Mini Cheese Nilla Tarts

This is a favorite simple minimal ingredient dessert. Its adaptable for low or no sugar, keto and even dairy free with some practice. Of indulge the full dairy version.

Mini Cheese Nilla Tarts

For tart cheese base

• 2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese

• 2 beaten eggs

• 4 c. sugar

• 2 tsp. vanilla

• l box vanilla wafers

• 30 foil cupcake cups (2 l/2 inch)

• I can pie filling

For cheese glaze

• 1 tbsp granulated sugar

• 1 pint sour cream

• 1 - 2 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Soften cream cheese using a hand mixer

3. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Cream until well blended. Some lumps are fine

4. Add zest of one lemon, blend

5. Put a wafer into the bottom of each paper cup and pour in tart cheese mixture 1/2-2/3 full.

6. Place in the over to bake for 7 min.

7. Mix up cheese glaze (see below)

8. After 7 mins, top with a spooned on layer of cheese glaze*

9. Return to the oven for 7 - 8 minutes more or until cheese won't stick to your finger when touched.

Let cool in the tray/cups

Top with cherry or apple pie filling or caramel sauce

Serve or Refrigerate

*Cheese Glaze

Combine sugar, sour cream and vanilla extract until smooth

Substitutions

• You can substitute ground graham crackers or ground nuts mixed with some melted butter as a base. Instead of the wafer cookies. Just press ground nut mixture into foil cup to form base. Then add cheese. Etc

• Any sugar substitute will work (I prefer Monk fruit sweetener)

• Dairy free cream cheese works fine as does dairy free Sour cream. But add a pinch of salt to the mix.