Learn How to Paint Cheesecake Easter Eggs for dessert this year. Each creamy, egg shaped, cheesecake can be painted with your favorite colors. These Easter Egg Cheesecakes will really brighten up your Easter dinner.
Handpainted Cheesecake Easter Eggs |
For years I have been painting candy molds with brightly colored white chocolate and wondered if the same artistic technique could work with colorful cheesecake filling.
It does!
And painting cheesecakes is just as much fun.
Painting into candy molds using candy melts works great and I figured being I had success making colorful Conversation Heart Cheesecakes, Rainbow Cheesecake Hearts, and Cheesecake Leaves and Pumpkins. that using the same painting technique with cheesecake filling could work as well.
I had already tried my hand at “painting” a design onto the top of a cheesecake when I made my Decorated Daisy Cheesecake but this time I wanted to actually paint the colored cheesecake filling into a silicone mold in hopes that the design would show through once the cheesecake was baked.
You can read my tips and tricks for making the creamiest cheesecake ever in my Classic Cheesecake Recipe post.
I had the perfect mold to use for my experiment.
My silicone Easter egg molds have indentations that can be filled with the colored cheesecake. The designs are simple, making it easy to paint with the filling. Just as I do with my chocolates, I froze the painted mold before filling it full of cheesecake.
Once baked and chilled I removed them from the silicone mold to find beautifully decorated Easter egg cakes.
I experimented with two different batches of colored cheesecake to make my Easter eggs and couldn’t decide which I liked better.
Some were very brightly colored.
While others were soft and pastel.
Which do you prefer?
I look forward to serving these individual desserts this Easter. I also may try my hand at re-creating some recipes from fellow bloggers that are being shared today in an Easter Extravaganza.
I was invited to participate in this blogging event, and couldn’t be more thrilled to be included with such amazingly talented bloggers. Once you read my cheesecake recipe, you’ll see pictures of all the Easter projects. Be sure to visit their blogs to see their tutorials and recipes.
Hand-painted Cheesecake Easter Eggs Recipe
Ingredients:
Makes 8 Cheesecake Easter Eggs
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
food coloring in your choice of colors (I used pink, yellow, violet, and green)
Special Supplies Needed:
- food processor or a mixing spoon
- paintbrushes (clean and used for food only)
- 2 silicone Easter Egg Molds (by Wilton, Ganz, or Wholeport)
- optional: roasting pan (with or without a flat rack) or a 9″x13″ baking pan*
I own a roasting pan that has a flat rack that fits inside. It is perfect for making these cheesecakes as you can set the filled mold on the rack and easily lower it into the hot water bath.
You don’t have to use the water bath, but I do highly recommend it.
How to make Cheesecake Easter Eggs
Prepare your water bath.
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- You can either fill your roasting pan with about an inch and a half of water and set it on the middle rack in the oven.
- Or you can bring a pot of water to a boil.
- Or you can skip the water bath all together, but I highly recommend using one!
- Make cheesecake filling:
- Combine cream cheese, sugar, heavy whipping cream, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor, pulse until smooth.
- If you don’t have a food processor, mix cream cheese and sugar together until well blended.
- Add whipping cream, eggs, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
- Combine cream cheese, sugar, heavy whipping cream, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor, pulse until smooth.
Color the cheesecake filling.
You can make your cheesecakes any color you like just note that you’ll need a lot of some colors and a small amount of others. Choose which colors you want the eggs to be then choose which colors you plan to paint the decorations (the polka dots and squiggly lines).
Below are the instructions for making pink and yellow eggs decorated using violet and green
- Spoon about a tablespoonful of cheesecake filling into a small bowl and color it using violet food coloring.
- Spoon about a tablespoonful of cheesecake filling into a small bowl and color it using bright green food coloring.
- Divide the remaining cheesecake filling into two and tint one pink and the other yellow.
- If you want a third color egg just divide the filling among 3 bowls and color them accordingly.
Paint the colored cheesecake filling into the molds:
- Dip a paintbrush into your colored cheesecake filling and use it to paint the indentations in the silicone Easter egg mold.
- Paint just enough cheesecake filling in the mold to cover the indentation.
- If you paint too much, it will drip out. If that happens, just wipe the excess off the mold.
- Use as many different colors as you’d like.
Note: If you are going to make a pink egg, don’t paint with pink. If making a yellow egg, don’t use yellow.
Freeze the painted molds.
- Once you have painted all of the indentations in 8 Easter eggs, freeze the molds for 15 minutes.
NOTE:
- This recipe will only make 8 Cheesecake Easter Eggs but your mold will have 6 egg-shaped cavities. It is best to fill the four eggs in each corner leaving the two center eggs empty.
- Being I only filled two of the eggs on one mold I had to weigh down my mold by filling the empty cavities with rice.
- If using a water bath and you have a flat rack for inside your roasting pan, set your mold on the rack. If not using a water bath, I recommend setting your Easter egg mold on a baking sheet, so it’s easy to move once filled.
- Pour cheesecake filling into the Easter egg mold, filling each egg-shaped cavity to about 1/8th of an inch from the top edge. The cheesecake will expand a bit while baking and you don’t want it to puff up and over the edge.
NOTE:
- You will have some extra cheesecake filling.
- It won’t be enough to make a full egg, but you can just pour all the extra filling into another egg in the mold. Just pour all the different colors into the mold. This egg will make a nice little snack for you later on. You know you’ll want to dig into one. This way you won’t have to ruin a nicely decorated egg.
Bake the Cheesecake Easter Eggs.
- Set the rack topped with the filled silicone mold down into the roasting pan filled with about an inch and a half of water or set it in the roasting pan and pour in some boiling water so that it goes about halfway up the sides of the mold.
- If you aren’t using a water bath set the baking sheet topped with the silicone mold into the oven on the middle rack.
- Bake your cheesecakes for 18-22 minutes until the top forms a smooth film and the center is still giggly but not wet.
- Remove from the oven and the water bath.
- Set the mold aside to cool completely.
- Refrigerate the cheesecakes for at least 2 hours.
- Freeze for 1-2 hours before un-molding.
Why bake the cheesecakes in a water bath?
- A warm water bath will help to keep your cheesecakes from cracking and drying out.
- These cheesecakes are rather small and will bake pretty quickly so baking without a water bath might be alright, but the water bath is still advisable so that you get the most amazingly creamy cheesecakes.
How to make a water bath for these cheesecakes?
- You can heat the water in your roasting pan as the oven preheats or you can bring a pot of water to a boil then pour the water into the pan.
- Pour about an inch (you want the water to come about halfway up the sides of the mold) of water in a roasting pan and set it in the oven and allow it to heat up while the oven is preheating. Then set the mold into the hot water and bake.
- OR set the mold in the roasting pan and carefully pour boiling water into the pan until the water comes halfway up the sides of the mold.
- If you find it easier, you can also put a pan of water on the rack below the cheesecakes. It will keep moisture in the oven which will help to keep your cheesecakes from cracking.
NOTE:
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you freeze the Cheesecake Easter Eggs in order to easily remove them from the silicone mold. If they are simply refrigerated they may become misshapen once you take them out of the mold.
- Carefully turn the silicone mold upside down, gently tug at the mold pulling it away from the cheesecake, then press the backside of the mold, allowing the Easter egg cheesecake to fall out of the mold.
- Immediately set them on a small dessert plate.
- Once the Cheesecake Easter Eggs thaw, they will be practically impossible to move without ruining their shape.
How to store these Cheesecake Easter Eggs.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to a few days.
- The cheesecakes can be frozen for up to 3 months. You can wrap the entire silicone mold really well with plastic wrap then again in a few layers of tin foil to store in the mold.
How to thaw frozen Easter Egg Cheesecakes.
- About 15 minutes before serving, remove the Cheesecake Easter Eggs from the refrigerator and allow them to come up to room temperature.
- You can serve frozen cheesecakes directly from the freezer. Plate them and allow them to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes in order to thaw.
I finished eating one of these cheesecakes while writing this post, as my mouth was watering about midway through my description. They are so creamy and have a nice vanilla flavor. I hope you have fun working with this new food painting technique.
Are you ready to see some more incredible Easter projects?
I was invited to join in on an Easter Extravaganza and couldn’t be more thrilled to be included with such amazingly talented bloggers and can’t wait to visit all of their sites to see their recipes and tutorials. Just click on the pictures and you’ll be re-directed to their blogs.
Items used to make this project are available for sale on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales at no additional cost to you).
Cheesecake Easter Eggs Recipe
Hand-painted cheesecake Easter Eggs will really brighten up your Easter dinner table. Each individual-sized dessert is creamy and smooth and vibrantly colored.
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- food coloring (pink, yellow. purple, green)
-
Combine cream cheese, sugar, heavy whipping cream, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor, pulse very smooth.
-
Color the filling using a variety of food coloring. See notes in tutorial for details.
-
Dip a paintbrush into your colored cheesecake filling and use it to paint the indentations in the silicone Easter egg mold.
-
Once you have painted all of the indentations in 8 Easter eggs, freeze the molds for 15 minutes.
-
If using a water bath and you have a flat rack for inside your roasting pan, set your mold on the rack. If not using a water bath, set your Easter egg mold on a baking sheet.
-
Pour colored cheesecake filling into the Easter egg mold, filling each egg-shaped cavity to about 1/8th of an inch from the top edge.
-
Fill all 8 of the painted eggs.
-
Pour any remaining cheesecake filling into another egg mold.
-
Bake your cheesecakes in the water bath, if using, for 18-22 minutes until the top forms a smooth film and the center is still giggly but not wet.
-
Allow your cheesecakes to cool at room temperature for an hour then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
-
Freeze for 1-2 hours before un-molding.
-
Remove from the mold and immediately set each cheesecake on a small dessert plate.
-
Allow them to thaw for about 30 minutes before serving.
MORE FUN EASTER RECIPE IDEAS
See all my Easter recipes, here.
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See all these amazing Easter projects at these blogs:
3D Easter Bunny by Marielle – De Koekenbakkers
Chick Cupcakes by Robin – Bird On A Cake
Mrs. Bunny Centerpiece by Myriam – Chapix Cookies
Cho “Bunny” Greek Yogurt Pops by Jill – Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons
Hidden Easter Eggs by Stephanie – Ellie’s Bites
Easter Egg Cupcakes by Liz – Hoosier Homemade
Easter Treat Pouches by Elena – Just Me
Mini Meringue Cake by Karyn – Pint Sized Baker
Bunny Cake by Kathia – Pink Little Cake
Easter Gumball Machine by Marlyn – Montreal Confections
Easter Island by Laura – A Dozen Eggs Bake Shoppe
Easter Bunny Sandwich by Michelle – Creative Food
Bunny Garland by Sue – Munchkin Munchies
Egg Hunt Pound Cake by Jennifer – Not Your Momma’s Cookie
Dutch Easter Egg by Lorraine – Lorraine’s Cookies
Easter Egg Painting Chicks by Mike – Semi Sweet
Easter Basket Cookies by Amber – Sweet Ambs Cookies
The Carrot Patch Cake by Kim – The Partiologist
Cookie Bunny Pop by Meaghan – The Decorated Cookie
Pretzel Bunnies by Sarah – Miss CandiQuik
I, Robot Egg Cookie by Hani – Haniela’s
Did you make this recipe or do you just think it is super cute? Let me know by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below.
I love making fun food for parties and special occasions and sharing my creative ideas with you.
If you make this recipe and share it online be sure to link back to this post and use #hungryhappenings.
Thanks and have a sweet day! – Beth
P.S. Sign up for my newsletter and get your FREE amazing printable here!
So beautiful! I did everything you said and they looked beautiful! Wish I could have inserted a pic here but it won’t let me. 😔
Hi Maria,
I’m so happy your cheesecake eggs turned out beautifully. I’d love to see a picture. You can share it with me at beth@hungryhappenings.com.
I love this! Can the the ingredients be easily halved? I only have one of those silicone pans.
Yes, Robin, that would be no problem.
oh I love this! so colorful and I bet it's delicious!!
Thanks for linking up to the party! I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2013/spring-easter-craft-ideas/
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
Thanks so much Cheryl:)
these eggs are truley a piece of art!
I linked to your tutorial on my blog – thanks for sharing!
♥, doro von Hand zu Hand
It looks amazng, so colorful and I bet it is really delicious! By the way, I’m hosting a Link-Up party and would be thrilled if you decided to participate!!!
http://dcinstyle.com/
These are so adorable! I'm featuring these cuties today and greatly appreciate all that you share at Mix it up Monday 🙂
http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2013/03/featuring-you_13.html
Thanks so much for featuring the cheesecakes on Flour Me With Love:)
So cute!!! 🙂
Oh My! These are so cute and look so yummy! I would love for you to share them at my link party going on now at http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/
Great Tutorial too!
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
This is so cool, I love it! Need to try them for Easter with my daughter. I am glad I have found you in the Flourmewithlove party! Gosia @ http://www.kiddiefoodies.com
Oh goodness these look cute! Found your blog through Flour Me With Love and I'm a new follower!
Christi
http://the-not-so-perfect-momblog.blogspot.com
Wow! I love cheesecake, and these look delicious!
Would it be possible to put a grahm cracker crust on the "bottom" of each cheesecake? My family likes the added texture the crust brings.
I've thought a lot about this. I tried to add a crust to the tops (which become the bottom) of the cake, but the crust sinks. The only way I could see it working is to get an egg shaped cookie cutter that is the same size as the mold and bake an egg shaped graham cracker crust separately, then once the cheesecake is baked, immediately set the crust on top to allow it to stick together. Now, I've not tried this yet, and am not sure how well it will work. It is just what I've been thinking about. If you give it a try and it works out, I'd love to know.
You are so creative!! this is such a great idea! I love it and I am sure it taste so yummy.
So pretty!! And I just so happen to own this silicon Easter pan…!
Great idea! Thanks for the tutorial!
cute idea. Marlyn is right, a perfect dessert for a wheat free diet!
How cool! I didn't know that you could do such amazing things with cheesecake!
I love the bright ones! Well, I love them all, but especially those. These are so adorable!
I need to get my hands on some silicone molds they are so fun to use. Love this idea for a cheesecake!
Love the details on the eggs, and it looks pretty easy too! Thanks for sharing!
How cool! That looks so good – I know I must try them!
Oh these look so cute, what a great idea!
Fantastic idea, Beth! Now you have me craving cheesecake… 🙂
You are full of great ideas, Beth! Besides turning out perfectly, I know these must be delicious! Cheescake has always been a favorite of mine:)
Super cute idea…they look perfect and so colorful!
Fantastic tutorial! You're the bestest ever at those. Like maybe I can actually, you know, make these. And they'd look like yours! (And re:floppy ear bunny cutter, I looked all over the web for the same one. It's big and copper and I got it years ago, I think as a gift from my mom, but I couldn't find the same exact cutter. I thought maybe coppergifts, but didn't see the same one. I think they have something similar though).
Thanks, Meaghan:) I do have a make your own cookie cutter kit and just may have to use your bunnies as a guide to make my own cutter. Your cookies are so cute.
An amazing work of art!
This is great! So fun!
I love this idea!! So colorful too!
Wow! This is so cool! The possibilities are endless.
I love these! Such a brilliant idea! You always make the most amazing cheesecakes– amazing!!
This is such an amazing idea!
Hi, I love your idea my mother-in-law has celiac so this would be perfect for her, great work. Marlyn from Montreal Confections
My father has celiac too and up until his diagnosis he was the biggest cookie monster ever. Now he enjoys desserts like these cheesecakes.
Beth – you've done it again…created a fantastic Holiday themed cheesecake! I LOVE it!