Two-Bite Mini Cheesecakes

I remember so vividly my childhood days when I would make homemade treats out of play dough in primary colors. Molding, rolling, piecing together tiny bits of dough into what would become the best non-edible baked goods the world would never taste. My entourage of stuffed animals didn't mind not tasting them. Those were the days when my imagination and creativity collided into hours of fun play that I believe to this day has a lot to do with my love of creating beautiful dishes for my family. I also played with one of those toy ovens that actually baked edible cakes at a neighbor's house. It was such a great experience.

Mixing the mini packages of cake mix and pouring them into functional toy baking pans, no wider than my son's palm, was so exciting. And then getting to decorate the treats and taste each small bite down to the last crumb. Taking my childhood into consideration, I try to provide these same opportunities for my own children except we bake these small-size treats in a real working kitchen using treasured family recipes. The result is a growing love of baking, and good exercise for their imagination and creativity--just like their mama when she was young.

With the holidays approaching, I know planning a menu can be stressful. I also know the holidays inspire families to create memories in the kitchen. Today I have a great recipe for your young budding pastry chefs to make with your help and supervision. These Mini Two-Bite Cheesecakes are simple to make and fun to eat. They also look like they could be served for dessert in an upscale restaurant. If your children love to bake, but you're concerned about huge dessert portion sizes, these little treats are simply perfect and fancy enough to add to your holiday dessert table. Sometimes two bites are all you need to feel satisfied.