"Cheesy Christmas Presents"


      All of the presents that you put out this holiday season don’t have to go under the tree.  These cheesecake “presents” will look inviting and appetizing on your Christmas buffet.
 

     Preheat oven to 350E. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, butter and 3 tablespoons sugar together. Press firmly onto the bottom of a 13"x9" baking pan.
     In a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla until well blended.
     Add the eggs and mix just until blended. Pour over the graham cracker crust. 
     Bake for 30 minutes or until the center is almost set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Refrigerate a minimum of 3 hours.  
     Here, you can see aspiring Pastry Chef Evita Edme, student at The Culinary Academy of Long Island in Syosset, New York cut the cheesecake into 32 bars. She then decorated each with gels and sprinkles to resemble prettily wrapped presents and spelled out a festive holiday message for all to enjoy. 
     Evita proudly displays her culinary artistry. She not only earned a Certificate upon completion of the Professional Baking and Pastry Arts Program, but she is currently enrolled in The Culinary Academy’s Professional Cooking Program. 
     To finish dressing up these "Christmas presents" that Evita has skillfully prepared, serve Stash’s Christmas Eve tea. Even Santa won’t want to go back to the North Pole after this decadent treat. 
     A debt of gratitude goes to Chef Kathryn Miranda, Lead Professional Baking and Pastry Instructor at The Culinary Academy of Long Island for assisting with the preparation of this recipe and for diligently working to supply these photos, and to Evita Edme for her time and talent in bringing this recipe to life. We are forever grateful.

Photos: © The Culinary Academy of Long Island
Source: http://long-island.cuiinary-academy.com