Cooking with Ease: Girl Scout Cookie Mini Cheesecakes by Melissa Tate

(ROCKWALL, TX — January 18, 2019) It’s cookie time! And I’m sure all of you have a cute little Girl Scout encouraging you to purchase some of those infamous treats. I’m always torn between Samoas and Dosidos but then, of course, there is Thin Mints and Tagalongs and for sure you have to get the original cookie, Trefoils. So, as you can see, we end up with a lot of cookies in our house! If you do the same and are looking for a creative way to use them in another recipe, I have just the thing for you. Girl Scout Cookie Mini Cheesecakes are a perfect way to get those extra cookies moving out of your house without just showing up to a potluck or dinner party with a box of half eaten cookies. Of which, I never recommend doing! This recipe is quick, easy and adored by all.

Girl Scout Cookie Mini Cheesecakes

1 package of your favorite Girl Scout cookies (or a variety if you want to mix it up)
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
your choice of topping (pie filling, mini chocolate chips, peanut butter, Andes mints, etc)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with paper muffin liners. Place one cookie in each liner. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Fill each muffin liner with mixture, almost to the top. Bake for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Let cool and top with your favorite topping.

My recommended pairings would be:

Thin Mint cheesecakes topped with chopped Andes mints
Tagalongs cheesecakes topped with crushed Butterfinger
Dosidos cheesecakes topped with a drizzle of warmed peanut butter
Samoas cheesecakes topped with mini chocolate chips
Trefoils cheesecakes topped with your favorite fruit pie filling

If you are out and about on Saturday and would like to try a few of these before baking on your own, I will be selling some Girl Scout Cookie inspired desserts at the Bonafide Betties Pie Co Girl Scout Pop Up Party from 12-4. Bonafide Betties will also have cookie themed pies for sale, Beer Geeks will have some cookie pairings and there will be a local troop selling cookies as well.

By Melissa Tate of Rockwall. Melissa is a freelance food writer and owner of Photo-Wagon mobile photo booth. She also helps her husband run their family farm, Tate Farms, and event center, Summerfield at Tate Farms. They are currently managing the Smirl Chapel Relocation & Preservation Project. Find Melissa on Facebook or Instagram at @melissatatetx to follow the adventures. Headshot by Kelly Alexander Photography.