Finish off a tapas-style meal with mini dulce de leche cheesecakes — individual-sized creamy caramel-flavored cheesecakes with a cinnamon-crumb crust.

I love eating tapas-style. If you’re unfamiliar, tapas is a wide selection of appetizers or snacks. In the world of tapas-style dining, you’re served a variety of dishes in appetizer- or snack-sized portions. The options are usually a mix of both hot and cold dishes, and rather than coming out from the kitchen in courses, the food comes out whenever it is ready. You may receive two dishes, then four at once, then another two.

I’ve had the opportunity to try two of Philadelphia’s tapas-style restaurants, and I just love being to able to taste so many options from the menu. Most restaurants are pay-as-you, suggesting you choose three plates to start with, and ordering more if you want them; others have an “unlimited” option, where you can choose as many plates as you wish for a fixed price.

One of my all-time favorite meals was a tapas-style brunch at a Cuban restaurant in Philadelphia. We chose the unlimited plates option, and we were so stuffed with churros, pork belly, crab cakes, French toast, and cheese-and-spinach puffs that you could have rolled us out of the restaurant.

Restaurants with tapas-style dining also usually have tapas-style desserts: small portions, and you can choose as many as you like. Because tapas-style dining originated in Spain, most of the dining and dessert dishes are Spanish or Latin-American in origin.

That is why, for this theme, I chose mini dulce de leche cheesecakes. These individually-portioned desserts are perfect for one person to polish off in three or four forkfuls. Three or four forkfuls are about all you’ll need to be satisfied by this rich, decadent dessert.

Dulce de leche is very similar to caramel. I haven’t seen it in my regular local grocery store, but I have seen it at natural food stores, and online. If you can’t find it near you, Baker’s Royale has three methods for making it at home from a can of sweetened condensed milk.

These cheesecakes are addictively good. My family was grabbing for them out of the fridge before they were thoroughly chilled. I didn’t think dessert could get any better until I sprinkled one cheesecake with flaked sea salt, and thought my brain would melt from deliciousness.

Mini Dulce de Leche Cheesecakes #SundaySupper

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Author: Coleen, The Redhead Baker

Serves: 16 cheesecakes

Ingredients

For the crusts:

• 1½ cups cinnamon graham cracker crumbs or cinnamon cookie crumbs
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

For the cheesecakes:

• 2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• â…” cup sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• ¼ cup dulce de leche
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• Additional dulce de leche for drizzling
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Flaked sea salt (optional, but highly recommended)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 16 wells of two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Scoop 1 tbsp of the mixture into the bottom of each paper liner and pat down into an even layer. Divide any leftover crumb mixture between the paper liners.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and well-blended.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl between additions.
5. Beat in the dulce de leche, vanilla extract and salt until fully incorporated.
6. Use a medium scoop to divide the batter between the paper liners.
7. Bake for 15 to 30 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers jiggle just a bit. Set the muffin pan on a wire rack to cool the cheesecakes to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
8. When ready to garnish, warm the dulce de leche slightly. Drizzle the warm caramel from a spoon over the cheesecakes, or, if your cheesecakes sink the middle like mine did, spoon about half a teaspoon of caramel into the sunken area. Garnish with flaked sea salt or whipped cream, if desired.
9. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

3.5.3208

Adapted from David Lebovitz

Discover more #SundaySupper tapas recipes!

Para Empezar, Las Tapas (Appetizers/tapas)

• Apple, Chorizo, and Manchego Crostini by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Champiñones al Ajillo by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Chorizo and Sweet Potato Spanish Tortilla Bites by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Citrus & Fennel Marinated Olives by Go Epicurista
• Clams Casino Dip with Bacon by Girl Abroad
• Crab Enchilado Empanadas with Avocado Cream by Gourmet Everyday
• Deviled Eggs with Shrimp by Our Good Life
• Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp) by Pook’s Pantry
• Garlicky Shrimp with Pancetta Olive Oil by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
• Gazpacho Cucumber Bites by A Mind Full Mom
• Gildas Picantes – Spicy Anchovy Olive Skewers by Food Lust People Love
• Herbed and Spiced Almonds by Get the Good Stuff!
• How to make Beef Sweet Sour Meatballs with Pineapple for #SundaySupper by Asian In America
• Manchego Cheese & Chorizo Bites with Saffron Alioli by Hardly A Goddess
• Margarita Ceviche by The Crumby Cupcake
• Pinchos Morunos (Spanish Pork Skewers) with Mojo Picon by Curious Cuisiniere
• Roasted Bell Pepper Goat Cheese Bites by She Loves Biscotti
• Roasted Eggplant and Piquillo Pepper Toasts by Take A Bite Out of Boca
• Roasted Red Peppers and Anchovies with Bruschetta by The Hungry Goddess
• Seared Scallops with Shredded Manchego and a Bleu Cheese Crumble by The Freshman Cook
• Serrano Ham & Goat Cheese Croquettes by My World Simplified
• Serrano Ham Bites with Melon and Cheese by Palatable Pastime
• Shrimp Romesco Bites by Cooking On The Ranch
• Smoked Sardine Crostini by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Spanish Garlic Shrimp by Life Tastes Good
• Tomato Gazpacho With Fried Avocado Bites by Nik Snacks
• Tortilla de Camarones by The Healthy Fit Foodie
• Tortilla Española by Monica’s Table
• White Wine Marinated Steak with Blue Cheese by Caroline’s Cooking
• Zanahorias Aliñadas (Spanish Marinated Carrots) by Tara’s Multicultural Table

Postres (Desserts)

• Buñuelos de Viento by Dessert Geek
• Chocolate Orange Macarons by Gluten Free Crumbley
• Chocolate Toasts with Apricot Jam by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Churro Bites with Chocolate Sauce by Angels Home Sweet Homestead
• Churro Cupcakes by Pies and Plots
• Mini Vanilla Flans by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Mini Dulce de Leche Cheesecakes by The Redhead Baker

Bebidas (Drinks)

• Tinto de Verano ~ A Sangria alternative by An Appealing Plan

Plus Alcachofas al Ajillo – Garlicky Artichokes – and Spanish Tapas Recipes from Sunday Supper Movement

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

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