This 4 inch cheesecake recipe for one (or two) is just like a regular cheesecake but it’s made in a 4-inch cheesecake pan. It is smaller in size but still maintains that creamy, luxurious smooth texture with a light tanginess.
Since you are here make sure to check out these other cheesecake recipes like this creamy pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving, this pumpkin brownie cheesecake, these golden Oreo delicious mini cheesecakes, these cream cheese cheesecake brownies, as well as this 4-inch burnt basque cheesecake!
This is the best 4-inch mini cheesecake recipe
This small cheesecake recipe is the perfect sweet treat when you want something boogie but don’t wanna make a whole cheesecake and end up with a ton of leftovers. Whether you need a dessert for Valentine’s Day or just for a regular weeknight treat yourself dessert after dinner I got you covered!
This classic cheesecake recipe will remind you of the best New York style cheesecake but in small form. The best part is that you can add your favorite topping to really elevate it to the next level.
What’s so special about this mini cheesecake recipe for one?!
- This recipe can be made with an electric hand mixer or with a simple whisk.
- It makes the perfect small-sized cheesecake for two instead of making a regular large cheesecake and being stuck with it.
- This recipe is great for special occasions, date night, or
- It has a creamy cheesecake filling alongside a super buttery graham cracker crust at the bottom.
- This is the mini version of your favorite NYC-style cheesecake!
What you will need to bake this mini cheesecake recipe for one
To make this mini cheesecake recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Crushed graham crackers- For the graham crackers you can either crush your own or buy them pre-crushed. Whatever works for you.
- Sugar– You will need a small amount of sugar for the crust a little more for the cheesecake batter.
- Butter– We will need some butter to melt and add in to the graham crackers to make the New York cheesecake crust
- Cream cheese– You need cream cheese for any cheesecake recipe but the perk of this small batch cheesecake recipe is that you can make it with just one package of cream cheese. Actually, half a package of cream cheese if what you really need.
- Sour cream or creme fraiche – Adding sour creme or creme fraiche helps add a nice tangy flavor to the cheesecake as well as adding some moistness.
- Heavy cream- Heavy cream helps the cheesecake be softer and creamier.
- Vanilla – You can also use vanilla bean paste!
- Flour– Adding a tiny bit of flour will help the cheesecake hold together a lot better.
- Egg- You will only need one room-temperature egg to help the cheesecake bind together.
Tools to make the best 4-inch cheesecake
To make this perfect cheesecake for one you will need these tools:
- 4-inch cheesecake springform
- Measuring spoons and cups
- A hand and a stand mixer
- Aluminum foil
- A larger dish for the water bath
How to make homemade cheesecake for one?
This is how you can make the best vanilla cheesecake for two. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!
- Preheat the oven then grease your mini springform pan and line with parchment paper inside and foil on the outside. Set aside.
- To a small bowl, add the graham crackers and sugar and mix.
- Add in the melted and mix again to fully coat.
- Pour that onto the prepared springform pan and press it down evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- In a larger bowl, cream the softened cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and flour. Once light and fluffy add in the egg and mix again to combine. Make sure to not overmix the batter.
- Pour into the prepared pan on top of the warm crust.
- Lightly tap the springform cheesecake pan on the counter to get rid of any air bubbles.
- Place the cheesecake in a larger pan with hot water going about halfway through the height of the cheesecake tin and bake.
- Allow the cheesecake to cool down in the oven with the door slightly cracked to make sure that the top of the cheesecake doesn’t crack.
- Chill the cheesecake in the fridge for a few hours before enjoying it.
Enjoy this cheesecake as is or with your favorite cheesecake toppings!
FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions
Tips for making the perfect New York cheesecake
If you are ready to make this foolproof mini New York cheesecake for one, make sure to follow these handy dandy tips:
- Use full-fat ingredients- This is a dessert that isn’t super forgiving. To get that perfectly creamy cheesecake texture higher fat content ingredients are a must. Make sure to use full-fat cream cheese and sour creme or creme fraiche!
- Bring your ingredients to room temperature before starting- Make sure to bring all your ingredients to room temperature before starting. This will ensure that all the ingredients get incorporated well to make a homogenous cheesecake batter. If your ingredients are too cold you might be left with clumps in your cheesecake batter which will hinder the quality of your dessert.
- Avoid over-mixing the batter- Don’t over-mix the cheesecake batter in order to not add too much air to the cheesecake. Too much air in the cheesecake batter with make the cheesecake swell up when it bakes and then deflate when you cool it down completely. This can also cause cracks!
- Use a water bath- Don’t skip the water bath. It will create the much-needed humidity in the oven to prevent the top of the cheesecake from cracking.
- Cool down your cheesecake slowly– After turning the oven off, let the cheesecake sit there and crack the oven door open. This will make sure that the cheesecake you worked so hard for doesn’t have any cracks. An easy way to do this is to place a wooden spoon in between the oven door and the oven to keep it slightly open and allow it to realease the heat slowly.
Try this 4-inch mini burnt basque cheesecake or The creamiest chocolate cheesecake mini recipe!
What to top cheesecake with?
You can enjoy your luxuriously creamy 4-inch cheesecake as is, which is something I love to usually. But sometimes a little change makes this dessert even better. Some fun toppings you can add to your cheesecakes are :
- Fresh fruit – I love using a mixture of berries to make it feel super fancy and luxurious.
- Fruit jams or sauces- A layer of jam on top of this mini cheese will bring out even more fruity and sweet flavors to your lovely dessert.
- Chocolate sauce- There is nothing better than a chocolate and vanilla combo and that’s what you can make happen in this sweet treat!
- Dulce de leche or caramel sauce
- Whipped cream piped on top
- Melted peanut butter
- Chocolate shavings
- Chocolate shavings
- Pecan pie filling
These are only a few ideas that I usually go for but the sky is the limit so if you have any other ideas, make sure to share them with us in the comments below. 🙂
What are some other crust variations?
We love a traditional graham cracker crust but changing things up from time to time can also be so fun! Here are a few other ideas that you need to try:
- Oreo Crumbs or Nilla wafer crumbs- Just like in this chocolate cheesecake recipe, the Oreo crust will add such a fun flavor to your cheesecake.
- Gingersnap cookies- This would make for a delicious fall-inspired cheesecake. I would highly recommend topping your cheesecake with caramel because it goes so well with gingersnaps!
How long is cheesecake good for?
It is best to enjoy this within 3 days of making it. The cheesecake itself will still be delicious but the graham cracker crust will start to soak up some of the moisture which will make it less crunchy and more soggy.
Is it okay to leave cheesecake out overnight?
No! It is made out of dairy so it has to be chilled if it’s just gonna sit for longer periods of time.
If it is sitting on your serving table for a few hours it’s okay but any longer than 5 hours should definitely be going into the fridge,
How should I store cheesecake?
You can store your cheesecake in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Can you freeze this 4-inch cheesecake recipe?
Absolutely! You can freeze this to enjoy later. Make sure to chill your cheesecake first (overnight preferably) then flash freeze on a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate.
Once fully frozen wrap it with plastic wrap a few times then wrap with aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Once you are ready to enjoy it remove the foil and plastic wrap, set it on a plate, and thaw it in the fridge overnight. Enjoy chilled or allow it to get back to room temperature for 15-30 minutes!
4 inch cheesecake recipe
The creamiest mini cheesecake recipe ever!
Equipment
- stand mixer or hand mixer
- 4-inch cheesecake pan
Ingredients
for the crust
- ¼ cup crushed graham crackers
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
for the cheesecake
- 4 oz cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 & ½ tablespoon sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon sour cream or creme fraiche
- 1 ½ tablespoon heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon flour
- 1 egg at room temperature
Instructions
Make the graham crust
- Start by preheating the oven to 350F then proceed to greasing a 4-inch cheesecake springform pan. Cut out a circle of parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan then cut out a long strip of parchment paper to line the sides of the pan as well. Cover the outside of the 4-inch springform pan with aluminum foil to make sure that no water can get into your cheesecake.
- Now, add the graham crackers, sugar and the melted butter to a small bowl and mix until everything is incorporated.¼ cup crushed graham crackers, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon butter
- Pour the graham cracker mixture into the cheesecake pan and flatten it using the back of a spoon or your fingers.
- Bake the graham cracker crust in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove it from the oven lower the heat to 300F and let the cheesecake cool down.
Make the cheesecake batter
- Now onto the cheesecake batter. To make the cheesecake batter add in the softened cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, heavy whipping cream, vanilla, flour and sugar into a stand mixer bowl or a medium bowl and mix everything together with the paddle attachement of a stand mixer or a hand mixer. Don't over mix!4 oz cream cheese, 2 & ½ tablespoon sugar, 1 ½ tablespoon sour cream or creme fraiche, 1 ½ tablespoon heavy cream, ¼ teaspoon vanilla, ½ teaspoon flour
- Once you have a smooth cheesecake batter, add in the egg and mix gently until it is mixed it. This should take about 10-15 seconds. Don't over mix again!1 egg
- Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the baked graham cracker crust and tap it on the counter a few times to make sure that the cheesecake has no bubbles.
- Place the cheesecake pan in a 8X8 inch pan or whatever pan you have and place that in the oven. Fill up the 8×8 inch pan with boiling water and cook for 35 minutes. Once the cheesecake is done baking, turn off the oven, crack the oven door open and leave the cheesecake in there to cool for an hour.
- After the hour is up, remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight.
- Remove the springform pan, peel the parchment paper off and enjoy your delicious homemade 4-inch cheesecake!
Nutrition
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If you enjoyed this mini 4-inch cheesecake for one make sure to pin it for later!
Marty
It was delicious!!
Chahinez
Thank you so much for trying these Marty!
Chahinez
Debi Tyler
Hello! I can’t wait to try this recipe. I make a huge batch of cheesecake batter every Christmas in 4 inch/or 4 &1/2”
pans and give as gifts. I want to make just one for myself but I never knew the measurements for just a single mini. Thank you so very much!!! The only thing I am going to add is a little lemon zest in batter oh an maybe have the graham cracker crust go all the way to the top of the pan. I will let you know how it turns out. THANKS!!
Chahinez
So happy to hear that Debi! Hope you had great a holiday!
Chahinez
Debi T6ler
Hello! I can’t wait to try this recipe. I make a huge batch of cheesecake batter every Christmas in 4 inch/or 4 &1/2”
pans and give as gifts. I want to make just one for myself but I never knew the measurements for just a single mini. Thank you so very much!!! The only thing I am going to add is a little lemon zest in batter oh an maybe have the graham cracker crust go all the way to the top of the pan. I will let you know how it turns out. THANKS!!
Chahinez
You are so welcome Debi! Always happy to help 🙂
Happy holidays.
Chahinez
Lisa Seltenreich
I love this recipe and make it every holiday for my next door elderly neighbors who absolutely love it!!
Chahinez
You’re amazing! That is so kind of you 🙂 Happy holidays!
Chahinez
Regina
This is a slam dunk of a recipe! I really love it. It is the perfect size for me. It takes 2 or 3 days to finish it because after a few bites I’ve satisfied my craving. As soon as it’s done, I start making another to make sure that I always have it on hand. I went for the crustless, plain version, used yogurt instead of sour cream and substituted arrowroot flour for the regular. Delish! Thank you 😊..
Chahinez
I love hearing that Regina! Glad you like it as much as I do 🙂 I will definitely be trying to make your version soon!
Chahinez
Becky
Thanks for this yummy and easy recipe! I wanted to make cheesecake for a celebration of life we were having for a family friend. Since the celebration was just going to be 4 of us (my parents, my husband, and me), it seemed like too much to make an entire cheesecake, so I made 2 of these lil guys. Each couple split a cheesecake, and that was the perfect amount. I served them with Chukar Dessert Cherries, and everyone really enjoyed them.
Chahinez
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed these, the reason for making them was also so kind of you! Thank you for sharing how you served them, the cherries on top sound divine!
Chahinez
Terrie
This recipe is very easy to make and your step by step instructions are also easy to follow. I did however make two 4 in. cheesecakes and of course they will not be as tall as they should be, but I wanted to test the recipe out before doubling it in the future. Can’t comment on the outcome as it’s still cooling off I the oven.
Chahinez
Hope they turned out delicious Terrie!
Natalia
Loved this recipe! Like another baker above, some water seeped thru the foil and made the crust soggy (insert sad face here). I will definitely give it another try and this time wrap it better! I added q blueberry topping and it tasted amazing 🤩
Chahinez
Definitely wrap it really well. I usually like to use heavy-duty foil to make sure no water gets through. Can’t wait for you to try it again 🙂
Chahinez
Rachael Bernatt
I have used this recipe twice so far and had great results. I halved the sugar in the crust and cake and baked it for an additional five minutes the first time. The sugar content was right for our taste but we prefer a slightly firmer cheesecake, so the second time, I also added an additional teaspoon of flour (in a quadrupled recipe). It was spot on! I topped it with homemade blueberry compote.. Really lovely guideline, thank you so much!
Chahinez
Ooo nice! Thank you for trying out the recipe and you’re welcome 🙂
Melanie Mundy
I so loved your recipe! I have made it twice already and am preparing to make it again. Thanks for sharing. Can fruit be added without a problem? I am new to baking.
Chahinez
Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed these! Mixing fruits in the cheesecake batter might change the texture of the cheesecake but what you can do is add a few teaspoons of your preferred jam on top and swirl it with a knife then bake as directed!
Hope that helped 🙂
Chahinez
Ishita Patil
I tried the recipe and loved it!! Tbh I was kinda nervous abt it cuz I didn’t have sour cream and used yoghurt instead. But it still turned out absolutely delicious-smooth and creamy.
Chahinez
I love this! I usually try to make sure that you can substitute greek yogurt for sour cream in my recipes so I am glad you took initiative and loved them 🙂
Chahinez
Lyn
Hi this looks amazing I am planning on trying it this weekend, I was wondering if I could omit the heavy cream – would that make the cheesecake taste very different?
Thanks!!
Chahinez
Hello Lyn,
It wouldn’t make the cheesecake taste different but it would change the texture, which then might change your baking time. Try using full fat milk instead of the heavy cream or just use extra sour cream instead to make up for it.
Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Chahinez
Laura Bowen
Hi… I like the idea of a single serving 4” cake, but would be better if it were adapted to a toaster oven. I wouldn’t want to heat up my big oven for a single sized dessert. Any ideas how to bake in toaster oven?
Chahinez
You’re so right Laura! Unfortunately I don’t have a toaster oven at my house at the moment so I wouldn’t be able to tell you. If you did try it and figured out a good baking temperature and time I would love to know 🙂
Chahinez
Maggie
I am poised to try baking the crust in my toaster oven and then cooking the complete cheesecake in my tiny itaki cooker. I will post an update once I have a successful result
Chahinez
Yes! Please let us know how it turned out 🙂
Chahinez
Jen
Great recipe!! I used a silicone muffin pan, it was perfect once chilled to pop out little cheesecakes. I swirled raspberry jam in some and mini chocolate chips in the other mini cheesecakes before baking. Thank you for a delicious recipe.
Chahinez
Love hearing this Jen!
Sybil Haster
Thank you. What is the calorie count?
Chahinez
Hi Sybil,
The calorie count for half of this cheesecake is about 450 calories.
Hope that helped.
Chahinez
Guy Charbonneau
This is probably the best cheesecake I’ve ever had! In fact, this the only cheesecake recipe I’ll ever use! I’ve added about 1 tablespoon of instant coffee to the cream, then added it to the batter…it was excellent.
Chahinez
Hi Guy!
Thank you so much for letting me know how you liked the recipe. I think adding the instant coffee to the cream is genius. I will be trying that next.
Have a great Sunday!
Chahinez
Nikita
Hey, I tried your mini cheesecake recipe and it was undoubtedly the creamiest cheesecake I’ve ever had. Everyone at home loved it! Keep sharing such amazing recipes. 🙂
Lifestyle of a Foodie
Hi Nikita!
Thank you so much for you sweet words. I am so happy to hear that you loved this recipe.
Have a great day,
Chahinez
Sybil
I’m going to double the recipe as well. How far up did you fill your pans? Did you use 4” springform pans? Thanks in advance for your response,
Lifestyle of a Foodie
Hello Sybil,
Yes, I used a 4 inch springform pan to make this mini cheesecake.
In the article there are photos of the process, one shows how much I filled up the pans. I used all the batter in one pan so it should be pretty full (as shown on the image) .
I hope that was hopeful!
Chahinez
Dakota
Can you freeze these cheesecakes?
Chahinez
Yes! First, let the cheesecake cool down then you can either slice the cheesecake first or freeze it as is. Wrap the cheesecake pieces or whole cheesecake tightly with plastic wrap then wrap with foil and freeze for up to 1 month!
Hope this helps 🙂
Chahinez
Sim
Hii so excited to try this recipe, what would I add and how much to make this into a chocolate cheesecake?? Thank you 🙂
Lifestyle of a Foodie
Hi Sim!
I haven’t made this recipe into a chocolate cheesecake but I am working on a burnt mini basque cheesecake coming within the next few weeks and a mini 4inch chocolate one coming for Valentine’s day! I’m still in the trial phase, but I’ll share as soon as I nail it! Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when I share it!
Have a great evening!
Chahinez
Jean
Hi. Can I bake this cake using a 6-inch springform pan? If yes what is the temperature/time? Thanks.
Chahinez
I have never tried it in a 6-inch springform pan so I wouldn’t know. I would strongly recommend that you make it in the 4 inch springform pan so that it keeps the right height and texture!
Phyllis
This recipe was easy to follow thanks to your excellent notes. However water got into the tinfoil and it did soak my crust a bit. I was able to salvage it and it is most delicious! I’ll get better at making sure I double wrap it next time. *note: I did double the recipe and got 3 nice size little cakes out of it. Thank you!❤
Lifestyle of a Foodie
Hi Phyllis,
Thank you so much for trying out this mini cheesecake recipe. I am so sorry that some water got into the crust, I like to use heavy duty foil to wrap the mini cheesecake pans. That seems to work best for both small and large cheesecakes.
Again, thank you so so much for trying it and letting me know how they turned out 🙂
PS: Happy new year!
Chahinez
Jean
Hi. Can I replace the sour cream with yogurt? Thanks.
Chahinez
Hi Jean!
Yes you can :), make sure you use greek yogurt.
Chahinez
AR
I too ended up with a wet crust when I made a cheesecake. Now I set my pan in a LOOK roasting bag, rolled down to the top of the pan and then both into the water bath. I always double check there are no holes or leaks before using them, (add water to bag make sure no leaks) as I reuse the bags lots.
Follow these steps;
cheesecake batter into the springform pan.
The pan goes into the oven bag.
The oven bag and springform go into a larger pan..roaster or pan big enough to hold springform
Place in oven
Fill the larger pan with boiling water halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
These bags are also great for final proofing of buns, bread, bagels etc. A large bag holds my 11x 17 cookie sheet.
Chahinez
Wow the roasting pan idea is genius!
Chahinez
indianeskitchen
Excellent tips in making this!!! Who doesn’t love a great cheesecake…whatever size! Lol
Lifestyle of a Foodie
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed this mini cheesecake article!
J.Dowe
Finally….an accurate, easy and delicious recipe for a mini cheesecake! I doubled the ingredients and made 2 minis and it was soooo good. TT This recipe is definitely a keeper and easily a favorite. Thanks so much for sharing.
Chahinez
I’m so glad that this recipe was easy to follow!! Enjoy 🙂
Michael
I’m using the ingredients for 1 and getting an eggy taste. What am I doing wrong ? Though my intuition tells me one egg in one cake is a lot.
Chahinez
That is so weird, I have not experienced any eggy taste in this cheesecake. Maybe increase the amount of vanilla!
Hope this helps.
Chahinez