The restaurant looked promising online. We arrived to find it overflowing with people. The wait was well over an hour. We headed to the bar after we put our name on the list. Wine was ordered and someone mentioned the tables around the bar were first come first serve. Right then the people at the table next to where we were standing got up. We filled those seats faster than the speed of sound (or it seemed that way). The dinner exceeded every expectation. We decided to have dessert to end the meal. The waiter brought a rack of mini desserts in small glasses. It's those little bites that inspired my mini blueberry cream cheese pies.
Notice the pies are in jars. It's because the theme for this week's Sunday Supper are recipes inspired by the Desserts in Jars cookbook
by Shaina Olmanson. It's easy to be inspired by the book. Shaina gives tips and suggestions for utilizing different kinds of jars for desserts. First I had to figure out what jars to use. Then I had the idea of spice jars
. Next was deciding on a recipe. I was in the mood for blueberries so I adapted the one for my cherry cream cheese pie.
The fun was getting the pies into the jars. I spooned in the crust and shook the jars around to get the crust even. I did not bother with pressing down the crust. I used a piping bag with a big round tip for the cream cheese filling. A thin spoon worked for adding the blueberry topping. They are pretty little single-serving pies with a crumbly crust, creamy filling, and fruity topping.
Would you like to win a copy of the cookbook? All you have to do is comment on what dessert you would want in a jar. Entries will be assigned a number and the winner selected using Random.org. The winner will be notified by email. If the winner does not respond in 48 hours an alternate winner will be selected. Contest ends on Friday, June 28, 2013 at 11:59pm Eastern Time. Contest is only for United States citizens, with a US shipping address, and over the age of 18.
You can purchase the cookbook. All you have to do is click on the photo of the cookbook to go to Amazon (affiliate link):
But wait! More good news: Join us during the #SundaySupper twitter chat on Sunday, June 23, 2013 and you could win one ticket to the Food and Wine Conference and a two night stay during the conference at the beautiful Rosen Shingle Creek. Everyone that joins the chat will be entered to win.
What exciting giveaways! There are more Desserts in Jars inspired recipes below. Scroll down and check them out...
Mini Blueberry Cream Cheese Pies
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
For the filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the topping:
- 1 can blueberry pie filling
Instructions
For the crust:
- Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl.
For the filling:
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese using an electric hand mixer until fluffy.
- Add sweetened condensed milk and beat to combine.
- Add lemon juice and vanilla and beat to combine.
To assemble:
- Divide the crust mixture among the jars. Use a spoon or shake the jars to even out the crust. Pressing down the crust is optional.
- Pipe or spoon cream cheese filling evenly over the crusts.
- Top each with blueberry pie filling.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving.
Notes
Ready for more Desserts in Jars? Take a look at these recipes from the Sunday Supper bloggers:
- Summer Fruit Fool in Jars by Shockingly Delicious
- Banana Split Cakes in a Jar by Daily Dish Recipes
- Baked Cheesecake In A Jar by Chocolate Moosey
- Key Lime Pies in a Jar by Home Cooking Memories
- Fudgy Brownie Mix by What Smells So Good?
- 5 Minute Coffee Cake in a Jar by Juanita's Cocina
- Strawberry Mess by Jane's Adventure's in Dinner
- Mini Blueberry Cream Cheese Pies by Magnolia Days
- Peach Crisp in Jars by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes by Hip Foodie Mom
- Salted Caramel Frozen Yogurt by Healthy.Delicious
- Boston Cream Pie Trifle by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Chocolate Egg Cream in A Jar by Growing Up Gabel
- Cinnamon Espresso Bread Pudding in a Jar by Country Girl in the Village
- White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake in a Jar by Runner's Tales
- Blueberry Thyme Pie in a Jar by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
- Caramel Panna Cotta in a Jar by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Layered Melon Granitas in Jars by Curious Cuisiniere
- Red Velvet Wedding Cake In A Jar by Foxes Love Lemons
- Strawberry Shortcake with Lemon Mascarpone in a Jar by Gotta Get Baked
- Nutella Panna Cotta in a Jar by Basic N Delicious
- Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie in a Jar by Big Bears Wife
- Bacon Bourbon Bread Pudding by The Urban Mrs
- Cinnamon Caramel Affogatos by Family Foodie
- Banana Split Ice Cream by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Midori Melon Flower Cupcakes by Ninja Baking
- Triple Berry Crisp in a Jar by Ruffles & Truffles
- Guilt-Free Blueberry Cream Cheese Gingerbread in a Jar by Eat, Move, Shine
- Gluten Free Pull-Apart Cinnamon Bread in a Jar by No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
- Roasted Strawberry Coconut Cream Parfaits With Toasted Coconut by Sue's Nutrition Buzz
- Chocolate and Banana Ice Box Trifle In A Jar by In the Kitchen with KP
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It's easy. You can sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement
Disclosures: This post contains affiliate links. I received a copy of Desserts in Jars at no charge for a previous event (see Monster Cookie Mix) and was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated or within a guest post.
The mini blueberry cheesecake pies look like mini bites of bliss! And they are sooo pretty! Thank you for sharing the how-to, Renee =)
Thanks Kim!
I love, love that you made a mini-verison, Renee. Practically guilt free...and so yummy!
Practically...true. They are little indulgences.
I would love to make these but substitute peaches for the blueberries.
Peaches would be a wonderful topping. I may use them next time.
Your jars are much cuter than the average ones I see. Love this simple dessert Renee!
I searched through lots of jars until I found the ones I thought would be great for the dessert. I love simple and clean and these have that style.
Oh my gosh, this looks amazing and it's so pretty!! What a great dessert and perfect for a party!!
Yes, they would be great for a party. They look fabulous lined up on a tray.
Yummy
These look amazing! And so easy, perfect for make ahead entertaining.
Darling jars!
You had my heart at blueberry! Gorgeous photos!
Thanks a bunch Jen for the compliment on my photos. It really makes me smile.
I love the idea of mini pies. I think sometimes a dessert like this can be a little overwhelming (you want more but your stomach says "no") give me the individual portion please!
Big desserts is usually the reason I never order them in restaurants. Little ones like this hit the spot and top off a meal.
I would love to make coconut cream pies in jars! All of the recipes listed here sound fabulous and I would love to add this book nto my collection. Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂
Oh yea, coconut cream would be nice too.
Perfect sized cheesecake now I only need to stop myself at one jar!
These little pies are more filling than you think. It probably has something to do with the cream cheese. I'm sure you could stop at one.
either strawberry cheesecake in a jar or a peach cobbler in a jar would be fun to make and eat
Peach cobbler sounds very tempting and it is peach season right now...
Your jars look adorable! Love to no-bake too! I am definitely putting this on my list of Summer desserts to try!
No-bake keeps the kitchen cool in the summer and that is a good thing.
Yum
Thanks Terry
LOVE these Renee! So cute and so easy to make too!
Renee,
I love these! what a great idea to use spice jars! and I love that you don't even need to bake these!!!! I love no-bake!
I had to put a twist on the jars and use something other than canning ones. It was really fun.
What a fun idea to use those jars... and much better on the hips too 😉 Lovely recipe and photos! Major weakness for blueberries and cream cheese!
Through the lips and onto the hips - so the smaller the dessert the less chance of it even making it to the hips.
If it was first come, first serve at the bar, I would be encouraging people to hurry and eat 😉 I'll have to give these a try but maybe with raspberries or cherries instead!
Either raspberries or cherries would be a great topping. Maybe even a mixed berry one too.
They look too pretty to eat, what a great recipe.
Thanks! I promise they taste as good as they look. Eat away.
I would love a hot fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream in a jar!
Mmmm... I always enjoy a good brownie. Hot fudge and ice cream are bonuses.
I would love peach, apple or cherry crisp in a jar. I love this idea of desserts in a jar!!!
I have a weakness for crisps too. Something about a crumble topping is oh so good.
Layers Melon Granitas sound sooo cool!
Yes, and a great frozen treat for a hot summer day.
What a versatile recipe - just use whatever fruit you have on hand! Or, you know, chocolate sauce works, too! Ha ha! And I adore those jars. What a great idea.
I agree - chocolate always works.
The key lime pies!
Yes! Key lime pies are so cool and creamy.
There are so many fabulous ideas for desserts in jars this #SundaySupper! It's given me the idea to make my own apple crisps, using spiced apples I canned last autumn, and simply draining some of the liquid then topping the jars with a streusel mixture.
What a great way to use your canned apples. So glad this event inspired you.
Honestly I would love your dessert in a jar! It looks delicious and I LOVE blueberries
Thank you Kesha!
Beautiful dessert and what gorgeous jars!
Those make me happy! Very cool!!!
These. Are. So. Cute! I love how they turned out.
I really want to try baking some sort of cake in a jar. I haven't tried it yet!
One day I'll attempt baking in jars. I just need to find good, sturdy jars and be very careful.
Renee, these are too cute for words! My favourite part is that these are no-bake. I really need to stop using my oven as much as I do - it's sweltering hot in my apartment! I can see myself eating far more than just one of these creamy, sweet little beauties.
Thank you Nancy - you are so kind!
Your jars are absolutely adorable! I love the blueberry with the cheesecake. Such a great combo.
These are beyond adorable! I'd like to have a brownie sundae in a little jar. I love how they make desserts a more reasonable portion. (I'd be likely to feel satisfied with the appropriate size)
Brownie sundae would be nice. The small size of the spice jars do make them a better portion. Sometimes pie slices can get rather large.
Renee, you never cease to amaze me. These look incredible, and I love those jars!
Renee, these are so friggin cute! They're calling my name; I want to dig in!
They called my name a whole bunch. Such tasty little pies.
Beautiful photos, beautiful dessert! Love the innovative use of spice jars here. Also, don't you just LOVE scoring a bar table at a busy restaurant, when you thought you would have to wait an hour? I'm not fancy, I'll eat in the bar area or even at the bar itself every single time. Same food, and I get to eat it faster 🙂
Yes, I do love scoring a bar table at a busy restaurant. We often eat at the bar too because we don't want to wait.
I saw a Red-White-Blue layered cheese cake that would really be cute for the 4th of July. Just layer some strawberries with the blueberry and you would be good to go.
What a great idea for a July 4th little dessert.
Raspberry pie or strawberry shortcake.
Wow, not only do these look fantastic but those flavours must sing!
I absolutely love things in jars. And cream cheese with blueberries...jar dessert heaven!! I love those little spice jars, too.
My jar collection keeps growing. I see many things in jars in my future.
These are seriously gorgeous woman. I would eat a boatload of these. I am still scratching my head how I missed the jar theme. Gotta love busy summers and Alberta floods. I wish I had jumped on board this one.
I wondered how you missed the jar theme too. You do amaze me with your layering and piping abilities.
Pecan pie
I would love to see Tiramisu. One of my all time favorite desserts.
i love your jar, its so pretty 🙂