A Brick Of Cream Cheese, Eggnog, And Cool Whip Start An Easy, No-Bake, Crowd-Pleasing Treat

Once fall is in full swing, everyone gets to enjoy all of the festive products that flood the grocery store every year — candy canes, sugar cookies, pumpkin-spiced everything. One of the biggest signals that the holidays are coming, however, is eggnog. Whether you love it or loathe it, there's no denying the popularity of the creamy traditional drink, and it's actually really useful for baking. You can even combine it with a brick of cream cheese, some Cool Whip, and a few other simple ingredients to make easy, no-bake mini cheesecakes.

This crowd-pleasing dessert combines the tanginess of cream cheese with sweet, fluffy Cool Whip, which both complement the warm flavor and velvety texture of eggnog. A graham cracker base brings everything together by leaning into those spiced flavors further and adding a crunchy finish. And while this can be served as a full-sized cheesecake, this TikTok video focuses on miniature handheld versions that are perfect for parties.

The best part is that they could not be easier to whip up. All you need to do is gather the three main ingredients, as well as some sugar, butter, and vanilla pudding mix, and beat everything together to make a filling. The filling is poured on top of a simple cheesecake base, like the one from Tasting Table's no-bake strawberry cheesecake recipe, and then everything is simply left to set in the fridge.

The trick for the miniature versions is to use a lined muffin tin. Just press the base into the bottom of the cups and scoop the filling on top. If you don't want to follow a recipe for the base, combine crushed graham crackers with melted butter and brown sugar. Some cinnamon and nutmeg will complement the eggnog,  and you can always use other cookies, like Biscoff, gingersnaps, or golden Oreos.

As for the filling, a spoon of rum will enhance the flavors further. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before beating, and take the Cool Whip out of the freezer an hour in advance. You can also use whipped cream instead. For the best results, leave the cheesecakes in the fridge to set for at least a few hours. Overnight is even better. If you have a party coming up, they can be made two days ahead, and they freeze well.

You can also have a lot of fun when it comes to decorating. Cover the cheesecakes with whipped cream and top with strawberries to create a little Santa hat. Powdered sugar can create a pretty snow-like effect, and festive sugared cranberries and rosemary are classics. If you need more party ideas, serve alongside mini Christmas cakes, easy brownie bites, or some peppermint bark. And a big glass of eggnog, of course.