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Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Bites

Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 24 bites

Ingredients
  

  • 5 sheets reduced fat graham crackers
  • 1/4 cup whole unsalted almonds
  • 3 tablespoons butter melted
  • 8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese softened*
  • 6 ounces nonfat plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup egg whites **
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Method
 

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Line a mini-muffin pan with 24 foil liners and set aside.
  2. First make the crust -- In a food processor, process graham crackers until they reach a crumb-like consistency. Place in a small bowl and set aside. In the same processor, grind almonds into an almond-meal consistency and mix with graham cracker crumbs.
  3. Combine graham cracker-almond crumbs with the melted butter until just coated, it will still be slightly course in texture. Distribute mixture evenly into cupcake liners and firmly press crumbs together to form a tight crust. Bake 7 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and set aside to cool while making the filling.
  4. Now make the filling -- In a stand mixer, beat cream cheese for 2 minutes. This is mandatory as it helps give the filling a light texture by incorporating air. Beat in the yogurt, egg whites, sugar, cocoa powder, and flour until smooth [about 2-3 minutes]. Add in the lemon juice and the vanilla & almond extracts until just combined. Remove from mixer and fold in chocolate chips.
  5. Evenly distribute the filling into each cupcake liner, filling about 3/4 of the way full**. Bake for 16 - 18 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes. Finish cooling by placing the pan in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Serve after being well chilled.

Notes

* If you forgot to let your cream cheese soften, remove the paper packaging and place it on top of the pre-heating oven while you make the crust. It should be just soft enough once you finish.
** Either store bough egg-whites or traditional egg whites may be used - simply measure out a 1/4 cup of either.
*** Depending on how light & fluffy you mixed your filling - you may have some remaining. Place it in an oven safe bowl, lightly coated with non-stick spray and bake along side the mini cheesecake bites for a crustless treat.