This Valentine's Day tell your sweethearts how you feel by adding personalized messages to brightly colored, rich, and creamy, Conversation Heart Cheesecakes. This fun twist on a holiday classic is sure to win the hearts of your loved ones. See the new Video Tutorial at the end of this post.
I've heard people, including my husband, say, "I've never met a cheesecake I didn't like." Well, I can't say the same.
I've been known to pay upwards of $10 for a slice of cheesecake take one bite and shove it aside.
To me, cheesecake should be lusciously creamy and smooth with a bit of crunch from the graham cracker crust. I love it when it just melts on my tongue. It should taste delicately rich with just a hint of tang from the cream cheese. I won't settle for dense, spongy, crumbly, and or sour cheesecake; it better be good if I'm going to indulge. If it's not perfection, I don't want it.
Do you feel the same?
I have the perfect cheesecake recipe for you.
Many years ago, after many failed attempts at finding a cheesecake with just the right texture and taste, I discovered Tyler Florence's Ultimate Cheesecake. It is the best I've ever tried. I've perfected the recipe and shared tips and tricks for making it creamy and smooth. You can see my Classic Cheesecake Recipe, here.
I've used his cheesecake recipe dozens of times and my family and friends all rave about it.
You can imagine how they reacted when I turned that wonderful dessert into cute Conversation Heart Cheesecakes for Valentine's Day.
Video
Be sure to watch the video in this post to see how to make these cute Valentine's Day desserts.
Each sweet little dessert was brightly colored and personalized with a special message printed on the top just like the candy conversation hearts.
The cheesecake hearts made for the perfect ending to a lovely Valentine's Day meal.
Graham Cracker Crust
graham crackers - You need 1 cup of crumbs. If you crush about 15 graham cracker squares, you'll get about 1 cup of crumbs.
butter - Use salted or unsalted butter to make your cookie crust. Either will work fine.
cinnamon - I like adding a small sprinkling of cinnamon to the crust. It's optional, though.
Cheesecake Filling
cream cheese - Use full-fat cream cheese for the best texture and flavor. I recommend using Philadelphia Cream Cheese. I think it tastes best! Soften your cream cheese at room temperature for at least 3 hours if not more.
sour cream - Adding this to the cheesecake will add a nice tangy flavor and will give your cheesecakes a super smooth and creamy texture. Set the sour cream out an hour before you mix the filling.
eggs - Use room-temperature eggs.
vanilla - Pure vanilla extract adds a nice vanilla flavor but artificial extract will work too.
sugar - Use granulated sugar to add sweetness and structure to the cheesecakes.
Supplies
To make these heart-shaped cheesecakes, you will need three Heart-Shaped Silicone Molds. The molds are the perfect size to make an individual serving of cheesecake.
I only had 2 of the molds at the time I made these hearts and ended up using the extra cheesecake filling to make some mini cheesecake hearts. The bite-sized treats were cute, but I would have preferred having 3 of the larger hearts in each of the six colors.
Items I used to create this project are available on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales).
Boao 2 Pcs Heart Shaped Sil...Shop on Amazon 
BAKER DEPOT 6 Holes Heart S...Shop on Amazon 
T-fal A85797 Specialty Nons...Shop on Amazon
U.S. Cake Supply 30 Color C...Shop on Amazon
Chicago Metallic Conversati...Shop on Amazonstand mixer or a mixing bowl and handheld mixer
rubber spatula
3 Heart-Shaped Silicone Molds
fine tip paintbrush (new or food-only brush)
roasting pan big enough to fit your heart-shaped molds
You will need a water bath to bake your cheesecakes, so either set your roasting pan in the oven filled with enough water to go halfway up the sides of your heart molds and allow the water to heat along with the oven or bring some water to a boil in a teapot or the microwave then pour it in the bottom of the pan.
My roasting pan has a flat rack that fits inside. I set two heart molds on the rack, filled them, then used the handles to help me lower the molds into the hot water.
After the cheesecakes bake it's so easy to lift them out and cool them on the rack.
Instructions
Make the mini cheesecake crusts in a heart mold.
- Once you have your molds ready to fill, equally divide a mixture of graham cracker crumbs, butter, and cinnamon in the bottom of the heart-shaped cavities.
- You'll use about a tablespoon of crumb mixture in each heart cavity. Press the crumbs down making an even crust. Refrigerate until ready to fill with the cheesecake mixture.
- You can bake this crust for 8-10 minutes if you want it to be a bit crisper. Either way works fine.
Make the cheesecake filling.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese on medium-high until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Be sure to scrape the cream cheese out of the mixing blade as well. You don't want lumps in your cheesecake.
- Add sugar and beat for one minute.
- Add eggs and beat until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl once.
- Add the sour cream and vanilla and mix just to combine.
Color the cheesecake filling.
- Equally divide the filling among 6 bowls.
- Add food coloring to create the colors you'd like.
- The colors will intensify a bit once baked, so make them a little less bright than you want them. I was not happy with how intense the blue cheesecakes turned out. I would only a few drops of blue.
Fill the silicone heart mold with the colored filling.
- Pour the colored cheesecake filling into the heart-shaped cavities in your Wilton silicone molds.
- If you are using 3 heart molds and making 18 cheesecakes, equally divide each color among 3 hearts.
- The cavities will be a little over ¾ full.
- I filled mine completely, as I only made 12 of this size. I then used the remaining batter to make some mini hearts (see the image below.)
Bake in a water bath.
- Bake the cheesecakes in a water bath for 18-22 minutes.
- When baked thoroughly, the cheesecakes should still jiggle, but not look wet
- Use a roasting pan with a removable rack to make it easier to remove cheesecakes.
- You can set your heart molds in your roasting pan, then carefully pour boiling water around the heart molds.
- If baking tiny cheesecakes, bake for 10-14 minutes.
- If you bake one large heart-shaped cheesecake, it should take between 42-50 minutes.
Cool then freeze the heart-shaped cheesecakes.
- Remove your baked cheesecakes from the oven and water bath and allow them to cool at room temperature for an hour.
- Then cover the mold with a piece of paper towel and wrap it in plastic wrap.
- Freeze for at least 2 hours or up to several weeks.
- It's easiest to remove the cheesecakes if they are frozen solid.
Un-mold the heart-shaped cheesecakes.
- Remove from the freezer, uncover, then push on the underside of each heart mold, releasing the cheesecakes.
- Carefully lift them out of the mold. If they don't pop right out, you need to freeze them longer.
Personalize the conversation heart cheesecakes.
- To add the conversation heart phrases, squeeze a few drops of red food coloring into a small bowl.
- Use a fine-tip paintbrush to paint the words onto each cheesecake heart.
Tips
- Traditional conversation heart sayings are printed in all capital letters.
- Don't worry if your words are off-center, as many conversation hearts are printed that way.
- If you have too much food coloring on your brush, your letters will bleed.
- The food coloring will dry if you refrigerate your cheesecakes for a while.
Variations
If you prefer to use natural coloring, you can either purchase bottles of natural food coloring or use fruit and vegetable purees.
You can make naturally colored conversation heart cheesecakes using fruit purees (pictured above.) The cheesecakes are flavored and colored with blueberries, raspberries, lemon, and orange/carrot.
If you enjoy fruit-flavored cheesecakes, this is a wonderful, natural, alternative. They taste great and, although the colors are a bit more muted than the original cheesecakes, they look equally festive.
You will also notice, the lettering on those conversation heart cheesecakes is a lot nicer. Check out the other tutorial to see how to achieve this really clean look using cookie stamps.
Storage
- Store in the refrigerator for up to several days or freeze for up to a month.
- I suggest storing them in an airtight container. To keep the condensation from developing on the tops of the cheesecakes, set a piece of paper towel, that is larger than the container's lid, across the underside of the lid. Close and seal. The moisture will get wicked up by the paper towel.
Recipe
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 15 squares)
- pinch of cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, melted
- 16 ounces (2 blocks) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 pint sour cream (1 pint = 16 ounces or 2 cups of sour cream)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- food coloring - pink purple, blue, green, yellow, and red
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Fill a roasting pan with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the silicone heart molds.
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Set the roasting pan in the oven.
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Heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon, and melted butter.
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Equally divide the crumbs among 18 heart-shaped silicone mold cavities.
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Press the crumbs into an even layer and refrigerate until needed.
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Beat cream cheese until creamy and smooth.
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Add sugar and beat until incorporated.
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Beat in eggs then add sour cream and vanilla and mix just to combine.
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Equally divide the cheesecake batter into 6 bowls.
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Color one bowl of filling pink, lavender, yellow, orange, green, and blue using food coloring.
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Equally divide each color of filling among 3 heart cavities.
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Bake cheesecakes in a water bath for 18-24 minutes until the edges look set but the center is jiggly but not wet.
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Remove from oven and water bath and allow to cool at room temperature for an hour.
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Freeze for at least two hours then remove and un-mold.
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Paint conversation heart phrases onto the tops of the cheesecakes using red food coloring.
Recipe Video
Store your conversation heart cheesecakes in the refrigerator for up to several days or freeze them for up to a month. I highly recommend you wait to decorate the cheesecakes until the day you plan to serve them.
More Valentine's Day Recipe Ideas
If you are looking for other treats or gifts to make for Valentine's Day, you might like these other recipes too.
Reese's Cup Teddy Bear Cupcakes • Conversation Heart Piñata Cake
Creamy Coconut Candy Hearts • Chocolate Buckeye Bears
Mozzarella Cheese filled Heart Pastries • Sweet Chocolate Cherry Bombs
Warm Fuzzy Cake Balls and Cupcakes • You Make My Heart Roar Lion Cupcakes
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
Cheryl Kirkness says
These look absolutely delicious! I really love cheesecake and these would be the perfect addition to the dessert table on Valentine's Day! Thanks for linking up to Family Fun Friday! You have so many delicious & adorable ideas!
Juanita says
Delicioso, muchas gracias por compartir.
un abrazo desde Copenhague
crazyBFF says
This looks wonderful! Definitely going to make them for my family.
Just a quick question, is there any alternative to a water bath? I don't have a roasting pan with a tray that won't drown the cupcakes.
Thank you!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks, I'm glad you like them.
If you don't have a pan to use for the water bath, the next best thing is to add a baking tray filled with water on the rack below the cheesecakes. It isn't a perfect solution, but it will at least add moisture to your oven.
Vanessa (from BlogFrog) says
Wow wow wow! I'm so impressed.
Danielle R. says
First, these are absolutely adorable! I also agree with the cheesecake flavor/texture. I will say I was wholly unimpressed by a certain "Factory"'s cheesecake--especially for the price!! Anywho, I was thinking these would be perfect to send with hubby for his work's bake sale. Any suggestions on cute ways to package them so that they're manageable but also stay looking so pretty? Thanks in advance! (I was thinking maybe keep them in the mold and send them that way, then they could just be popped out as purchased?)
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Danielle,
You can buy small bakery boxes from a restaurant supply store or from a craft store. I would not suggest sending them in the mold and having them popped out as purchased, as they really need to be frozen in order to come out really nicely. I've brought them places before and just put them in a Rubbermaid container, then used a spatula to lift them out of the container when I want to serve them.
Chanelle Caldron says
I have 3 small heart shaped springform pans...Would I follow the recipe the same way?
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Yes, you can use heart shaped springform pans instead. There are a few things to consider. First make sure you wrap the bottom of each pan with a few layers of tin foil to keep the water from entering the pans. Second depending on the size of the pans, you'll need to watch how long you bake them. The total time will be different. A whole cake takes 45 minutes and the small heart cakes for 20-25 minutes, so you're cakes will take somewhere between 25-45 minutes. I hope this helps.
Chanelle Caldron says
I have 3 small heart shaped springform pans...Would I follow the recipe the same way?
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
Wow, 200 comments! This must be a popular post for you and for good reason. They are adorable. Just pinned!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks Vicky. Yes, it is currently my most popular post ever. It is so nice to get so many amazing comments.
Michelle says
Hi,
This might seem a bit random to you in terms of questions I ask, but just bare with me 🙂
1. Is it possible for you to sell me the silicone moulds (heart-shaped) ones that you have, because i cant seem to find good ones online and in stores. And it would mean a lot to me if I could get my hands on them, because im planning something special and I require it. Please?
In the recipe:
2. when you say graham cracker crumbs, can I just use the biscuits that I normally use for cheesecakes? and can i have measurements in grams? because its easier for me to do things~
3. how many grams is half a stick of butter?
4. my oven doesnt go up to 300 degrees celcius...is there another temperature I could use that could work?
5. what is the reason of having a water bath? because I've never made any cheesecakes with a water bath before.
6. how do I change the cream cheese fillings into fruit purees? Because won't the purees be heavier than the cream cheese filling?
Have a good day.
Michelle
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
1. You can buy the same silicone molds that I purchased from Amazon.com. They are made by Wilton and they work great. Click here and you'll go directly to the product page.
2. You can use any type of biscuit or cookie for the crust.
3. 1/2 stick of butter is 56.7 grams
4.The oven temperature is 300 degrees fahrenheit or 148.889 in celcius
5. Water baths help bake the cheesecake more evenly, so the finished cake is creamy and smooth. You can bake these cheesecakes without a water bath, but there is the possibility that the tops of your cakes will become uneven and bumpy and even crack.
6. If you use fruit purees instead of cream cheese you will be making a completely different recipe. You might want to try making a fruit mousse.
Hope this helps.
Good luck and Happy Valentine's Day,
Meg Hodson says
Hi. I am your newest follower via GFC and Twitter.
I would love to have you as a guest blogger; I am dropping you an email shortly.
Thanks so much!
http://www.happykidsinc.blogspot.com
MERY BADALYAN says
PRIVET DOROGAYA BET...MNE OCHEN PONRAVILOS..SPASIBO.SKAJI POJALUSTA GRADUS DUXOVKI SKOLKO
Krista says
I just tried out this recipe and the cakes were absolutely delicious! However, the tops turned out uneven and unsuitable for writing on. Would you have any suggestions on how I could achieve perfect tops like the ones in your photos? Thanks, Beth!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Krista,
Sorry you had trouble with the tops of the cakes. The only reason I can think of that would cause this problem is if the cakes got too hot or were over baked. If you use a water bath the cakes should bake really evenly. Without the water bath they can rise in the middle and even crack.
Krista says
That sounds a lot like what happened. Hmm, perhaps I didn't fill the roasting pan with enough water. I'll have to try again and see! Thank you!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
That is quite possibly the issue. I'm glad I could help. Good luck if you try again.
Wanda Ann Olsen says
Beth,
I am so impressed, Wow, these look yummy and cute and your pictures are great. I pinned and pinned and shared on goodle+. I would love for you to share on my link party Tuesday at http://www.memoriesbythemile.com
Have a beautiful week. By the way I am a new follower and can't wait to follow you.
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
Designed Decor says
Amen, to your words on Cheesecake. I too am VERY picky about my chessescake, if it does not meet my standards, I give it to my husband. My grandmother made the best cheesecake, which set my standards. I have her recipe and everyone raves about it! I love your hearts and I am going to make these for V-day! I just started a new link party and would love for you to come over and share your post or any social media sites. Talkin’ About Thursday - http://designeddecor.com/talkin-about-thursday-link-party4/ DeDe@DesignedDecor
CarolH says
Martha Stewart just repinned this! That's cool
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so cool. Thank you so much for letting me know:) How did you know? Does she follow you?
CarolH says
Hi! Well I almost fell over when I read your email today. You made my day!!!!! I just saw it on Pinterest randomly. No Martha does not follow lil ole me. You're an awesome talent and its fun to watch your star rise.
Michelle @ yagottahaveahobby says
I'm obsessed with anything Conversation Hearts themed, so naturally, this is right up my alley! I love them. They look delicious!
Jasmine Ford says
Could I use a recipe that I am familiar with and this still work? Love the idea btw, thanks! (:
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I think most any cheesecake recipe that you like should work just fine.
Jasmine Ford says
Thanks, you're the best! Definitely doing this for Valentine's day
Lau Lotte says
Ho ! It's so beautiful ! Wonderful ! I will try it soon ! 😀
Anonymous says
Sorry if my comment is going through twice--couldn't remember my google password, so not sure if it went through. Anyway, I would LOVE to make this recipe but I do not have a hand held mixer or a roasting pan (college life haha). could i hand mix the ingredients? and would a casserole dish be ok instead of a roasting pan? Thanks so much!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
You can certainly make this recipe using just a mixing spoon or spatula, just be sure that the cream cheese and sugar are very well blended so you don't end up with lumps in your cheesecakes once you add the other ingredients. Any pan that will hold water and is larger than the silicone mold will work as well as a roasting pag. A cake pan or casserole dish will work just fine. Good luck with your cakes and have fun decorating them!
Anonymous says
Do you have any high altitude changes?
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I have never had to cook and use high altitude adjustments, but I found a website that seems to have a lot of good information. http://www.highaltitudebaking.com/
Kaylee Elizabeth says
What if I wanted to make a cookie dough cheesecake? Could I just put cookie dough in the pans?
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Kaylee, I've not ever made cookie dough cheesecake, but you can bake anything in the silicone molds including cookies and cakes. If you want to have a cookie dough crust, just press the dough into the pan and bake as you would in your recipe. If you want the cookie dough to be uncooked, I really don't know how you would add it unless you make a no-bake cheesecake. If you do that, just freeze your no-bake cheesecake then you'll be able to push them out of the silicone molds.