Baking Banquet: PERFECT PATRIOTIC PIE (Cheesecake with red and blue M&Ms)

With Mini Baking M&Ms

A Slice with Mini Baking M&Ms

This will make a very festive dessert for any patriotic occasion (Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, etc.) Delicious Cheesecake with Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate M&Ms make this an amazing treat.

No Eggs were harmed while making this recipe. (This is an egg-less cheesecake that is set using gelatin)

Loosely adapted from

from http://www.snackpicks.com/en_US/recipes/details/star-spangled-pie.html

Preparation Time: 30 Mins.
Total Time to Serve: 5 hours.
Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS:
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup extra fine baker’s sugar

1 package plus 2 oz. (10 oz.) cream cheese, softened*
¾ to 1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)

Red and blue M&Ms put through the food chopper to make ½ cup chopped (I used both Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate M&Ms) – or mini M&Ms for baking*
1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
1 Keebler® Ready Crust® Shortbread Pie Crust, or a chocolate crumb crust
Red, white and blue sprinkles

Whipping Cream and Red and Blue M&Ms for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. Chop M&Ms in food chopper. Set aside.

2. In small saucepan, combine gelatin and water; let stand 1 minute. Add sugar; stir over medium heat until mixture is hot and gelatin and sugar are dissolved. Set aside to cool.

3. In small mixing bowl beat cream cheese on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Add sour cream and vanilla. Mix well. Slowly add gelatin/sugar mixture. Add confectioner’s sugar. Beat until combined. . Mix well. Fold in whipping cream. Carefully(to avoid color mixing and ending up with purple) stir in the chopped or the mini baking red M&Ms and blue M&Ms.*

Spread in crust. Refrigerate at least 5 hours or overnight until set. Garnish with sprinkles, red and blue M&Ms and whipping cream. Store in refrigerator. May be frozen.