Slow Cooker Monday: Mini Salted Caramel Mocha Cheesecakes

This is a very special edition of Slow Cooker Monday. It’s been a while since I’ve shared a slow cooker recipe, and this one is pretty darn amazing. In fact, it’s so good that I entered into the first ever Ultimate Crock-Pot Crock-Star contest a couple of weeks ago. What’s that? Crock-Pot is hosting a contest to challenge slow cooker enthusiasts to create unique and unexpected original slow cooker recipes. They narrowed down all the submissions and picked their favorite 3 based on originality, creativity, and overall appeal.

Today they’re announcing the 3 finalists and…(drum roll, please…) I’m one of them!!

Now that Crock-Pot has narrowed it down to their 3 favorite entries it’s YOUR turn to votePublic voting is open from today through Monday, November 25th. You can vote once a day for the next 2 weeks and you don’t need an account or anything. Get this–the grand prize is a trip to NYC to film an episode of From the Kitchens Of… on the Cooking Channel!! So if you want to see me on TV, please click here and vote. And tell your friends to vote. And go vote again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that…Seriously though, this recipe is a real winner. Russ, who has tried approximately 1.5 million of my desserts in the last 8 years, actually said this is his favorite! He’s already planning on asking me to make this for his birthday. Which is 6 months away. If this can make him plan that far ahead, it is something special. I give you Exhibit A:

Please excuse the run-on sentence, but I had to show you how much he loved this dessert. Let me tell you why it’s so awesome:

Inside those cute little jars, from the bottom up, is: chocolate graham cracker or cookie crust, mocha cheesecake, salted caramel, whipped cream, more salted caramel drizzled on top. It’s a pretty decadent dessert, but the little jar gives you a small, satisfying portion. It’s the perfect portion control.

You pop the jars into a slow cooker with some water and they cook in about 90 minutes while you go make dinner or go out and see a movie or whatever you want. I think these would be wonderful for a dinner party. They could cook as you get ready and are already portioned out into individual sizes. All you’d have to do is refrigerate them during dinner and add the toppings with your guests.

Slow Cooker Mini Salted Caramel Mocha Cheesecakes

Ingredients

  • Mocha cheesecake:
  • 3/4 cup ground chocolate graham crackers or chocolate wafers (I used chocolate Teddy Grahams)
  • 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 oz bittersweet chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp instant coffee
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • Salted caramel:
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • Whipped cream for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Lightly coat six 4-oz. jars with non-stick spray. Mix ground chocolate crackers or wafers with butter and a pinch of salt. Add a tablespoon plus a teaspoon of crust mixture to each jar. Push down crust into an even layer. Repeat with remaining jars and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Add egg and mixed until combined. Mix in melted chocolate, vanilla, instant coffee, and salt. Pour filling into each jar until 3/4 full and place them into slow cooker. Carefully pour hot water around the jars until they are 3/4 submerged. Cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours. When done, they should be solid. Remove from slow cooker and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  3. To make salted caramel, add butter, brown sugar, heavy whipping cream, and salt to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat for 7 minutes, whisking occasionally. Add the vanilla and cook 1 more minute to thicken further. Pour caramel into a jar, then refrigerate until cold.
  4. When ready to serve, pour salted caramel sauce and whipped cream over each cheesecake.

https://www.52kitchenadventures.com/2012/11/12/slow-cooker-mini-salted-caramel-mocha-cheesecakes/

40 Comments on Slow Cooker Monday: Mini Salted Caramel Mocha Cheesecakes

    • Stephanie
      November 12, 2012 at 7:27 am (11 years ago)

      Anna, thank you so much! They’re as good as they look, I swear. I wish I could make one for everyone who votes! 🙂

    • Stephanie
      November 12, 2012 at 8:15 am (11 years ago)

      Tamara, thank you!! It’s so exciting. Thanks for sharing with your Twitter followers!

  1. Christina @ Be mindful. Be human.
    November 12, 2012 at 10:32 am (11 years ago)

    Congrats on being a finalist. You’re so talented! I am going to vote right after I finish this comment. Love the crock pot idea. I just got a crock pot for my boyfriend since he doesn’t have an oven. I have been “baking” in the crock pot and love it. I can’t wait to try your recipe in our new crock pot. I am so excited. Thanks for the recipe.
    Christina @ Be mindful. Be human. recently posted Pork Tender Loin Wrapped in Apple-Wood Smoked Bacon

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      November 12, 2012 at 10:46 am (11 years ago)

      Christina, thanks! Slow cookers are awesome. There’s so many great things you can make in them!

  2. Robin Chesser
    November 12, 2012 at 10:56 am (11 years ago)

    I voted for you, Stephanie.

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      November 12, 2012 at 10:57 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you Robin!

  3. Roma
    November 12, 2012 at 1:22 pm (11 years ago)

    I had fun voting for you! Good luck! This will be my Thanksgiving dessert!!

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      November 12, 2012 at 1:49 pm (11 years ago)

      Thanks Roma! This will be a delicious Thanksgiving dessert! I’m thinking about making it again for my Thanksgiving too.

  4. Danica
    November 13, 2012 at 8:18 pm (11 years ago)

    Me: “Steph entered the first-ever Crock Pot Crock Stars Contest and she is one of the three finalists!”
    Annie: “I know! I voted for her! Was that her news?”
    Me: “Yes! She is amazing!”
    Annie: “Your sister IS amazing. Your whole family is amazing. I just feel like you’re visionaries. I feel like when you put your minds to something, it is just immediate and amazing things immediately start to happen and people respond right away and it just all comes together like THAT. So like, your sister and her blog, your brother and his science writings….” (she had examples for me too but this is YOUR blog!)

    Reply
    • Stephanie Nuccitelli
      November 13, 2012 at 8:19 pm (11 years ago)

      Danica & Annie, thanks for voting and for all your support! We are all amazing 🙂

  5. Danica
    November 13, 2012 at 8:20 pm (11 years ago)

    And by “your blog” I assume she means “your blog, and by extension your growing baking and food writing career!!!!”
    Danica recently posted Ground Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Reply
    • Stephanie Nuccitelli
      November 14, 2012 at 7:09 am (11 years ago)

      Susan, thank you! You’re the best!

    • Stephanie Nuccitelli
      November 18, 2012 at 9:15 am (11 years ago)

      Jen, thanks! It was a fun recipe to create.

  6. Raquel
    November 18, 2012 at 9:55 am (11 years ago)

    Congrats on being a finalist! I meant on commenting earlier, but had a few issues with the text, but now, all fixed! They do look exquisite and delicious! Kuddos to you! Sharing with twitter followers, for more votes! Now, on for the voting website! Good luck, Stephanie! :o)
    Raquel recently posted Illustrated ‘Bolivian-style’ adapted cooking: Green Bean Casserole!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Nuccitelli
      November 18, 2012 at 9:57 am (11 years ago)

      Raquel, thank you! I really appreciate you sharing on Twitter and voting 🙂

    • Stephanie Nuccitelli
      November 25, 2012 at 1:08 pm (11 years ago)

      Kristy, thanks for you support! Next time I will be sure to reach out to you ASAP 🙂

  7. Fatima
    December 25, 2012 at 5:30 pm (11 years ago)

    Congrats! This looks amazing. But what can I use instead of a slow cooker?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Nuccitelli
      December 26, 2012 at 9:32 am (11 years ago)

      Thanks Fatima! You can also bake them in the oven by placing the jars into a baking dish and filling it with water until they’re halfway covered. I’m working on another version of this recipe using the oven and will update this post when it’s ready.

  8. Virginia
    May 30, 2014 at 6:43 am (10 years ago)

    I have 1 question. Is it 1/2 cup or 4 tablespoons? 1/2 cup is 8 tablespoons. 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Saunders
      June 7, 2014 at 3:36 pm (10 years ago)

      Virginia, are you asking about the butter? It says 1/2 stick, not 1/2 cup. A half stick of butter in the US is 4 tablespoons.

  9. Kerry
    July 17, 2014 at 12:40 pm (10 years ago)

    What could I use instead of mason jars as I don’t have those?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Saunders
      July 19, 2014 at 3:09 pm (10 years ago)

      Kerry, you could use other small glass containers or ramekins.

  10. Edwina
    August 9, 2014 at 10:28 am (10 years ago)

    Can’t wait to make these. I love using my crock pot. Don’t heat up the kitchen.

    Reply
  11. Nicole
    May 4, 2015 at 12:55 pm (9 years ago)

    I was wondering about how long does these last in the fridge or freezer. I’m hoping to make these for mother’s day.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Saunders
      May 4, 2015 at 1:27 pm (9 years ago)

      You can treat them like any other cheesecake. I’ve never tried freezing them, but it should work as long as you have freezer safe jars. In the fridge, they should last 3-5 days or so.

  12. Heather Sattler
    December 6, 2015 at 7:28 am (8 years ago)

    Can the mini mocha cheesecakes be frozen for later

    Reply
  13. Iman
    March 23, 2016 at 1:10 pm (8 years ago)

    Whipping cream which is used in caramel sauce will be use after whipping or without whipping we cook it ?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Saunders
      March 23, 2016 at 1:23 pm (8 years ago)

      Use plain whipping cream straight from the carton (without whipping).

  14. Angela Clark
    May 28, 2016 at 8:36 am (8 years ago)

    Hi I love anything in the Crock pot. I plan on trying this recipe this weekend. Do you think that this could be water processed so give as gifts?

    Reply

3Pingbacks & Trackbacks on Slow Cooker Monday: Mini Salted Caramel Mocha Cheesecakes

  1. […] the cupcake war at the Sacramento Chef Challenge, went to my first food blogging conference, came third in a national Crock-Pot contest, and have had countless opportunities to work with some of my favorite brands to develop recipes. […]

  2. […] stirring too much or heating it up too quickly, or a myriad of other issues. When I was creating a salted caramel mocha cheesecake for a Crock Pot contest, I needed to find an easier version of salted caramel sauce. I came across […]

  3. […] Slow Cooker Mini Salted Caramel Mocha Cheesecakes from 52 Kitchen Adventures […]

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