Recipe: Goat Cheese, Honey & Pistachio Mini Cheesecakes with Meyer Lemon Cream (2024)

For the pistachio crust:

• 1

  heaping cup shelled, roasted, and salted pistachios (See Recipe Notes)

• 1/4 cup

  granulated sugar

• 3 tablespoons

  unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

• 1

  (11-ounce) log mild goat cheese, room temperature

• 1/4 cup

  granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup

  (4 ounces) crème fraîche or full-fat sour cream, room temperature

• 2 tablespoons

  good-quality honey

• 1/4 teaspoon

  vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract

• Pinch of fine sea salt

• 3

  large eggs

For the Meyer lemon cream:

• 1 stick

  (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1/2 cup

  granulated sugar

• 2

  large eggs

• 2

  large egg yolks

• 2 teaspoons

  Meyer lemon zest

• 1/2 cup

  Meyer lemon juice, from 3 to 4 lemons (See Recipe Notes)

• 1/4 teaspoon

  vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract

• Pinch of kosher salt

For the candied pistachios:

• 1/2 cup

  shelled, roasted, and salted pistachios, finely chopped

• 2 tablespoons

  packed brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon

  hot water

1. For the pistachio crust, combine pistachios and sugar in food processor or mini chopper and process until it becomes a fine meal. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the melted butter; the mixture should resemble wet sand. Divide the dough evenly among 12 wells of an individual cheesecake pan (or a mini muffin pan filled with cupcake liners) and press firmly into the bottom.

2. Preheat the oven to 400°F. While the oven is heating, refrigerate the crusts until chilled. Bake the crusts for 10 to 12 minutes until set. Cool completely before filling.

3. For the filling, lower oven temperature to 300°F. Combine the goat cheese and sugar in the bowl of a food processor and process for 1 minute. Add the crème fraîche, honey, vanilla, and salt and process for another 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed. With the food processor running, add the eggs through the feeding tube one at a time, and mix until just combined; do not over mix. (If you do not have a food processor you can whisk the ingredients by hand in the same order.)

4. Transfer the filling to a measuring cup with a pour spout and fill each cheesecake well almost to the top. Place the cheesecake pan on a sheet pan and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until cheesecakes are just barely set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill the cheesecakes for a minimum of 4 hours.

5. For the Meyer lemon cream, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Slowly add the eggs and yolks and beat for 1 minute, until well combined. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt and continue mixing until incorporated. (The mixture will become curdled and lumpy upon adding the lemon juice, but it will smooth quickly upon heating.)

6. Transfer the mixture to a medium saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture reaches 165°F on an instant read thermometer; the mixture should be just thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Transfer to another bowl and press plastic directly on the surface. Let cool at room temperature until ready to serve. (Lemon cream will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week. The texture thickens as it chills; you can whisk a tablespoon or two of heavy cream to thin if needed.)

7. For the candied pistachios, spread chopped pistachios on a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or sheet of parchment paper. Whisk the brown sugar and hot water to dissolve. Pour the mixture over the pistachios and toss to combine. Bake in a 350°F oven until golden and toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Once cool, crumble the pistachios for serving.

8. To assemble, remove the cheesecakes from the pan and remove metal rounds from the bottom. Bring to room temperature before serving. Drizzle with Meyer lemon creme and a sprinkle of candied pistachios.