a dessert, so I love having these in our freezer. We've been popping mini m&Ms or the holiday peppermint bark in a couple of them instead of cranberries 🙂
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 12/3/18 at Posted on 12/3/18
  I love that idea! I might have to make some more. Thanks so much for your review, Eve!
  Reply
Jackie says
Posted on 11/16/16 at Posted on 11/16/16
My mom makes something similar and always puts a vanilla waffer cookie on the bottom to save time and ensure it pops out of the wrapper intact! So good! Mini anything is a great way to ensure desserts get eaten!
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 11/16/16 at Posted on 11/16/16
  Oh I love that! Thanks for the tip Jackie!
  Reply
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
Posted on 10/23/14 at Posted on 10/23/14
Yes, yes, yes! Mini cheesecakes are the best. I can eat several and not feel guilty. 😉 This is perfect for a Thanksgiving dessert!
Reply
Isadora @ she likes food says
See Also
Delia Vs Heston: She knocks off a roast chicken in an hour. He takes NINE hours to cook a shepherd's pie. As Waitrose end their unlikely double act, whose recipes actually work best?
Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
What an awesome way to use up your cranberry sauce! I will never say no to cheesecake and I love the tartness of the cranberries! I usually make a pumpkin cheesecake for the holidays, but I'm thinking this might be my new favorite dessert 🙂 Beautiful pictures, Denise!!
Reply
Denise says
Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
I know, right? I would consider throwing one now, but I am honestly afraid of the calories I'd consume! Thanks, Lissa!
Reply
Denise says
Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
Thanks, Arpita!
Reply
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
I agree about eating too much cheesecake whenever cheesecake is around - you just can't stop yourself. These are perfect though - the perfect size so you don't go crazy - well…maybe at least 2 :). Looking forward to making these - so cute! Thanks, Denise.
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  Ugh, it's just too tempting, isn't it? I always want just 'one more sliver'! Thanks, Geraldine 🙂
  Reply
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
I have never made mini cheesecakes before or even tried a cranberry cheesecake so this recipe is a must for me to make. I can definitely see myself recreating it soon and throughout the hot Christmas season here in Australia, thanks for the great idea Denise!
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  This was my first mini cheesecake recipe, and it was surprisingly easy! I feel for you Aussies having to cook up a feast in the sweltering heat at Christmas! Thanks, Thalia 🙂
  Reply
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
These are gorgeous and so fall-perfect!! We always have tons of leftover cranberry sauce-- this is the perfect use for it!!
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  Glad I'm not the only one who overestimates the cranberry sauce...better to have too much than too little, right? 😉
  Reply
katie says
Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14

I'm in love with these little guys! Cheesecake is my all time favorite dessert, a cheesecake party sounds amazing! What a great and yummy idea 🙂
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  Thanks, Katie! I would totally consider throwing a cheesecake party these days, but I really want to be able to button my jeans up 😉
  Reply
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says
Posted on 10/20/14 at Posted on 10/20/14
Yep. I know what I'm doing with my leftover cranberry sauce come Thanksgiving! These cheesecakes are totally adorable, Denise!
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  Thanks, Sarah!
  Reply
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
Posted on 10/20/14 at Posted on 10/20/14

I must admit you are making me crave cranberry sauce. These cheesecakes are so perfect, a great contract of flavors, sweet and savory. Pinned.
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  I am a little too obsessed with the cranberry sauce these days, aren't I? Must seem very early to you Americans 🙂
  Reply
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Posted on 10/20/14 at Posted on 10/20/14
Ooh I love this festive fall twist! Yum 🙂
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  Thanks, Medha!
  Reply
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Posted on 10/20/14 at Posted on 10/20/14
These mini cheesecakes look gorgeous, Denise! For some reason, I never thinking of baking with cranberries, yet I love it! Such a great way to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers!
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  Thanks, Gayle! I love cranberries in my cocktails, my sauce, and my baking, apparently 😀
  Reply
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Posted on 10/20/14 at Posted on 10/20/14
Cheesecake has got to be my favourite dessert, but I must admit I'm often put off ordering it in restaurant because of the calories. Soooo ... I'm totally on board with this idea of mini cranberry cheesecakes.
On the other hand, I do love the idea of that cheesecake party ... I don't think I'd give the calories a second thought - especially if I was in with the chance of winning a mushroom scrubber 😉
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  Yes...me too...love cheesecake but hate cheesecake calories. And I heard that the calories don't count at a cheesecake party 😉 Thanks, Helen!
  Reply
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says
Posted on 10/20/14 at Posted on 10/20/14
Okay, I seriously love the idea of a cheesecake party (how fun of an idea is that!?) and love these adorable, portion-sized cranberry sauce mini cheesecakes! They look fantastic and love that you put the rest of your cranberry sauce to good use 🙂
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  It was a pretty brilliant party idea...if only I still had the same metabolism as when I was 16 😉 Thanks, Ceara!
  Reply
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Posted on 10/20/14 at Posted on 10/20/14
These are seriously the cutest things ever!! Perfect for Thanksgiving!
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/21/14 at Posted on 10/21/14
  Thanks, Jocelyn!
  Reply
Momma baker says
Posted on 10/19/14 at Posted on 10/19/14
That cheesecake sounds delicious !! And I agree waiting for them to cool is the hardest part!
Reply
- Denise says
  Posted on 10/19/14 at Posted on 10/19/14
  Thanks Momma baker! Cheesecakes would be absolutely perfect if it weren't for that pesky setting up step 🙂
  Reply