Mini Cocoa Strudel Cheesecake

Apparently all my friends seem to be born in April. Or perhaps, I just know lots of people born in this month, but this is one of the birthday dinner parties that I went to...and let's just say I probably gained a couple pounds from all this eating...just for dinner.

Anyways, back to the baking. I made these Cocoa Strudel Cheesecake Bars into cupcake form. Since I had made a half batch of Oreo Fudge Bars...or as the birthday boy liked to call them, Oreo Orgasms, I had left over condensed milk that I used in these.

But let's talk about the cocoa strudel cheesecake instead. It was really delicious.

Cocoa Cheesecake Streusel Bars

adapted from My Baking Adventures

7/8 cup flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 c natural cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
7 oz. sweetened condensed milk [half of a can]
1/2 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Place 12 cupcake liners in a cupcake pan.
Combine flour, sugar, and cocoa in a large bowl and then cut in the butter until crumbly and rather dry. [I used my hands, it's just a lot easier. I melted the butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds to melt it only a little bit and then used my hands to mix everything together.]
Press a tablespoon of the mixture into each cupcake liner.
Bake the crust for about 10 minutes.

Beat cream cheese until fluffy and then gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth.

Add egg and vanilla.

Place 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture over crust.

Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of the strudel mixture over cream cheese mixture.

Bake 15 minutes until bubbly.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over top as soon as you remove from oven. [I put three chocolate chips on each. Like 2 and then 1 for 21!]

Chill thoroughly.

WARNING.

THE FOLLOWING PICTURES ARE WHAT WE HAD TO EAT FOR BIRTHDAY DINNER.

LET THE FATTINESS COMMENCE.

[I apologize for the quality of the pictures. I was using a friend's camera...and also everyone was so hungry. We all just wanted to eat.]Thank you to Brandon's parents for a wonderful dinner!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDON!

[I'm on the bottom right corner!]