Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sara Lee. The opinions and text are all mine. #UniquelyYours

This is that time of year where I have to really work on my time management. The lazy days of summer are over where the kids would sleep in during the week and stay up late at night. No more impromptu visits to the beach or having friends over on a weeknight to barbecue and watch movies. Now that the kids are all in school and we have a strict schedule so that our household can function properly, and sometimes that can take a bit of time to adjust.

Let’s just be honest here, I don’t do well with schedules. I didn’t really grow up with any, and for years I didn’t set them for my kids. Once our family expanded though, it was necessary. But my rebellious spirit pushes the envelope a bit here and there. I might take longer cooking dinner, or reading something and that can throw off our entire evening schedule. So I’ve been coming up with meals that are easier to prepare during the week, which sometimes includes a little treat here and there. I have a cheesecake recipe I make that takes about 12 hours from beginning to end. My family always asks me to make it, but I don’t always have that kind of time. So I thought I’d surprise them with a little cheesecake dessert using Sara Lee Classic cheesecake that feels like I spent a lot of time on it, but I really didn’t. It’s a Win/Win!

What I love about Sara Lee desserts is that you can purchase them anytime and keep them in your freezer. Then BAM! When you’re in a clinch, you can pull out your secret weapon and use some pantry staples to customize it however you like. Everything in this recipe are ingredients that I pretty much always have on hand, so it’s easy to create in no time flat.

We love a good fruit topping on our cheesecakes, but when I first thought up this little treat I was focused more on the chocolate covered cheesecake bites portion. Then I thought, where can I put the fruit? It came to me, right there under the chocolate shell! Like those chocolate samplers that you buy and when you get to the fruit filled one there’s a bit of a surprise element. I decided on creating a simple compote using strawberries and raspberries, but you can customize it to your own favorite fruits. We love strawberries on top of cheesecake and I have a little love affair with chocolate and raspberries.

It’s actually quite a simple little treat, the longest part is making the compote and melting the chocolate. Easy peasy, and when you bite into these little treats it’s quite a surprise. I added a bit of lemon juice to the compote, which does bring out the raspberry flavor so you can customize that as you wish. The raspberry is a primary flavor, then you taste the milder strawberry after. It’s definitely a taste bud pleaser that you must try!

Strawberry Raspberry Compote Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup diced strawberries
• 1/2 cup diced raspberries
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites Ingredients:

• 1 Sara Lee Classic Cheesecake
• 2 cups chocolate candy melts
• Strawberry Raspberry Compote (recipe above)
• 3 squares of bakers white chocolate
• 1 small strawberry, cut into small wedges
• graham cracker crumbs

Directions:

Begin by making the compote. Add the diced berries to a quality, medium pot with the sugar over medium heat. Mix together and muddle gently with a spoon every so often. Once it becomes more of a sauce, add the lemon juice and vanilla extract. Stir to combine and allow sauce to thicken a bit before removing from heat.

While the sauce cools and thickens, remove the cheesecake from packaging following instruction on the box and place on a cutting board. Cut the edges of the cheesecake off to create a more square shape, then slice into 9 even squares. Carefully spoon the compote onto each piece of cheesecake, spreading evenly over the tops.

While the sauce continues to thicken and stick to the cheesecake, melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl beginning at 30 seconds on high, then 15 seconds at a time until melted while stirring in between. Place wax paper on a tray or baking sheet and spread a thin layer of chocolate on the wax paper to place each cheesecake bite on top. Then, carefully spoon the chocolate over the top of the cheesecake in an even layer at a fairly quick pace. Candy melts harden quickly, so you do want to try to get an even coat. Using a butter knife, smooth out any rough edges.

Melt the white chocolate in the same manner as the candy melts, then carefully drizzle over the cheesecake bites. Top with a small strawberry wedge and a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs.

Place in the refrigerator to set the chocolate, then place on a platter and garnish with remaining strawberry wedges and graham cracker crumbs when ready to serve.

Enjoy!

How do you dress up your desserts?

For more recipe ideas on how to customize your own Sara Lee desserts, visit them on Pinterest or Facebook!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sara Lee. The opinions and text are all mine.