Monster Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites
October 3, 2023
These Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites are perfect for Halloween! A bright orange filling of pumpkin puree and spices with cream cheese enveloped in a dark chocolate coating and decorated with googly eyes and sprinkles! Monstuosly delicious!
A fun and delicious treat for Halloween! Plus, it’s fun to make the kids help make these Monster Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites! When it’s time to decorate, the more hands, the better! One is on the chocolate dipping job, while the other does the decoration! You can also make a version for grown-ups without the eyes and sprinkles, but just a little pumpkin spice powder on top.
The Filling
The inside of these truffles or bites is, basically, spiced pumpkin cheesecake. The texture is smooth, almost airy, and not overly sweet. I love it when you can still taste the sourness of the cheese! I added one special ingredient to the pumpkin spice mix to make it more vivid orange: turmeric! It is a lovely and healthy spice that gives tons of colour but very little taste. This way, you’ll get a gorgeous bright orange filling for your Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites. This part is purely aesthetic, so no worries if you do not have turmeric powder in your pantry.
The Chocolate Tempering
Yes, chocolate needs a specific technique to melt correctly and here are a few highlights to prevent problems:
- Ensure the bowl you use (in metal or glass) is more significant and doesn’t touch the water directly when melting the chocolate.
- Ensure the bowl is perfectly dry because usage, even a single drop of water, could make your chocolate turn.
- Slow and Moving is the key here! Ensure not to overheat the bowl by keeping it up at times, and continue moving it with a spatula to prevent it from sticking or burning.
The Technique
Here are a few points to make everything goes according to plan without hassle:
- To make them round and hold well, freeze the filling balls before dipping them into the chocolate. You’ll make a badly formed ball at first, but it’s normal; let them freeze in the freezer for 30 minutes, and then you’ll be able to create a perfect ball with each of them and cover them up! However, since the filling is cold, it will make the chocolate set fast, so each time you do a dip, decorate the ball right after; otherwise, the eyes and sprinkles won’t stick.
- Use a spoon to turn them in the chocolate so your warm fingers won’t melt and deform the balls.
- Let them drip their excess chocolate on a grid to make them as round as possible, or on parchment is fine, but they won’t be perfectly round.
Decorations
Of course, you can buy these googly eyes, but where I’m from, they are expensive and so easy to make. Why not make some ahead of time with the kids? Here is the link to my three methods of googly eyes, depending on what is in your pantry. Two versions made of sugar but longer to set, and a chocolate version ready almost instantly. Don’t forget to decorate the bites as soon as they come off the chocolate dip.
Variations
Cookies can differ slightly depending on where you live, but it’s all pretty similar. Shortbread, butter, or tea cookies, even digestive ones, would do. In the US, the famous graham crackers or gingersnaps would do, too, if you fancy a little more spice!
I chose dark chocolate because I think it looks spookier and would go well with pumpkin spice filling, but you could go with milk chocolate or white even; this is up to you, too.
FAQ
Can I freeze them ahead of time?
Oh yes, you can! Although, I would highly recommend you check this article from Serious Eats before properly unfreezing them. You could also prepare and freeze the filling balls, keeping the chocolate dipping part for later.
For how long can I leave the Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites at room temperature?
You can leave them for a few hours only at room temperature. Unlike other truffles or bites made of chocolate, these contain cheese, which needs refrigeration.
Can I use other types of pumpkin? Or pre-done puree can?
Of course! Whatever is your favourite pumpkin or squash! I made my own purée, but you can also use pre-done cans of pumpkin purée. Be careful if you buy the cans not to take over spiced ones.
Other Fun Halloween Bites
Ingredients
- 75 g Cream Cheese or 5 tbsp
- 12 Shortbread Cookies or butter, digestive cookies, etc.
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tbsp Squash or Pumpkin Purée
- 1 tbsp Pumpkin Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger and all spice)
- 1 tsp Curcuma Powder optional
Coating
- 200 g Dark Chocolate 50% cacao
- Sprinkles optional
- Googly Eyes Candy optional
Instructions
- Add the cookies to a food processor and blend until sand texture.
- Add the rest of the filling ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Take a spoon or ice cream scoop and make small balls on a parchment-covered board.
- Put in the freezer for 20-30 minutes until firmer.
- Roll them in nice smooth balls.
- In a bain-marie (bowl over simmering hot water pot), temper or melt the dark chocolate by constantly turning it until melted.
- Let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Dip the ball into the chocolate, then add to parchment or grid, add the googly eye and sprinkles.
- Let it refrigerated until you serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Pin it for Later
11 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
nancy
super cute Cheesecake Bites for halloween. It was easy enough to make with the kids and they loved snacking on them -
-
Vanessa
These are so cute! Perfect for a Halloween party! -
Asha
I made these Monster Bites with my nephews. They had fun helping to make them; as well as eating them. -
-
Fouzia
Your cheese cake bites look so yummy and tasty and perfect for the fall season and Halloween! -
I have extra pumpkin in my pantry I need to use, and this looks like the perfect way! My kids will love these.