Cheesecake Cupcakes

Sara, my high school senior, came home from school yesterday and announced she was headed to Target to get her ‘football buddy’ (aka Kyle) some treats: Think theme related kitsch for the pep rally, candy, etc.

And there, in that very instant, I had a burst of nostalgia so ginormous it nearly knocked me over. High school football, pep rallies and cheesecake cupcakes. I can tell you with all certainty that I baked about a hundred dozen cheesecake cupcakes my senior year in high school.

Easy, bright and beautiful. Looks like a million bucks. Tastes like a trillion.

The minute I thought of them ~ I knew they were just the thing Sara needed for Kyle. Just the thing that needed to be happening in my kitchen to remember the joy and fabulousness of being 18 all over again.

Doesn’t take much to make these yourself. Just get to the store and grab a box of vanilla wafers, a pound of cream cheese, and a large can of cherry pie topping … and you’re on the way.

Cheesecake Cupcakes

3/4 c. sugar * 1 pound cream cheese * 1 t. vanilla * 2 eggs * 24 vanilla wafer cookies * 1 large can cherry pie filling

Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and eggs with electric beater until smooth. Place a vanilla wafer in a lined muffin tin, bottom side up.  Pour about 1/4 c. batter on top of vanilla wafer ~ til a little over half full. Bake at 375 for 15 – 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Top with cherry pie filling. Ta-da! Makes 2 dozen just like that …

Can’t you just smell the sweetness? Taste the perfection? Ahhh.

You might want to make a hundred dozen. :)