Raspberry Swirled Cheesecake Cupcakes

Ahhh….fresh fruit! Always love to use fresh fruit when baking.  Cooking Classy takes fresh raspberries up a notch by swirling them in cheesecake.  Not only are these cupcake delicious, they are pretty, too!

Raspberry Swirled Cheesecake Cupcakes

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp graham cracker crumbs (from 7 full sheets)
• 1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
• 3 1 /2 Tbsp salted butter, melted

• 4 oz fresh raspberries
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened well but not melted
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

For the crust:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl, using a fork, stir together graham cracker crumbs and sugar, then pour in melted butter and stir until evenly moistened.
3. Add 1 slightly heaping tablespoonful to 12 paper lined muffin cups. Press crust firmly into an even layer.
4. Bake in preheated oven 5 minutes then remove from oven and allow to cool.

For the raspberry swirl:

1. Add raspberries and 2 Tbsp granulated sugar to a food processor and pulse until well pureed, about 30 seconds – 1 minute.
2. Press mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl (basically until there are only seeds remaining in strainer, you should get quite a bit out of it).
3. Set aside.

For the cheesecake filling:

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together granulated sugar and flour.
2. Add cream cheese and lemon zest using an electric hand mixer, blend mixture just until smooth.
3. Mix in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla and sour cream just until combined. Tap bowl forcefully against countertop, about 10 times, to release large air bubbles.
4. Divide mixture evenly among cups over crust layer, adding about 1/3 cup to each and filling nearly full.
5. Jiggle pan to level cheesecake filling then dollop about 5 small circle of raspberry sauce over each cupcake, about 3/4 tsp total over each one.
6. Using a toothpick, swirl raspberry filling with cheesecake mixture to create a marbled design.
7. Bake in preheated oven 22 – 25 minutes until cupcakes are puffed and nearly set (they might crack a little but they will deflate while cooling and you won’t even see it).
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely, then chill in refrigerator 3 hours, until set.
9. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.