Name: Microwave Cheesecake
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 2 Graham crackers (, crushed); Filling; 4 ounces cream cheese (, softened); 2 tablespoons sour cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 egg yolk (beaten)

Microwave Cheesecake takes just 5 minutes for a creamy rich cream cheese filling with a crumbly buttery graham cracker crust.

Cheesecake. The fancy dessert that so many people drool over, there’s a restaurant dedicated to it that sells billions and trillions of cheesecakes a year (rough estimate).

MICROWAVE CHEESECAKE

Let’s say you’ve been watching way too much of the Great British Bake Off lately and you’re ready to flex your skills (complete with fake accent). Unfortunately, whatever’s been growing in the common room kitchen’s been throwing you the side eye so you’re stuck with your microwave. Good news, this is the recipe to keep the dream alive.

Look, there’s a reason that there is a literal restaurant built around cheesecake and that it’s like super busy all the time. Cheesecake is one of those desserts everyone says they’ll just have a small bite of and then when it gets to the table, it becomes passive aggressive fork warfare on a delicious, creamy battlefield.

Become the peacemaker by making everyone their own cheesecake in the days leading up to a dinner at the Temple of Cheesecake, that way no one will be in the mood and you can enjoy it all to yourself. Victory!

Tips for making a Microwave Cheesecake:

Use a microwave safe glass cup or bowl to cook this in. Something about science and heat distributing evenly?
Plan ahead, this is not a last minute meal. Your cheesecake needs to chill out (literally) in the fridge for at least 2 hours. It will be worth the wait though.
If you forgot to soften your cream cheese, you can nuke it for like 10-15 secs so it’s easier to stir. But shame on you. Follow instructions and plan ahead.
As always, use pot holders or a heavy towel to take your dish in and out of the microwave each time. Burnt fingertips aren’t as bad as a burnt tongue but they’re close.

HOW TO MAKE MICROWAVE CHEESECAKE

Put 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium cup.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute to melt butter.
Add the graham crackers to the cup and stir until combined.
Press down with back of spoon until flat.
Microwave on medium for 1 minute 30 seconds, or until the crumbs start to puff up.
Place cup in the fridge to chill while you make the filling.
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, sugar, and egg.
Add filling to your cup.
Microwave for 2 minutes 30 seconds on 50% power on a 1250 watt microwave, or until the outside is firm but the center is slightly wobbly.
Allow to cool at room temperature then refrigerate for 2 hours.

VARIATIONS FOR MICROWAVE CHEESECAKE

Chocolate: Whether you like it a little or you go full Augustus Gloop about it, we can agree chocolate makes things better. Sprinkle chocolate chips into your filling, add cocoa powder, swirl in chocolate sauce, or do all three. Get chocolate wasted, it’s your cheesecake.
Fruit: Try swirling in the jam or jelly you usually reserve for PB&Js. Or if you’re trying to impress someone, add fresh berries on top with a little whipped cream from a can.
Cookies: Kind of like chocolate, the sky’s the limit on using cookies in this recipe. Crush your favorite kind (like shortbread or Oreos) and use as your crust. Mix small chocolate chip cookie chunks into your batter. Dip cookies into the warm filling instead of letting it cool. Nom.

SAVE SOME FOR LATER

Your leftovers will be fine in the fridge for up to 4 days as long as you wrap with plastic wrap or put in an airtight container. Grocery bags and shoeboxes do not count as airtight, sorry to bring the bad news.

COST FACTOR

$$: This has more ingredients than usual but if you are smart about meal planning, you can make a lot of dishes with main ingredients like cream cheese, eggs, and butter. It might cost a bit up front but you can make it stretch into savings in the long run.

MICROWAVE TABLE

1,000 watts or higher: Higher wattage, lower cook time. Our microwave is about 1,250 watts, but if you have one with about 1,000 watts you will want to cook this recipe like this. Start by microwaving for :51, then again for 2:34, and then for 4:17.
700 watts: Microwaves under about 900 don’t heat things evenly or consistently, so don’t go anywhere while you’re cooking. Your cook time will be 1:45, then 2:34 and then again for 4:17.

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