Miniature Cheesecakes
![Miniature Cheesecakes](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fb27384/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x739+0+25/resize/1200x750!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2Fe9%2Fb2038f1d4bfe872775f074feacf4%2Flatimesrecipes.jpg)
Most people approach coffee or tea and an accompanying treat in one of a few ways. Either you are (a) the dainty sip-and-nibble sort, (b) the expedient bite-and-gulp variety or (c) an eat-first, wash-it-all-down-later type.
Where we converge is in agreeing that the ritual of the coffee break or tea time makes the mundane marvelous.
Always a welcome pause, the coffee or tea break is a poor man’s or woman’s urban jungle Club Med, a virtual oasis unlike anything else in our jam-packed lives.
Best of all, it is a ritual that calls for the best in homey little treats. Miniature cheesecakes, delicate scones, buttery rugelach, lavishly swirled marble cake are just some delights that are perfect for a coffee hour recipe collection.
All are easy; none is cloyingly sweet or heavily frosted. These are wonderful just warm from the oven or even a day or two later. This is the type of baking that is solidly rooted in the home kitchen.
So bake a batch of something and brew a pot, then sit back and anticipate that small endorphin rush. Second cup is on the house.
Crust
Using sharp metal cookie cutter about 2 inches in diameter, cut each graham square into a circle. Place each in paper-lined cup of muffin pan.
Brush each graham with butter. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle each cracker with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Assembly
Cream cream cheese with granulated sugar and flour. Blend in eggs, vanilla, lemon extract and half and half. Pour into prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees until just set, 20 to 30 minutes. Cool well (or freeze). Dust with powdered sugar.
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