Heavenly Air Fryer Cheesecake Muffins

Instructions

1. 11

   First, prepare the crust. Crush the shortbread cookies finely. You can do this in a food processor or by placing them in a Ziploc bag and crushing them with a rolling pin.

2. 22

   Melt the unsalted butter and mix it thoroughly with the crushed cookie crumbs until well combined.

3. 33

   Line a muffin tin with paper liners. Distribute the cookie mixture evenly among the muffin cups, pressing it down firmly to form the crust. Place the muffin tin in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

4. 44

   For the cheesecake filling, combine the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla sugar in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.

5. 55

   Add the large egg, all-purpose flour, and lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.

6. 66

   Spoon the cheesecake filling over the chilled cookie crusts in the muffin cups, filling each cup about two-thirds full.

7. 77

   Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C). Place 2-3 cheesecake muffins into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. You will likely need to cook them in batches.

8. 88

   Air fry for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center has a slight jiggle. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model.

9. 99

   Carefully remove the muffins from the air fryer and let them cool completely at room temperature. For the best texture, refrigerate them for at least 2 hours before serving. Enjoy your heavenly cheesecake muffins!