Mini Tiramisu Cheesecakes with Shiny Mirror Glaze

What is a Mirror Glaze?

A mirror glaze is a glossy, reflective coating used to cover cakes and pastries. It's made from a mixture of gelatin, water, sugar, glucose or corn syrup, condensed milk, and white chocolate. The glaze is often colored and creates a smooth, shiny finish that adds a professional look to desserts.

Mirror glazes became popular in the mid-2010s, thanks to social media. Pastry chefs like Olga Noskova made beautiful, shiny cakes that caught people's attention online. The glossy finish of these cakes made them trendy and appealing to both professional chefs and home bakers.

Ingredients in Mirror Glazed Mini Tiramisu Cheesecakes

Cheesecake Filling:

• 250g / 9 oz Softened Cream Cheese: This provides the creamy base for the cheesecake.
• ¾ Cup / 150g Caster Sugar: Adds sweetness to the cheesecake mixture.
• 300mL / 10 fl oz Heavy Cream: Makes the cheesecake filling rich and smooth.
• 1 Cup cooled Coffee: Adds the classic tiramisu coffee flavor.
• 3 Teaspoons Gelatine: Helps set the cheesecake so it holds its shape.
• 60mL / 2 fl oz Hot Water: Dissolves the gelatine.
• Lady Finger Biscuits: These are soaked in coffee and layered in the cheesecake for the tiramisu effect.

Shiny Mirror Glaze:

• 50mL / 2 fl oz Water (A): Used to bloom the gelatine.
• 2 Teaspoons Gelatine: Creates the glossy, set texture of the glaze.
• 100g / 3.5 oz Glucose Syrup or Light Corn Syrup: Adds sweetness and helps achieve the shiny finish.
• 60mL / 2 fl oz Cold Water (B): Combined with other ingredients to make the glaze.
• 100g / 3.5 oz Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the glaze.
• 70g / 2.5 oz Condensed Milk: Adds creaminess and richness to the glaze.
• 100g / 3.5 oz White Chocolate: Provides a smooth, meltable base for the glaze.
• White Gel Colour: Used to color the glaze white.
• Brown Gel Colour: Used to create a contrast drizzle on the glaze.

Decorations:

• 2 tablespoons chocolate sprinkles: Adds a decorative touch around the base of the cheesecakes.
• 6 wafer piccolo cookies: Used to top each cheesecake for an extra crunch and decorative element.

How To Make Mirror Glazed Mini Tiramisu Cheesecakes

Mini Tiramisu Cheesecake Filling:

Prepare Gelatine: In a small bowl, combine the gelatine powder with hot water. Stir until all the crystals are dissolved, ensuring a smooth mixture.

Mix Cream Cheese and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, add softened cream cheese and sugar. Use a mixer to blend until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps, which should take about 1-2 minutes.

Add Coffee: Pour a few tablespoons of the cooled coffee into the cream cheese mixture. Mix well until fully incorporated, which should take another 1-2 minutes.

Scrape the Bowl: Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are well combined.

Combine with Cream: Add all the heavy cream to the mixture at once. Blend for about one minute until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Add Gelatine: Pour the dissolved gelatine into the cream cheese mixture and mix until everything is well combined.

Fill Molds: Half-fill the cavities of a silicone cupcake tray with the cheesecake mixture.

Prepare Lady Fingers: Cut the lady finger biscuits into pieces that fit into the cupcake molds. Dip them briefly into the remaining coffee. Place the dipped lady fingers on top of the cheesecake mixture in the cupcake molds.

Top with Cheesecake Mixture: Pour the remaining cheesecake filling over the lady fingers, filling the molds to the top.

Freeze: Place the tray in the freezer and let it freeze overnight to set the mini tiramisu cheesecakes completely.

Shiny Mirror Glaze:

Bloom Gelatine: In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatine powder over cold water (A) and let it sit to bloom.

Prepare Glaze Base: In a heatproof jug, combine the condensed milk, white chocolate, and bloomed gelatine. Set aside.

Heat Syrup Mixture: In a saucepan, combine glucose syrup, water (B), and granulated sugar. Place the pan over low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.

Boil Syrup: Once the sugar has dissolved, stop stirring and bring the mixture to a boil. Boil for one minute or until it reaches 103°C/217°F.

Combine with Chocolate Mixture: Carefully pour the hot syrup over the chocolate mixture in the jug. Let it sit for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate and soften the gelatine.

Blend and Color: Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until it is fully smooth. Add white gel color and blend again until the color is evenly distributed.

Strain and Reserve: Strain the glaze into another jug to remove any lumps, leaving a couple of tablespoons behind. Add brown gel color to the reserved portion and mix well.

Cool Glaze: Allow the glaze to cool to between 32°C/90°F and 35°C/95°F before using. If you don't have a thermometer, cool until the glaze feels lukewarm to the touch.

Assembling:

Remove Cheesecakes from Molds: Take the frozen mini tiramisu cheesecakes out of the silicone molds. Place them on a wire rack set over a baking tray to catch excess glaze.

Pour Glaze: Pour the cooled white glaze over the frozen cheesecakes, ensuring they are fully covered. Drizzle the reserved brown glaze over the white glaze for a decorative effect, letting the excess drip off.

Finish and Decorate: Use an offset spatula to carefully move the glazed cheesecakes to a serving plate. Refrigerate them to thaw before serving. Decorate the base of each cheesecake with chocolate sprinkles and top with a piece of wafer piccolo cookie for a final touch.

Fay's Top Tip

The most important tip for this recipe is to ensure the mini cheesecakes are completely frozen before applying the mirror glaze. This helps the glaze set smoothly and prevents it from dripping off too much before it sets, resulting in a glossy, professional finish that makes the desserts look stunning.

Flavor Variations for Mini Tiramisu Cheesecakes

• Chocolate Tiramisu Cheesecakes: Add cocoa powder to the cheesecake filling and use chocolate-covered lady fingers for a rich chocolate twist.
• Fruit Mini Tiramisu Cheesecakes: Add a layer of fruit puree (like raspberry or strawberry) between the cheesecake filling and lady fingers. Top with a fruit-flavored mirror glaze for a refreshing variation.
• Caramel Tiramisu Cheesecakes: Add a layer of caramel sauce over the lady fingers before adding the remaining cheesecake filling. Use a caramel-flavored mirror glaze for a sweet and buttery variation.
• Nutella Tiramisu Cheesecakes: Swirl Nutella into the cheesecake filling for a hazelnut chocolate flavor. Top with a chocolate mirror glaze and sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts.
• Baileys Mini Tiramisu Cheesecakes: Replace some of the coffee with Baileys Irish Cream in the cheesecake filling for a boozy twist. Use a Baileys-flavored mirror glaze for an extra kick.

More Coffee Flavored Desserts

• Caramel Coffee Dessert Box
• Coffee Cheesecake Dessert Box
• Mini Cappuccino Coffee Cheesecakes
• Coffee Mousse Mocha Verrines