Why it works: Sugar and chocolate are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 13% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 15,404 recipes. Both carry guaiacol, which smells smoky, sweet. The science ↓
Cheesecake Cups
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
Soften cream cheese in a bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds on medium.
Combine cream cheese, eggs, and sugar.
Line the pan with papers.
Fill and bake
Put chocolate chips in the bottom of the cupcake papers, in less than a full layer; do not cover the bottom completely.
Fill the cups with the cream cheese mixture, then place them into the oven.
Bake about 15 minutes; the chocolate melts and forms the bottom, and some bubbles up through the cream cheese.
Cool and set
Remove and cool for 20 minutes until the chocolate hardens on the bottom and becomes crunchy.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 4 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | 1 oz (28g) semisweet | 155 |
| Cream Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 99 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
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Sugar + chocolatetop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together15,404 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
-
Cream cheese + chocolatetop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together894 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Egg + sugartop 21% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together122,807 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Cream cheese + eggtop 22% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,549 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-ol (mushroom, earthy).
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Egg + chocolatetop 24% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together11,448 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-heptenal (green).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Cream cheese
- Forms the creamy, rich body of the filling and sets as it bakes.
- Eggs
- Bind the filling and help it set into a firm yet tender texture.
- Granulated sugar
- Sweetens the filling and adds softness to the texture.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Melt into a layer on the base and harden into a crunchy bottom as they cool.
The step that matters
Chocolate layer amount. Using less than a full layer of chips keeps the bottom from being covered completely, so the chocolate melts into an even base without overwhelming the filling. Too much chocolate can make the base thick and heavy, while too little leaves the bottom uneven.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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