With the 4th of July holiday right around the corner, we’re gearing up for a big week here on the blog.  Next week will be full of brand new and beautifully patriotic sweets.  With a fabulous Red, White & Blue Cake Series that I’m just dying to share!  (Similar to the 12 Cakes of Christmas back in December, but even better!)  Plus a few surprises along the way.  And since my mind is already in red, white and blue mode, I thought we’d head into the weekend with these little treats.  I shared this recipe over on Hostess With the Mostess last July but never shared the recipe here on my own site.  Hope you enjoy my Stars & Stripes Cheesecake Shots!

Cold shot glasses filled with creamy cheesecake filling, graham cracker crumbs and topped with berries.  These little treats have become a staple at our family events over the last year.  To give it an extra special touch for the 4th of July, I added small puff pastry stars.

STARS & STRIPES CHEESECAKE SHOTS
recipe by Carrie Sellman

Ingredients:
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup + 1T sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip, thawed
8 to 10 graham cracker sheets, finely crushed
Fresh Berries

Instructions:

1. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until smooth.  Gently stir in cool whip until well blended.
2. Fill individual glasses half way with cream cheese mixture, either using a spoon or a piping bag fitted with a large round tip for a more polished presentation.  Top with 1 tsp graham cracker crumbs.  Shake glass to level crumbs.  Fill to the top with more of the cream cheese mixture.
3. Lightly sprinkle with additional graham cracker crumbs and top with berries.  Add a star pastry for an extra fun little touch.
4. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.  Serve chilled.  Makes roughly 16 mini servings, depending on the size of your serving glass.

TIPS:
– Use a Ziploc bag to fill glasses if you don’t have a piping bag.  Just fill it partially, seal and snip off one corner.   Squeeze out!
– Set out cream cheese ahead of time so that it is room temperature.  This will help everything blend together and create a smooth consistency.
– Serve with a bowl of berries and additional Star Pastries for a patriotic display.

Happy Weekend everyone!  Be sure to check in with us on Monday as our big Red, White and Blue week begins!!

	Carrie Sellman is the Founder & Editor of The Cake Blog. Her work has been published in BRIDES Magazine, The Bride and Bloom, on DIYnetwork.com, TLC’s Parentables and more. Read more about Carrie on her bio page.