No-Bake Frozen Peppermint Cheesecake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, melted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened (regular or light)
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup hard peppermint candy, crushed (such as Peppermint Starlights or candy canes)
3 drops red food coloring
2 cups heavy cream, whipped

Preparation

Combine the cookie crumbs, melted butter, and sugar and press firmly into a 9\" springform pan to form a crust.
Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.
Add condensed milk, crushed mint candy, and the food coloring.
Mix on low to combine, then on high to beat together well.
With a spatula, fold in whipped cream and pour into the crust.
Cover and freeze until firm.
Garnish with additional whipped cream and whole pieces of peppermint candy, if desired.
Variation: Use other flavors of mint candies- such as chocolate mint.