Mini Savory Mushroom & Herb Cheesecakes
Serves: 18
 
Ingredients
  • 2 (4-ounce) packages sliced gourmet blend mushrooms
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ plus ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt, divided
  • 42 buttery round crackers*
  • ½ cup salted butter, melted
  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup shredded Gruyère cheese
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped orange bell pepper
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • Garnish: chopped fresh herbs
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Arrange mushrooms in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon salt.
  3. Roast mushrooms until they release juices, approximately 20 minutes. Let cool, and chop finely.
  4. Spray 18 wells of 2 (12-well) mini cheesecake pans with removable bottoms with cooking spray.
  5. In the work bowl of a food processor, pulse crackers until fine.
  6. In a small bowl, stir together cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press approximately 2 teaspoons crumb mixture into bottom of each prepared well of pans.
  7. Bake crust for 6 minutes.
  8. In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed with a mixer until light and creamy. Beat in flour, whipping cream, Worcestershire sauce, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper. Beat in eggs. Stir in mushrooms, cheese, bell pepper, chives, parsley, and thyme. Divide mixture among prepared wells of pans.
  9. Bake until cheesecakes are slightly puffed, approximately 12 minutes. Let cool for 1 hour on a wire rack. Run a knife around edges of cheesecakes before removing from pans.
  10. Garnish with chopped herbs, if desired.
  11. Serve warm.
Notes
*We used Ritz Crackers.
Recipe by TeaTime Magazine at https://teatimemagazine.com/mini-savory-mushroom-herb-cheesecakes/