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Cooking for One: Cheesecake

Let's call it "fun-size," shall we?

Published April 6, 2026

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All photos: Tucker Shaw

Anytime I’m asked to bring dessert—family gatherings, special occasions, dinner parties—I bring cheesecake. It’s a fan favorite. But a full-size cheesecake is a monster, serving ten or more people easily.

That’s a virtue for a party, but problematic when, like me, you’re a household of one and find yourself tempted to make that cheesecake just to have it around. Which would be silly. Even I, despite my insatiable sweet tooth and abject lack of reason when it comes to portion size, won’t eat it all before it starts to lose its appeal. Past-its-prime cheesecake is plagued by soggy crust, weeping cheese, and yawning, desiccated cracks. No thanks.

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