Every year I use to make mom's Easter Cassata in her memory which is very large and now with two people, I just make them in this smaller version and freeze them.
I still make Grandma's Easter Bread which is another Italian tradition we do every year.
I can take out what I need and they taste just as fresh as first baked after thawing in the refrigerator.
This year I made it just a little different.
This custard ricotta filling is perfect in these little cupcake tins for individual servings and so cute!
It's just a little more festive looking. I added a little bunny baked into my little cheesecakes.
The children loved them. They make such a pretty addition to the dessert platter of baked treats for our dessert tray.
Scroll through our tips, easy instructions, and printable recipe below.
Our Italian traditional for Easter Cassata
Cassata is a light cheesecake made with ricotta cheese, fruits, and chocolate baked in a crust like a custard-like filling.
Mom always made one loaded with more chocolate than fruit just for me.
I have adapted the recipe to make individual servings which is super easy and can be decorated with a cookie cutter to make cute Easter shapes on top!
Additions and Suggestions
- if you're not fond of cherries add citron which is the authentic cassata recipe
- you can also make them with lemon extract and lemon zest in the ricotta filling
- orange extract and orange zest in the ricotta batter
- flavor the ricotta with almond extract and leave out the fruits and add min chocolate chips
- swirl the top of each cassata with raspberry preserves before baking
Ingredients You Will Need To Make Easter Mini Cassata
- eggs
- Ricotta whole milk cheese
- chopped maraschino cherries blotted dry
- chocolate bars chopped chunky
- vanilla
- sugar
- Garnish:
- egg wash for the top
- Crust:
- flour
- cinnamon
- milk
- butter
- sugar
- baking powder
Tools You Will Need
- muffin tin non-stick
- cookie cutters with rabbits or carrots whatever you like for the tops this is optional
- pastry wheel to cut strips instead of using a cookie cutter or use a pizza cutter
- rolling pin
- cutting board
- mixing bowls
- measuring cup
- measuring spoons
Tips
- use whole milk ricotta cheese, it's once a year splurge the calories
- always preheat the oven first
- generously oil spray the non-stick style muffin tins(I use a porcelain lined tin)
- do not over flour or overwork the dough or it will be hard
- these freezes well, just cool add to a cookie tray freeze until solid then place in freezer bags with wax paper between them
- if using a cookie cutter, bake around 5 minutes in the preheated oven then add the cutout or it will sink
Recipes for you to try we love:
Ice Cream Cone Easter Baskets
Doll Cakes
Halloween Party Foods
Valentine's Day Recipe Roundup
Easter Mini Cassata Cheesecakes Pin for later
Grandchildren Make It Fun
We still enjoy cooking together every chance we get. Now I have grandchildren to look forward to making some more memories with to pass on traditions.
Every year gets better with the memories we make and it is the foundation we build together for our future kids to carry on what we all started.
I carried on my mom's traditions she instilled in all of us and now it's my turn to do the same and so far, I am thrilled my family continues with the same vision.
Check out our cute little Easter baskets we make from ice cream sugar cones!
Easter. cassata, cheesecake, pie, cookie crust, cupcake, cheese pie, Italian cheesecake
desserts, cheesecake, pie
Italian
Yield: 12

Easter Mini Cassata Cheesecakes
prep time: cook time: total time:
These are miniature Easter cassata cups made in cupcakes tins for individual servings. It's a traditional Easter cassata Italian recipe made with ricotta and is a cheesecake base and cookie crust.
ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- 1 lb Ricotta whole milk cheese
- 12 chopped maraschino cherries blotted dry
- 1 small chocolate bars chopped chunky
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2/3 cup sugar
- Place eggs in a bowl with the sugar and beat for 3 minutes. Fold in the cherries, chocolate, and vanilla set aside.
- Garnish:
- 1 beaten egg for the top
- Crust:
- 2 - 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 stick of butter (1/4 pound)
- 3/4 cups of sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
instructions:
- Dough:
- Mix everything together in a bowl, the dough will be very soft, you will need to keep adding additional flour so it doesn't stick while rolling.
- Cut out as many cookie-cutter tops that you need and set them aside.
- I made around 16 - cupcake mini cassata cheesecakes.
- Oil spray cupcake tins.
- Roll out dough to fit tins to fit for the bottom of each cupcake tin. Brush with beaten egg wash for a shiny top.
- Ricotta Batter:
- In a clean bowl just mix the ricotta, eggs, sugar, vanilla until combined fold in the cherries, chocolate.
- Spoon a little in each cup, top with bunnies or a lattice dough see note below.
- Bake at 350 for 25 to 35 minutes until golden brown on top.
- NOTE: If you have additional batter leftover and dough make a small cassata using a small pie plate. I usually have filling leftovers.
- if using a cookie cutter, bake around 5 minutes in the preheated oven then add the cutout or it will sink
- Optional Suggestions:
- if you're not fond of cherries add citron which is the authentic cassata recipe
- you can also make them with lemon extract and lemon zest in the ricotta filling
- orange extract and orange zest in the ricotta batter
- flavor the ricotta with almond extract and leave out the fruits and add min chocolate chips
- swirl the top of each cassata with raspberry preserves before baking
calories
268
268
fat (grams)
10
10
sat. fat (grams)
4
4
carbs (grams)
19
19
net carbs
8
8
protein (grams)
7
7
sugar (grams)
21
21
Created using The Recipes Generator
Easter Mini Cassata Cheesecakes Pin for later
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Graham Cracker Christmas House
Ice cream cone Easter Baskets
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Jello Tropical Cups
Wish I could try one! They look so inviting and festive.
ReplyDeleteThis looks yum. I am sure your mom would be smiling at the cute little bunnies on top. Lovely recipe
ReplyDeleteWow, these EASTER MINI CASSATA CHEESECAKES are so cute! I would love to eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Thank you for sharing this great recipe!
ReplyDeleteThese look really cute and easy to make. The perfect little easter treat.
ReplyDeleteHow cute little idea this is. I have to try it before easter.
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute. Perfect Easter treat :)
ReplyDeleteThese cheesecakes look adorable and so delicious! Perfect for Easter and also for upcoming Shavuot.
ReplyDeleteI love foods that you make every (fill in the holiday here). For us, it was my Grandmother's "lamb" cake every easter (a cake she made in a lamb shaped mold). These Cassata cheesecakes sound delish -- and I would like them with or without citron.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea to put the bunnies on top, they look delicious!!
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable! I'm so wishing someone would magically make these for me...so I can devour them one by one between now and Easter LOL. Srsly, I think the kids AND adults would go crazy for these! Thanks for the recipe inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteI have NEVER heard of these before. I love finding all the "traditional" recipes for holidays. So fun to see what others eat to celebrate with.
ReplyDeleteClaudia, these Mini Cheescakes are the most clever and the cutest idea, especially with the little cutout bunnies on the top that the kids would love to help with! Love the creativity and the recipe!
ReplyDeleteLove the bunny toppper! Your grandchildren must love eating at your house!!! xo
ReplyDeleteThey are not only adorable, they sound delicious!
ReplyDelete- Debbie, VA for Denise Wright @ mylifecookbook.com
We love cheesecake and these adorable creations look amazing! Love heirloom recipes too!
ReplyDeleteThese bunny cheesecakes are adorable and so perfect for Easter!
ReplyDeleteI agree that creatively decorated food is more fun to eat! So smart to do this the easy way with a bunny shaped cookie cutter!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I have never heard of cassata before. I love the bunny topper too. Very cute!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful fun recipe, Claudia! And, the fact that it's a tradition and has history makes it even MORE deeeelicious!! I feel like I'm in your kitchen experiencing your childhood xox
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun recipe. Children would be all over this.
ReplyDeleteOOOH! Chocolate and cherries in cheesecake?! Yes, please!!
ReplyDeleteDelicious and adorable, the perfect combo for Easter!
ReplyDeleteI've never had anything like these cassata cheesecakes before, and now I'm excited to give them a try. They're super cute with the cut-outs on top. I can see why everyone loves them!
ReplyDeleteThese are delicious! Can't wait to make these this year!
ReplyDeleteThese mini cheesecakes are so good!
ReplyDeleteits on the recipe card right after the filling instructions
DeleteEaster Mini Cassata Cheesecakes NEED RECIPE FOR CRUST
ReplyDeleteThe bunnies on top are really cute. Makes a fun treat for the holiday.
ReplyDeleteThey sound delicious and perfect for Sunday.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great treat! And, I agree, splurging for such an important holiday is definitely the way to go. I recently learned how to make my own ricotta cheese with whole milk and I can't wait to try it with this tasty dessert.
ReplyDeleteSo cute and fun! I love the little bunnies on top
ReplyDeleteWe had so much fun making these cheesecakes! Everyone at my house loved it!
ReplyDeleteSo fun and festive. I was looking for a dessert to use up some maraschino cherries on and glad I found this. A great Easter sweet treat and love the topping.
ReplyDeleteLove it that they are small and cute! Perfect treat for children and adults alike!
ReplyDeleteI love the little bunnies! So festive for Easter
ReplyDeleteThese look so delicious and perfect for Easter! Can’t wait to make them soon!
ReplyDeleteThese are so adorable and my boys are going to love them for Easter! What a nice touch with the bunnies on top! Great recipe!
ReplyDeleteThey look delicious! Can't wait to make them!
ReplyDeleteSuch a delicious addition to Easter and springtime baking! I love that custard ricotta filling and the bunnies on top.
ReplyDeleteHow cute! I love that bunny cutout on top of the mini cheesecake. I really like individual desserts - they are so special and they look fantastic on the dessert table. I'm using this recipe at Easter - can't wait to see their faces.
ReplyDelete