🛒 What You Will Need (Shopping List & Kitchen Tools)

🥄 Kitchen Tools:

• 4 small glass jars (like small mason jars) or small dessert bowls
• 2 mixing bowls
• 1 small fork or spoon for crushing
• 1 hand mixer (or a manual whisk)
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons

🥣 Ingredients:

• For the Crust:
  • 🍪 1/2 cup crushed gluten-free graham crackers (or gluten-free oats)
  • 🧈 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter (or melted coconut oil)
  • 🍯 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
• For the Creamy Cheesecake Filling:
  • 🧀 1 cup lactose-free cream cheese (softened—just leave it on the counter for 20 minutes before starting!)
  • 🍬 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 🥛 1/2 cup lactose-free heavy whipping cream (or coconut cream)
  • 🍦 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 🍋 1 teaspoon lemon juice (bottled or fresh)
• For the Cherry Topping (Gut-Friendly Portion):
  • 🍒 8 cherries (fresh or frozen, pitted)
  • 🍯 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 💧 1 tablespoon water

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Biscuit Crust 🍪

1. Take your gluten-free crackers (or oats) and crush them into tiny crumbs using a fork or by putting them in a ziplock bag and gently pressing on them.
2. Put the 1/2 cup of crumbs into a bowl.
3. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon of maple syrup.
4. Mix it together with a spoon until it looks like wet sand.
5. Scoop equal amounts into the bottom of your 4 jars. Press the crumbs down gently with the back of a spoon to make a flat layer.

Step 2: Make the Creamy Cheesecake Filling 🧀

1. In a big bowl, put your 1 cup of softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup of powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
2. Mix it with your hand mixer on low speed (or stir vigorously with a spoon) until it is completely smooth with no lumps.
3. In a second bowl, pour 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream and mix it with your hand mixer for 2–3 minutes until it becomes fluffy like whipped cream.
4. Gently scoop the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture and stir them together gently until combined into a light, fluffy filling.
5. Spoon this creamy filling over the crust in your 4 jars.

Step 3: Make the Easy Cherry Sauce 🍒

1. Take your 8 cherries and chop them finely into small pieces with a butter knife.
2. Put the chopped cherries into a tiny bowl or cup.
3. Stir in 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and 1 tablespoon of water.
4. Microwave the mixture for just 20 to 30 seconds until warm and juicy, then let it cool down for a few minutes.
5. Spoon 2 chopped cherries’ worth of juicy topping over the top of each cheesecake jar!

Step 4: Chill & Enjoy! 🧊

1. Place the jars in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours so the filling sets and gets nice and firm.
2. Grab a spoon and enjoy your delicious, homemade, gut-friendly cheesecake! 🎉