Vanilla Bean Cheesecakes with Toasted Coconut Crusts Topped with Chocolate Ganache are decadently delicious and perfect for a special celebration!
Who’s up for Vanilla Bean Cheesecakes with Toasted Coconut Crusts Topped with Chocolate Ganache, and a Giveaway!?
Well friends, today is the big day. It’s The Beach House Kitchen’s first birthday! I must be totally honest with you, if you would have told me after the first few weeks of blogging that I would still be at it a year later, I would have told you that you were crazy. And frankly, that I was probably a little crazy too. (Ok, maybe a lotta crazy!) Don’t get me wrong, I am no stranger to hard work. I am a mother for goodness sake! But when I started this gig, I had no camera, no computer and no idea how to run a food blog. So with my Food Blogging for Dummies book in hand and my love for cooking in my heart, I set out to carve my little niche in this wonderful food blogging world!
To celebrate this special occasion, I decided I had to share a deliciously decadent dessert today on the blog. If you are a regular follower, you know I include all kinds of recipes here at the BHK, but I clearly have a soft spot for sweets!! I can thank my father for that. He was a lover of chocolate and all things sweet, and he passed that on to me. These Vanilla Bean Cheesecakes with Toasted Coconut Crust Topped with Chocolate Ganache will not disappoint.
First of all, they are mini, and we all know mini desserts are totally adorable! Secondly, it’s a vanilla bean cheesecake made with Rodelle Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans. These beans provide a rich aroma that take these rich, thick cheesecakes over the top! And the crust! It’s a deliciously buttery combo of graham crackers and toasted coconut chips which is totally irresistible in my book. And finally, it’s topped with chocolate ganache and some added toasted coconut chips! These would be perfect for your holiday dessert table!!
Since the holiday baking season is now upon us, I thought it would be the perfect time to do my first giveaway at the BHK. This giveaway is three-fold! First, I am giving away a $50 Amazon.com gift card! I am also sharing one of my new favorite cookie cookbooks, Cookie Love by Mindy Segal. This book is loaded with fabulous cookie recipes! Take it from me, you’re going to have a tough time choosing which recipe to make first! My friends at Rodelle have helped me with the third part of this giveaway by offering a set of Holiday Baking Essentials to make your holiday baked goods extra special. The set includes (1) One 2-count jar of Madagascar Vanilla Beans, (2) One 8-ounce container Baking Cocoa, (3) One 4-ounce bottle Organic Vanilla Extract and (4) One 2-ounce bottle Almond Extract. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Don’t forget to scroll down past the recipe to check out the giveaway and see how you can enter to win! Good luck! Thanks so much for stopping by and helping me celebrate today! And thank you from the bottom of my heart for following The Beach House Kitchen!
Vanilla Bean Cheesecakes with Toasted Coconut Crust Topped with Chocolate Ganache
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- Crust:
- 1/2 cup toasted coconut chips plus extra for garnish I use Dang Toasted Coconut Chips
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 tsp. Rodelle vanilla extract
- 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter melted
- Cheesecake Filling:
- 16 oz. cream cheese
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 Rodelle vanilla bean seeds removed
- 1 tsp. Rodelle vanilla extract
- Chocolate Ganache:
- 8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- In a food processor pulse toasted coconut chips until finely chopped.
- In a medium bowl, combine coconut, graham crackers, vanilla extract and melted butter.
- Mix together with a fork until incorporated.
- Press 1/4 cup crumbs into the bottom of each tin.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Add eggs and egg yolk, one at a time with the mixer running, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
- Stir in flour, salt, vanilla bean seeds and vanilla extract until smooth and just combined.
- Pour filling into crusts, smooth tops and bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes until centers have set.
- Cool to room temperature in cheesecake pan. Continue to chill in refrigerator for an hour.
- Once cooled remove from pan and place on serving platter.
- For the chocolate ganache: Cook the chocolate chips and heavy cream in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until melted and smooth, stirring often.
- Top each cheesecake with melted chocolate and sprinkle with toasted coconut chips if desired.
Special kitchen equipment: Norpro Small Cheesecake Pan
THE BEACH HOUSE KITCHEN FIRST BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY is now over!
Congrats to Gerlinde, the lucky winner!!
PRIZE: $50 Amazon.com Gift Card
Copy of Cookie Love by Mindy Segal
Holiday Baking Essentials from Rodelle Kitchen which includes: Vanilla Beans, Baking Cocoa, Organic Vanilla Extract and Almond Extract
To enter the giveaway all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me what your favorite dessert is. That’s it! Good luck!
This giveaway is open to residents 18 years or older from the United States or Canada. One entry per person. This giveaway runs from 7 am November 17th through 7 am November 27th. One winner will be randomly selected and contacted with the email address provided when entering the giveaway. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to claim the prize and provide his/her mailing address. If winner does not respond a second winner will be randomly selected.
Disclosure: Part of this giveaway is sponsored by my friends at Rodelle. All opinions are my own.
Chocolate mousse! Happy one year Mare:) xo
Mary Ann! Happy one anniversary! the first of many more to come! Today’s mini cheesecakes look delicious. My favorite is by far oatmeal and raisins cookies! Have a wonderful day!
Happy blog anniversary! My favorite dessert is blondies.
Thanks Liz!
Congratulations on your first anniversary. A terrific accomplishment! As a blogging newbie it gives me great inspiration!
Thanks so much Cathy!!
Hooray, Mary Ann! You made it to one year! A triumph and congratulations! There’s seems to be so much to learn in that first year… but simply starting is often the hardest part. I too read through and reference Food Blogging for Dummies – hehe! It’s a good one! I’ve been eyen’ that mini cheese cake pan from Norpro… it’s on my wish list so I can make these perfect little cheesecakes! Look how your ganache is so rich and thick it stops at the exact moment you want it to on top of those perfect little cheesecakes! Well done my dear! And this giveaway is fabulously generous and so delicious! —- ummmm favorite dessert – omgee that’s a tough one. I would have to say it’s a tie between burnt vanilla bean creme and chocolate cake (you know the list is long, but I’ll stop at two!). Happy anni my dear!! Hooray!
And still so much to learn!! Burnet vanilla bean crème sounds delicious and something I’ve never tried!! Enjoy your week friend and thanks so much for commenting!!
Congratulations on your 1 year blogiversary. Can’t think of a more beautiful dessert than this mini cheesecake to celebrate such an occasion, but my favorite dessert has to be a strawberry rhubarb pie topped with vanilla bean ice cream. Thanks for the give away opportunity.
I LOVE strawberry rhubarb pie too Lisa! It’s a summer favorite!
My favourite desert is blueberry grunt with butterscotch ripple ice cream!
Sounds delicious Susanne!!
Happy One Year Anniversary Mare! These vanilla bean cheesecakes look delicious and are a great treat to mark this special day. You have worked so hard and deserve to celebrate this milestone! To many more years of great food, great stories, and great fun!! So proud of you!
Thanks so much Rose! If it wasn’t for you there would be no BHK!
My favorite dessert is Crème Brûlée! Followed by a very close second of cheesecake! :)
Oh, Crème Brulee! Delicious!
Happy anniversary Mary Ann, you are doing a wonderful job with your blog. I enjoy reading it and have made several of your recipes. My favorite desert is a chocolate tart.
Thank you so much Gerlinde! Your comments are always greatly appreciated! Enjoy your week friend!
Happy one year of food blogging! I love this dessert and I’m thinking of making it for thanksgiving! So excited! Congratulations to you once again! Keep posting delicious recipes! :)
Thanks so much Mary Frances!! You should definitely try these! So easy and delicious!
Happy 1 year anniversary of the BHK!! Personally, I’m so glad you started blogging because that is what made us friends! You have come so far and are an inspiration :) I’m sure this next year will hold many more delicious recipes! Cheesecake has always been my favorite and I love this take on it. Coconut crust is so smart and that ganache looks perfect! Congrats, Mary Ann!!
Me too Jessica! I knew I had to add some chocolate! Chocolate makes everything better! Enjoy your week friend!
Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary, Mary Ann! These delicious looking cheesecakes are the perfect way to celebrate. I cannot wait to make them in your honor. Cheers, Ardith
You’re so sweet Ardith! Thank you so much!!
Just stopped by to say CONGRATULATIONS on your first year! So exciting! And your Mini Vanilla Bean Cheesecakes… YUM! I love mini desserts, and these are so pretty. Love the “one” embellishment, too… So happy for you! Keep your beautiful recipes coming! Cheers!
Thanks so much Michele! I got those “one” picks from Craft & Honey in Charleston, SC. She has some adorable picks for baked goods! Enjoy your week!
Congratulation on your first year of blogging – you’d never know it since your photos are so wonderful. Isn’t it amazing how fast a year goes by. Love this mini-cheese cake, Mary Ann – so cute and decadent at the same time. My favorite dessert is a scoop of good ice-cream – preferably vanilla with caramel and fudge swirls!
Thank you so much Geraldine! So glad I found your blog through Traci at Vanilla and Bean!!
My favorite dessert is Dark Chocolate Stout Cake with Chocolate Buttercream. I like a combination of Chocolate and Peanut Butter but it doesn’t top the cake!
Sounds delicious Jeffrey!! Thanks for the comment!
Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. I just love the Berry Cobbler and anxious to try out the mini cheesecakes for Thanksgiving. Anything with coconut and chocolate ganache has to be a winner!!
Thanks Jodie!! Enjoy them!
Congratulations and Happy 1 year anniversary!! I know all of the hard work you have put into this blog and it is worth it. You have a midas touch with everything you set out to do. Since I have known you for over 22 years, I can vouch for the fact that you have always been a wonderful cook and that you were not a camera person until you started this blog. You taught yourself!!!!!! You are amazing and your blog is amazing. I am looking forward years and years of great recipes, stories and pics. I have always said that I am a Mary Ann wannabe!!!!!!!! I think my favorite dessert will be vanilla bean cheesecakes with toasted coconut crust topped with chocolate ganache.
You’re good for my ego Lisa! So glad to call you friend for the past 22 years!! Where does the time go?? Funny, but we don’t look any older do we?!
Happy one year anniversary! Food blogging is no joke but it’s a delicious rewarding career or hobby if you stick to it. These cheesecakes are stunning in presentation, and taste, i’m sure.
Thanks so much Nicole! You’re totally right! Food blogging isn’t for sissies! Fun, but lots of hard work! Have a great night!
Happy Blog-iversary, my friend! I’m so excited for you! I’ve genuinely loved following your blog and getting to know you, Mary Ann! You are extremely talented and one of the most kind hearted people around. I feel blessed to call you a food blogging friend!
Now these cheesecakes, WOW! Absolutely beautiful and perfectly decadent! I can’t think of a better way to ring in and celebrate the first year of BHK! Bourbon vanilla beans are totally where it is at, I recently discovered them and have been questioning where the heck they have been my whole life! ;) Those delicious babies in a cheesecake with coconut-graham cracker crust and ganache? PERFECTION. Plus they are mini – tres chic! These would be a show stopper for any holiday table or any special occasion… or just because you want to treat yourself to something beautiful to eat! Pinned! Happy 1st Bday!!! Cheers, my dear!
Totally so glad I’ve gotten to know you too Cheyanne! Your comments always make me smile! These little cheesecakes are my husband Tom’s favorite! I hope you enjoy them if you try them and hope you have a fabulous week! XO
Oatmeal raisin cookies are my favorite dessert. I finally found a recipe with consistent results.
Oatmeal cookies are a favorite of mine too Marie! Thanks for commenting!
Congrats on the milestone!!! Usually anything with chocolate is a winner in my book. My sister just made a gf chocolate cake that was to die for!!!
Me too Diane! Sounds perfect!
Happy Happy Blogiversary my friend. I can’t believe it has ONLY been one year. You are so sensational that I feel like you must have been doing this for years!!!!! I cannot wait to see what else is in store for you and your beautiful site.
That’s so sweet to say Jocelyn!! Thank you so much! Your blog and your absolutely gorgeous cookbook serve as wonderful inspiration for me! Enjoy your week friend!
My favorite are gooey brownies.
Perfect Michelle!
My favorite dessert is peach pie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate shavings. There is NOTHING better! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
Sounds delicious Erin! Thanks for commenting!
Happy Blogiversary friend! I can’t believe it’s just been one year. You seem like a total seasoned pro! Looking forward to many more years of deliciousness coming from your kitchen. Cheers!
That’s so sweet Liz!! Thanks so much! I’ve got to bring it to the table to keep up with the likes of your gorgeous blog and fabulous recipes! I’m workin’ on it!!
Happy blog birthday, Mary Ann! These beautiful cheesecakes look and sound absolutely delightful, perfect for the occasion! My favorite dessert, that’s really tough, I think I’m going with tiramisu. :)
Thanks so much Nicole! Oh, I LOVE tiramisu! A friend of mine always has a holiday party and tiramisu is always on the dessert menu! Can’t wait!
Happy 1st Birthday! You have made a huge accomplishment in one short year! Congratulations to you! I’m totally on board with these mini vanilla bean cheesecakes because cheesecake is my favorite dessert and I love me some vanilla bean!
Thanks Rachelle! Enjoy!
happy anniversary! you go girl :). blogging is so much more work than people realize, you have so much to be proud of. my favorite dessert changes but right now it’s pecan pie (or chocolate chip pecan pie when i’m feeling’ a little cray-zay). and speaking of desserts your cheesecakes look beautiful!
Pecan pie…YUM! Thanks so much Valerie!
One of my favorite desserts is my mother-in-law’s warm bread pudding topped with bourbon sauce. I especially love the sauce.
Sounds delish Mary!!
My favorite is Napoleanas Torte, a Lithuanian cake. There’s nothing better!
I will need to try Melissa! My grandmother was Lithuanian!
I have many favorite desserts but up there is cream puffs and chocolate cream pie.
I think my husband would definitely agree with you!!
my favorite dessert is fresh apricot pie – I make at least one a week during the 6 weeks we have apricots here in northern California
My son Sean is a huge apricot fan, so he would love this one Karen!
My favorite dessert that comes to mind right now is the pumpkin roll. :) Tis the season!
That’s delicious Brenda! I made that last year around this time of year! I should definitely make it again!
i can state this with certainty because i just ate it earlier this week–the coconut cake from peninsula grill in charleston is my favorite dessert!
I LOVE that cake Grace!! My son lives in Charleston! I’m heading there for Thanksgiving!! Yahoo!
Beautiful presentation of those little cheesecakes! And I also got my sweet-tooth from my father! When we were growing up he sat with a big bowl of ice cream every night – so of course we got to join in on the fun! Congratulations on your first year anniversary…you have a wonderful blog and I really enjoy reading it!! Here’s to many more happy blogging years! :) :)
Thanks so much Linda!! My Dad loved his nightly bowl of ice cream too!!
Congratulations on your one year birthday! Favorite dessert? Difficult to answer as I enjoy most desserts – cakes, cookies, blondies, cheesecake, mousse, lemon bars, etc.
No problem with loving everything!
I love cheesecake of any variety and flavor. I also love puddings and cobbler of any flavor or variety. I am a sweets person…LOL
It all sounds good to me!!
Happy 1st blogiversary!! Here’s to many more :) These cheesecakes are perfection. As for my favourite dessert … it may just be a classic chocolate layer cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Thanks Jennifer! That’s a favorite of mine too!
Wow congrats that is so exciting!! These cheesecakes look fantastic and a perfect way to celebrate!
Thanks Kelley!
Happy first year of blogging! What an excellent way to celebrate!! Cheers to many more successful years to come!
Thanks so much Lauren!
ice cream, especially Taleni Ice cream
Ice cream is a favorite of mine too Nadya!
A big congrats on your one year blog anniversary!! I am incredibly impressed by what you have achieved in a year – your photos, recipes and writing are just so stunning. These cheesecakes sound like something I need to try asap too – the toasted coconut crust and chocolate ganache make it sound like a bit like a bounty bar in decadent cheesecake form (do you have those where you are??). Anyway, hope your next year of blogging goes as amazingly as this last one! <3
Thanks so much Claudia! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Bounty bar, but if it sounds like these cheesecakes I’m sure I’d LOVE them!
My favorite is pie – chocolate, sweet potato, pecan. I have never met a pie I didn’t like. ;)
Me either!
My favorite dessert is a warm soft chocolate lava cake!
Oh soo good Kim!!
My favorite dessert is white cake with chocolate frosting
My favorite dessert is salted caramel brownies, but I like cheesecake a lot, too! Any kind of cheesecake!
Ah the mighty Mary Ann Dwyer! Or Mariah as grandma would call you! I guess I can’t win the gifts because I am a relative (remember my birthday is December 16th) hint hint. I wanted to congratulate you on your 1 year anniversary! Your recipes speak to my heart. They are not only delicious but your words are a wonderful trip down memory lane that makes me think of our great childhood together. I think I can speak for dad and I that our favorite dessert you make is Hungarian kiffles!
Haha!! Ok Poopsie, as Gram would call you!! Oh, I won’t forget! Yes, Dad did love my kilfe!! Thanks CarCar!
Absolutely gorgeous mini cheesecakes!! So befitting of a blogiversary! Happy first birthday!! Love love the vanilla and chocolate combo going on here. Also…would it be cheating if cheesecake was my favorite dessert?
No not at all Zainab!! Thank you so much! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!
Brownies! I make all kinds of different recipes and love them all.
They’re one of my favorites too Susan!
I cannot even deal with the deliciousness oozing out of my computer screen, do you deliver?! ;)
Awwww, thanks so much for leaving such a sweet comment Samantha! So glad you like them! Happy New Year!