Not too long ago, I was petrified of scary movies.
Now, I suppose part of growing up is enjoying coffee after years of questioning why adults liked a hot, dark drink that tasted like death, and ultimately, enjoying scary movies. Respectively, of course, because I’m not grown up enough to enjoy coffee while watching a scary movie — too much responsibility, methinks.
Anyway, as a kid I was obviously spooked, yet I remember going over to my friend’s house for a sleepover one night and Leprechaun was on TV. We were trying so hard not to watch it, but being curious children we couldn’t not watch a movie on TV about a sadistic mythical creature.
And let me tell you.. it was the scariest thing EVER.
I remember the intense need to avoid Lucky Charms at all costs. And really disliking Saint Patrick’s Day even more than I already did. How come you are forced to wear green? What if I don’t want to wear green? Then I’m subjected to juvenile assault by pinching? Um, no thank you. I already have enough OCD problems as it is deciding what to wear each day. Throwing required colors for certain days just throws a wrench in my entire psyche.
And on top of forcibly needing to wear green, there was a frightening man after me lucky charms.
But now that I’m older, I see that Saint Patrick’s Day isn’t about a creepy troll man or Lucky Charms or wearing green. It’s about drinking beer. And eating cheesecake. I love being a grown up!
Okay, so I don’t really think drinking beer or eating cheesecake are exclusive St. Patty’s Day traditions, but hello, they totally should be. Especially rainbow cheesecake because it’s magical. Don’t you just SEE the magic oozing from all that cheesecake?
Mmm… magic ooze.
Rainbow Mini Cheesecakes  *adapted from THIS recipe at Kraft Foods
- 12 Chips Ahoy Rainbow Chip Cookies
- 3 pkg cream cheese, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 3 eggs
- Wilton gel food coloring in No-Taste Red, Lemon Yellow, Kelly Green, Royal Blue, Violet
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line 1 muffin pan with 12 baking cups. Place a rainbow-chip cookie in the bottom of each muffin liner and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, vanilla and white sugar together until blended. Gradually beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined. Evenly divide the cheesecake batter among five small bowls. Tint each bowl a different color--one red, one yellow, one kelly green, one blue and one purple (just tint each with a small amount of gel food coloring from a butter knife or a toothpick, adding more to graduate intensity if desired).
- Using 5 different spoons, spoon a different color in a layered-effect into each muffin tin. I did a "standard" rainbow and a "reversed" rainbow, e.g, purple > blue >green >yellow>red AND red>yellow >green >blue>purple. Just make sure you LAYER the colors and don't swirl them -- swirling muddies the colors up.
- Bake the cheesecakes for approx. 25-30 minutes or until the centers are just slightly set. Cool completely before refrigerating for two hours. Store them airtight in the fridge.
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Rainbow desserts are SO easy, if not a little labor-intensive. In a few simple steps you took a normal mini cheesecake and turned it into something extraordinary with some food coloring and a rainbow-chip chocolate chip cookie as the delicious crust. These cheesecakes not only impress in their brightness and wow-factor, but in their delicious, creamy taste and that awesome cookie base. Engage the kids and have them help layer the colors in the muffin tins or tint the batter. And consider other holiday color options, too, like pastels for Easter, ombre pinks for Mother’s Day, red, white and blue for the 4th or green, orange, black and purple for Halloween. SO simple!!
Still feeling the rainbow? Check out my other rainbow treats!
Rainbow Truffles
Funfetti Rainbow Bars
Rainbow Cupcakes
Have a wonderful day!!
xo, Hayley
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cookingactress says
I cannot do scary movies, at all. Never could *shudder*
Nicky @ Pink Recipe Box says
So so pretty! These are definitely the most magical cheesecakes I’ve ever seen. Love that you used chocolate chip cookies for the base, too!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
I LOVE that you used cookies as the crust
A Sweet Baker says
I love how colorful they are! They would be perfect for a kids party 🙂
In Katrina's Kitchen (@katrinaskitchen) says
You KNOW this makes my heart sing, right?
Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies says
I’d never heard that St Patricks day was for cheesecake… but if you’ve said it, it must be true. Now I have an excuse for cheesecake 🙂
Nicole @ youngbrokeandhungry says
Sometimes I like to watch scary movies just to scare the crap out of myself. I dont know why because then I cant sleep for like a week. However, I think these rainbow cheesecakes will ward off some of the nightmares. Soo bright and cheer, they are!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
You always come up with the most creative desserts! I need your creativity!
Back For Seconds says
Prettiest little magical cheesecakes ever!
Love all your rainbow goodies!
a farmer in the dell says
You are so stinking creative I can’t stand it! These look absolutely perfect!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
SO MANY COLORS! Gahd I love it 😀 And dude leprechauns can be right up there with clowns in my book – there are some sketchy magical/insane creatures out there. I think the only way to steer clear of them is to stay in one’s kitchen and eat tons of this cheesecake 😉
lizwaterson says
Scary movies are no go for me! Too scary! LOL But these cheesecakes, they are so cute. Sometimes I eat things just because they are cute- but cheesecake is darn good!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
What’s funny is that I LOVED scary movies when I was younger, but now? Not so much. I think I’m regressing?? Anyway, these cheesecakes are simply stunning. So creative and vibrant and awesome–just like you!
crazyforcrust says
I cannot even begin to watch scary movies. I loved them as a kid…now. Gah, NO THANKS. Too much alone time in a dark house. These rainbow cheesecakes are perfect! I need to make more rainbows!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
I can’t do scary movies either… But I can these cheesecakes! So pretty and colorful!
grandbabycakes says
Ok these look so amazing!!! I adore the colors and I get the whole thing about the scary movies!
Sally says
I HATE scary movies!! Kevin and I both do – we never watch them. I have nightmares no matter what it is! And PS: is this real life? You did NOT just make rainbow cheesecakes! Hayley they are adorable! and so festive!
Sarah @ Miss CandiQuik says
These are beyond pretty!!! Such vibrant colors – these just pop!
Tonette Joyce says
Wow, you are really NOT Irish at all , are you?St.Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday in Ireland and they don’t go dyeing their hair green and downing green beer until they get sick. In America, it is a courtesy to wear green on St.P’s day even if you are not Irish, otherwise, you are labeled as anti-Irish,(which many people were at one time), hence the pinching.
I never heard of cheese cake for St.Patrick’s Day but Hayley, THANK YOU! I will use that as an excuse from now on! (“It’s a tradition; I read it somewhere” I’ll tell everyone!)
Those are some colorful mini-cakes. Is your mouth colored for a week?
noyomoco says
These remind me of the tie dye cheesecakes at Disney World – so fun and awesome!
Colleen Lavallee says
These looke awesome. You could adapt it to any holiday that you want to eat cheesecake. Red/green for Christmas, red, white and blue for the summer holidays. Chips Ahoy puts out seasonal chip cookies, too, so theres your crust. I’m bookmarking this for future use. Thanks so much.
Colleen Lavallee says
…and then I read the rest of the directions. LOL