Ube and cheesecake — possibly my favorite combination. I made this because I was craving more ube desserts, and after the mini blueberry cheesecakes I made last time, ube just sounded perfect. I found out that the Asian seafood market near me carries both ube jam and extract, so I don’t have to keep searching for them anymore. This recipe is another one from The Unlikely Baker. I made the cheesecakes the night before so they could chill properly in the fridge. I learned my lesson from my first batch of cheesecakes — they taste so much better cold. I was a little sad, though, because I only bought 18 mini cups, even though the recipe could’ve made around 20 to 25. I ended up with some leftover ube filling and wasn’t sure what to do with it. I probably should’ve just poured it into a pan and baked it anyway, but instead, I tossed it out. The mini graham cracker crusts are definitely my favorite part! I don’t have to make the crust myself, they’re super easy to serve, and they look so cute. I skipped the water bath because I was feeling lazy — I don’t really mind cracks on top. Most of the cheesecakes did have cracks, but they still tasted amazing. Everyone seemed to really enjoy them, which made me happy. Still, there are a few things I’d change next time. I would use less sour cream since the flavor was pretty strong — you could taste it in every bite, and it was a bit overpowering. I also wish the ube flavor came through more. Even after adding extra extract, it was still pretty mild. That day, Shawn smoked a brisket, and I thought something sweet would be the perfect way to end the meal. Everyone else brought sides, and we had a big feast together. I can’t remember what we watched that night, but I just remember it being a fun, cozy evening. Overall, this recipe was another success from The Unlikely Baker. I’d give it 5 cactuses out of 5. I do want to try making a full-sized cheesecake someday, but for now, I’m still enjoying my mini cup phase. The instructions were simple, clear, and easy to follow — it couldn’t have been easier!