Raspberry Mini Cheesecakes - Recipe

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
*(substitute for vegan margarine for baking)
2 cups ricotta cheese
*(substitute with cranberry goat cheese)
2 cups cream cheese, softened
*(substitute for tofu cream cheese)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups confectioners/icing sugar
3 eggs
1/2 fresh raspberries

additional raspberries, if desired

Preheat the oven to 325F. Put the cracker crumbs into a medium bowl and stir in the butter until well combined. Spoon a heaping tablespoon into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom, to completely cover the bottom of each well. Chill in the fridge for 15-30 minutes (or until set).
In a large bowl, beat the ricotta (or goat) on low-medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the cream cheese, vanilla and icing sugar, continue to beat until smooth. Slowly add the eggs, one at a time, beating between eggs, until smooth. Gently fold in raspberries, until evenly dispersed. Spoon 1/4 - 1/3 cup of the cheese mixture into each well of the muffin on top of the graham crumbs. Bake for 23-27 minutes. Remove pan from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove mini cheesecakes from pan and cool on a wire rack for an additional 25 minutes. Store in fridge until ready to serve.  Top with a fresh raspberry before serving, if desired.
Mini cheesecakes can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 2 days before consumption.

Makes approximately 12 mini cheesecakes.

***Goat's milk cheese contains a different kind of lactose than standard cow's milk cheese. Because of this different kind of lactose, many people that are intolerant to cow's milk can easily digest goat's milk. Celebrity makes many flavors that will compliment these mini cheesecakes, such as blueberry, honey, fig and cranberry.***

PS Cranberry goat cheese will marry extremely well with the raspberries in this cheesecake. Cran-ras is a classic fruit combination that blends sweet and tart. If you would like to add to the cranberry flavor you can also spoon some cranberry sauce (yes like at thanksgiving) on top of each mini cheesecake before serving, DELISH!