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I’ve mentioned to you before about the Core class I like to take at the gym. It’s taught by a woman from the planet SuperCore.
The class is really a good one, and I love the teacher. I keep going back even though she tries to kill me in new ways each week. Which is why, when she has a substitute, I’m often weary of who will be teaching.
Once, there was this lady. She had us do strange things with the large exercise ball. And after 25 minutes I had no sweat in strange places and my abs felt pain-free, thus rendering it the wasted 25 minutes I’d never get back.
The Queen of SuperCore has been out the past week and a half for her own wedding. So there’s been a sub. I skipped a few classes, but finally decided to give it a go last Thursday.
I was a little skeptical of the teacher at first. Although looking extremely buff and wearing a Boston Marathon shirt, she was very calm. But she turned out to be a very good sub. My abs wanted to murder her after 25 minutes, which, for me, is what rates a good core class.
There was one issue though. One little thing about gym classes I never really thought about.
She left the lights on during our workout. Full brightness, hello neighbor! I can see you really well! lights.
I mean, besides the obviousness of worrying about whether my shorts were riding up a little too much, having the lights on was…well, it was just plain weird.
At one point, sitting on the large exercise ball, doing crunches while trying not to vomit, I happened to cross eyes with a woman facing me. We both looked quickly away, almost embarrassed. Ashamed.
I spend the remainder of the class willing myself to look at my feet, lest I be caught in a cross-gaze with the man across the room.
Lights on in the gym classroom = just plain weird. Who knew?
Now, as much as I wanted to skip the class that day, I’m so glad I went. Because then I went home and made these.
And promptly ate three.
I {heart} pumpkin cheesecake. It’s smooth, creamy, and pure Fall on a plate. These cheesecakes were adapted from my friend Hayley (who is also doing ghosts today for Halloween week!) I misread her recipe and forgot to add the egg. I got worried, but it didn’t matter. They were super awesome. And I had some filling left over that I used as a dip…since it was egg-free.
I normally like to pair gingersnaps with pumpkin. I did that last year. And this year too. But this time I paired the pumpkin cheesecake with Biscoff Cookies.
Yes, I just said Biscoff Cookies. The stuff that Biscoff is made of. Those cookies are dangerous. I didn’t use the whole package…but I ended up eating the rest anyway. And paired with the pumpkin cheesecake these really do create a party in your mouth.
And let’s not forget the ghosts. They are made of fluffy meringue frosting. Super sweet and fluffy and GOOD.
I think these are my new favorite dessert.
Totally worth working out in a lighted room for.
Although that’s just really weird. There are just some things you need the lights off for, you know?
Cheesecake recipe from The Domestic Rebel, Meringue recipe from Food Network.
Ingredients
- 22 Biscoff Cookies, crushed
- 5 tablespoons butter, melted
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 5 large egg whites
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoons cream of tartar
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Black food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with liners.
- Make the crust: Mix crushed cookies and melted butter in a small bowl. Divide evenly amongst muffin liners and press to compact.
- Make the cheesecake: Beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Add in the sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin, and pie spice. Stir until combined. Evenly divide among crusts, filling liners almost to the top (they will not rise). I had some left over. Since it is egg-free, it would make a great dip! (Or, you can make more crusts.)
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the cheesecake shows slight cracks on the top. Cool completely before making frosting. (I chilled mine overnight in the fridge to make sure they were completely cooled.)
- Make the meringue icing: Bring a few inches of water to a gentle simmer in a saucepan large enough to hold a standing mixer bowl above the water. Whisk the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt together in the bowl until combined. Set the bowl over the simmering water and whisk constantly until sugar is completely dissolved and mixture is smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Place the bowl on the standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until meringue holds a soft peak, 4 to 5 minutes. With the speed on low, add the vanilla extract; increase speed to medium and continue whisking until mixture is glossy and holds a stiff peak, 1 to 2 minutes more.
- Place meringue in a large ziploc bag with the tip of one corner snipped off. Pipe the meringue onto the cheesecakes by placing the tip of the bag over the center of the cake, and piping one large circle. Continue piping, raising the bag straight up, until you have the height ghost you want. Release pressure on the bag and pull it away quickly to create the top of the ghost. Add eyes using a toothpick and black food coloring. Store in refrigerator.
Enjoy, and thanks for reading!
This post may be linked to: Chef in Training, Trick or Treat Tuesday, Cast Party Wednesday, Sweet Treats Thursday, Chic-and-Crafty, Tastetastic Thursday, Sweet Tooth Friday, I’m Lovin’ it Fridays, Sweets for a Saturday, A Well-Seasoned Life, Strut your Stuff Saturday, Weekend Wrap Up Party, Weekend Potluck, Sundae Scoop Link Party, and all of these too!
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Hi there! I’m Dorothy, the crazy gal behind the blog. If you didn’t already know, I’m crazy for crust…and cookies…and brownies…and pretty much
anything with sugar.
Mmm…these sound delish! Pinned! :0)
Thanks Robin!
This recipe did not work out. When making a mirengue you don’t add the suger at the start of mixing. I later learned you add it slowly as you mix. Also, condensed milk does not come in 7oz cans. I wasted ten eggs and two cups of sugar. Also you should mention the cheesecake needs to be chilled before serving. To someone who never made these before, this was a disaster.
I am SO sorry they didn’t work out for you! I know that is very frustrating.
I actually did add the sugar and egg whites at the same time as per the recipe I was following from Food Network. I added the chilling part to the recipe (it said cool completely…I should have written chill, and I am sorry for that mistake). You are right, it should have been a 14 ounce can, I’m sorry for my typos. Thank you for bringing them to my attention!
Adorable.
Thanks Aimee!
Eeeeeek!! I love love love these!! Biscoff cookie crust? What the what, how come I didn’t get one?!
I have more in my freezer….
These guys are so cute! How did you only eat 3?? Love the ghost tops. So wonderful!
Oh, I didn’t. I ate way more than that!
I just love these! Soooo cute!
Thanks Jacqueline!
LOL! I’ve never thought about that! I’ve only ever worked out in a gym class a few times, but I think the lights were always on…. they’re supposed to be off? Maybe I would have liked the classes more that way!! I bet I would have
These are super cute. And O.M.G. Pumpkin and biscoff?????????? It’s like the new peanut butter and chocolate!
Yes, yes it is.
Thanks Ashton!
Well, hello new favorite combo;-) Biscoff and pumpkin sounds awesome together!!! And cute meringue ghosts are the perfect topper for this month! I love it all!!! Of course now I’m craving cheesecake and it’s too late to make any…
For sure! It’s my new fav. Sorry about the late cravings, lol. You do it to me all the time too!
Dang, I’m going to have to find a core class. I WILL be making these and chances are good I will personally eat most of them. Biscoff + pumpkin =happiness!
It’s SUCH a good class! Thanks Tanya!
You are hilarious! I am for sure a lights off kind of girl:) I was oging to make pumpkin cheesecake today -0 but made puppy treats instead
YUM. My dog LOVES pumpkin.
My excitement for Halloween actually starts right now, as soon as I saw these cute themed cupcakes! On another note, I’ve never had a core class in the dark before–I did do a spin class where they turned off the lights, though, and I felt oddly secure about bobbing my head crazily whenever an oldie came on that I wanted to jam to. Even though, you know, I’m pretty sure people aren’t *blind* just because it’s *dark.* Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! There are lots of windows in the gym, so its more dim than dark…but better than full light!
I never knew they turned lights off in gym class?! I guess that’s cuz I’ve never gone to the gym, lol!
These are freakin adorable! Your ghosts are too cute and the biscoff/pumpkin combo sounds great!
Only in some classes, but yes. It’s so much better than full light.
These sound so flippin’ good. I would have eaten 3 too! (Without going to the gym too – yikes.)
Ha! I work out to eat.
I thought those were marshmallows for a second and almost had a heart attack. *just* meringue though. (probably for the best).
Lights should always be off in workout rooms. My favorite instructor has light up disco balls that make turbo kick like a dance party.
They taste like marshmallow though!!!
Disco balls would be so fun!
I just can’t keep up with your creativity!! These are spookingly adorable:-D
Aw, thanks!
These mini cheesecakes are adorable Dorothy! My sister makes pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust but I LOVE the sounds of a biscoff crust! The ghosts are adorable
They are both SO good Sally!
Thank you!
Oh wow, these are so cute! I just made a biscoff pumpkin pie……it’s addicting!
and those ghosts are awesome!
YUM! That sounds amazing. Delish!
see that is why I never work out, could you imagine the looks I would get? I will just stay at home and thing about making these, I have a bunch of biscoff waiting for something yummy!
LOL! Thanks Sue!! AND YUM!
Those ghosts on top are too cute!
Thanks Erin!
These are so adorable!! I love the little ghosts. And I’m right there with you on the lights at the gym issue. Also, there needs to be music; otherwise, you hear lots of grunts and other unpleasant sounds.
YES! Loud music.
Those ghosts are SOOOOO cute! And I’m a sucker for anything pumpkin.
Thanks Bobbi!
So very cute! And now I am feeling like I need to go workout!
LOL! Thanks Tonia!
These are adorable! I don’t think you can go wrong with pumpkin cheesecake and biscoff crust!
No, you really can’t.
I go to the gym all the time and take a bunch of different types of classes, but the lights are always on. I would think it would be weird to have them off.
I guess all gyms are different. Super cute dessert by the way!
LOL! Well, there’s lots of windows, so it’s more dim than dark.
Thanks for coming!
I work out at home and let Jillian Michaels kill me. I could work out in a bra and underwear and nobody would care!
Awesome!
These are SO CUTE! I must try these very, very soon!!
I hope you like them! Hmmm…what kinda booze???
Boubon!
Lights on in the work out room is soooo not cool! But these little “boo” cheesecakes look adorable! I love the ghost on top!
Thanks Angi! I knew I wasn’t weird…
You and your crusts. I knew I liked you.
And a BISCOFF crust at that!
LOL! Thanks Katie!
i.just.died.over.these!
Thank you for linking up at Whimsy Wednesdays with The NY Melrose Family and Smart! School {House}
Kelly at Smart! School {House}
http://www.smartschoolhouse.com
http://www.thenymelrosefamily.com
Thanks Kelly!
too cute!
These sound delicious and are way too cute!!
Thank you!
Pumpkin and biscoff has to be like the best combination ever! And with the little ghosts on top? So crazy cute!!
Thanks Ashley!
super cute, had to pin!!!
mmm Spookie-ngly gorgeous!! I also do a core class and the lights are on all the time…I think the instructor is doing it on purpose so we can all see how toned her body in comparison to ours…lights or no lights I refuse to be intimidated by her abs!
LOL! I know that it makes me think that way for sure!
So adorable! Love the ghosts!
Thank you Christin!
Haha you crack me up! I can’t waitttttt to get back to the gym (dang kids) and have awkward glances with my neighbor and want to kill my trainer. These little ghosts are so cute– thanks for sharing at Pin It Thursday– I featured you here http://www.sweetbellaroos.com/2012/10/07/pin-worthy-featured-links-4/
Thank you SO much for the feature!
This looks divine! A must try I think.
Thanks, I hope you like it!!
these look adorable!!! what a fun halloween dessert!
Thank you!!
Hey, I’m making these this weekend for a Halloween party. My obsession with biscoff sealed the deal. One question, how long will the meringue stay good and hold its shape in the fridge? Could I make them the night before?
As a long-time, self-proclaimed pumpkin AND Biscoff addict, these little darlings are FABULOUS!!! In fact, I got such rave reviews on them at Halloween that I am planning to make them for a New Years Eve party – only this time, my meringue “ghosts” will be melted snowmen instead….hope they turn out as well the second time around!
I’m so glad you liked them! I love the snowman idea. I’d love to see a picture!