I mentioned in my last post that I’m often inspired by recipes as I plow through magazines while working out at the gym. Martha had a recipe for Carrot Cheesecake in her latest issue of MS Living and that got me thinking. I do love carrot cake, and cheesecake is pretty much my all-time favorite dessert… so why not combine the two? That same day I went clothes shopping and came home with mini-cheesecake pans instead. My idea was now complete: Mini Carrot Cake Cheesecakes with Cream Cheese Icing.
Mini-cheesecakes are made the same way as regular cheesecakes… crust baked first, then filled and baked again. This crust was made of graham cracker crumbs and toasted pecans.
I know that cheesecakes don’t typically have an icing on top, but I remembered the Red Velvet Cheesecake that I made last Christmas (and how good that was). Since carrot cake most often has a cream cheese icing, I felt these mini cheesecakes needed some too.
I topped the mini cheesecakes with Petite Marzipan Carrots. Stick a small mint leaf on there if you don’t feel like making the carrots (or leave them plain). The best part about the marzipan carrots though is that you can actually eat them!
I took a few of these over to the teachers at school for a little before-spring-break treat. They thought they were appetizers because of the carrots. Yes, they thought the carrots were real! Needless to say, they were impressed with my decor 
I was really quite happy with how this dessert turned out. They’re cute little treats, and those marzipan carrots really make them perfect for Easter. If you’re preparing these for Easter, it’s best to make the cheesecakes the day before, then ice and decorate the day you plan to serve them. When I first spotted this recipe, I thought carrots in cheesecake sounded a little strange. I grated the carrots finely so there weren’t big chunks of carrot in there. It wasn’t at all strange. And the cream cheese icing… well, lets just say that you shouldn’t leave it off! These cheesecakes were beyond YUMMY.
This recipe can be found HERE.
Instructions for making Marzipan Carrots can be found HERE.
55 Comments
These are so cute! I’m also intrigued by the carrot cheesecake. I’ll have to keep this one in mind!
[Reply]
These cheesecakes are the perfect size for family dinners, where do you find mini cheese cake pans?? I love carrot cake as well, I’ve never made carrot cake cheesecake though!! It sounds great!!
[Reply]
RecipeGirl Reply:
April 7th, 2009 at 5:57 AM
Bunny- I got the mini-cheesecake pans at a cooking store. They’re easily available online at http://www.KingArthurFlour.com too.
[Reply]
These are so cute! I’ve been wanting a mini cheesecake pan. I may have to go shopping today!
[Reply]
These look so delicious.
[Reply]
Carrot cake is one of my favourites so I could defintely see us enjoying these:D
[Reply]
Wow! The mini carrots make them very appealing and the cream cheese frosting makes them irresistible! Hehe. I need to try these.
[Reply]
So cute! I love that you made them mini’s – easier to keep portion size in check!
[Reply]
Adorable!! Better put those in a safe place or the Easter Bunny will be after them!
[Reply]
Too cute! I love the mini cheesecakes and the carrots really make them shine! Great dessert!
[Reply]
Nothing wrong with icing on cheesecake. The little carrots on top with mint make them.
[Reply]
Those are GORGEOUS and the petit marzipan carrots are TOO CUTE! I’m going to have to make this this weekend!
[Reply]
Oh my!!! Send one my way : )
[Reply]
I love the combination! We have a party to go to and I needed two desserts- I think this will be one of them!
Too funny- you are like me- supposed to look for clothes (that fit), but end up with more kitchen stuff!
[Reply]
Sounds interesting and looks good! Those little carrots are too cute and do look like tiny carrots.
~ingrid
[Reply]
OK Ms. Lori, now those are adorable!
[Reply]
AMAZING. Carrot cake and cheesecake are two of my favorite things. I went to Cheesecake factory once and had a Carrot-Cheese Cake they came up with but this one looks much better.
[Reply]
Those just the cutest darn things!
[Reply]
Oh I absolutely love this! a lovely cheesecake!
[Reply]
These look SO GOOD!! I love carrot anything, and cheesecake is my favorite dessert too. And as a teacher, I must say that I wish your child was in my class!!!
[Reply]
a cheesecake with icing. it’s just so wrong, it’s right.
carrot cake happens to be my favorite type of cake, and cheesecake doesn’t trail too far behind. i LOVE this!
[Reply]
Yum pretty much says it all here!!
[Reply]
I LOVE the marzipan carrots – so creative and cute! Carrot cake is so yummy.
[Reply]
Carrot cake is one of my most favorite things in the world
Thanks for sharing this!
[Reply]
What delectable treats. I couldn’t help smiling when I read your opener. “I mentioned in my last post that I’m often inspired by recipes as I plow through magazines while working out at the gym.” It just struck a cord:)
I adore carrot cake. Oh how I wish I were as creative when it comes to cute decor.
Thanks for sharing…
[Reply]
I love love love them! Too cute
[Reply]
Sounds like a perfect combo to me and my favorite cheesecake has “frosting.” Actually is a creme fraiche topping, but close enough for me! Still have never made anything with marzipan. Nice job on those cute little carrots!
[Reply]
Wow, you really outdid yourself on these. What a incredibly creative idea and you pulled it off so well! Extra impressed by the marzipan
[Reply]
Terrific idea! I love carrot cake and the DH loves cheesecake. I’ll have to try the recipe this weekend!!!
[Reply]
you’re killing me with the carrots! they’re so adorable
[Reply]
These are so cute and such a great idea for easter! The little carrots look so real.
[Reply]
They are too cute! Love the marzipan carrots, though I’m too impatient to make something like that myself, so I’ll just live vicariously through yours.
[Reply]
These look fabulous Lori! And if I forgot to comment the other day.. you made molding carrots look so easy! I need to really try working with the marzipan! Thanks for the wonderful post!
[Reply]
Too cute! Mini cheesecakes WITH icing? Yum!
[Reply]
Those look great! I’ve been thinking about making carrot cake ice cream lately…
[Reply]
RecipeGirl Reply:
April 7th, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Brilynn- Carrot cake ice cream? That’s a terrific idea!
[Reply]
These are perfect and your little carrots are divine!
[Reply]
Love, Love , Love these, How cute! ! ! I’m sure they are yummy!
[Reply]
I love your use of the marzipan carrots! Haha, and I love how you came home with a mini cheesecake pan; I’ve totally gone to buy some clothes and come home with more kitchen supplies. I especially love my mini cheesecake pan. I can’t wait to try these mini carrot cheesecakes. They’re just adorable! And what fabulous flavor combinations!
[Reply]
These are amazing, going to have to try this!
[Reply]
Holy cow! These look amazing.. I LOVE them. I have to bookmark thisone. Carrot cake cheesecakes.. delicious, and I love that they are mini.. less guilt that way;)
[Reply]
Nicely done Lori. I’m a carrot lover, so I’ll have to try these out.
Mark
[Reply]
LOVELY!!!!
[Reply]
Ahhh I adore the mini cheesecakes and those carrots are just soooo cute!
[Reply]
Oh wow, those came out so cute and they look insanely delicious!
[Reply]
Mmmm… what a great idea! These look phenomenal!! And those marzipan carrots look so real.
[Reply]
Yummy – my two favorites.
So I’m assuming that I could make this recipe in an 8″ spring form pan? Or is it best to use the little mini cheesecake pans?
[Reply]
RecipeGirl Reply:
April 8th, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Sara,
I halved Martha’s original recipe to make these mini cheesecakes. If you wanted to make a full sized cheesecake, you would need to double everything.
[Reply]
It’s unfortunate for me that the better half is not real big on carrot cake. The marzipan carrots look really great. I recently made some marzipan from scratch and have been looking to put them to a use other than eating a bite of it every time I open my fridge!
[Reply]
Carrot cake + cheesecake = so good. That is a lovely, lovely dessert!
[Reply]
I thought the carrots were real! Those are amazing!
[Reply]
Great use of the marzipan carrots! Carrot cake cheesecake sounds delicious.
[Reply]
Looks delicious and your marzipan carrots are too cute sitting on top. I love it. You inspired me to do marzipan again. I thought it might be a fun project with the kids. But unfortunately it was much harder than I remembered and hard for them to make Easter egg shapes even. Oh well. We had fun for a bit.
[Reply]
Carrot cake cheesecake sounds so good!
[Reply]
Those wee carrots are too cute…aren’t you crafty these days! PS. Carrot cake is one of my faves.
[Reply]
I love anything mini – especially cheesecakes!
[Reply]
I made it last week and everyone LOVED IT!!! I hope you don’t mind, I posted the recipe on my blog and gave you credit of course =]
[Reply]
thanks for your feedback. I am a newbie to this. sorry i thought I asked about the pic, but I didn’t realize till now I hadn’t. Is it ok to still use it? BTW…I finally learned how to add an active link =)
Jeannette
[Reply]