Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Muffin Tin

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners to make 12 cheesecake cupcakes. The liners will help keep the crust and filling intact, making it easy to remove the cupcakes once they are chilled.

Step 2: Make the Crust

• In a medium-sized bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Stir the ingredients until they form a soft dough.
• Divide the dough evenly among the muffin cups, pressing about 1 tablespoon of the dough firmly into the bottom of each liner to create the crust.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until the crusts are lightly golden.
• Remove from the oven and allow the crusts to cool completely before adding the filling.

Step 3: Prepare the Cheesecake Filling

• While the crust is cooling, in another bowl, beat together 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon lime zest, and 1 tablespoon lime juice.
• Beat the mixture on medium speed until it is smooth and creamy. The lime juice and zest give the cheesecake filling a zesty, tangy flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the blueberries.

Step 4: Add the Blueberry Preserves

• Once the crust has cooled, spoon about 1 tablespoon of blueberry preserves into each cup, spreading it evenly over the crust. This will act as the middle layer between the crust and the cheesecake filling, adding a fruity sweetness to the cupcakes.

Step 5: Pipe the Cheesecake Mixture

• Using a piping bag or a spoon, pipe or spoon the cream cheese mixture over the blueberry preserves in each cup. Fill the cups nearly to the top, leaving a little room for the final layer of blueberry preserves and frosting.

Step 6: Add More Blueberry Preserves

• After the cheesecake filling has been piped, spoon another thin layer of blueberry preserves over the top of the cream cheese mixture. This will enhance the blueberry flavor and create a beautiful layered appearance when the cupcakes are cut into.

Step 7: Frost the Cupcakes

• In a small bowl, prepare purple-tinted cream cheese frosting (or use pre-made frosting) and transfer it to a piping bag with a star-shaped tip.
• Pipe a swirl of frosting on top of each cheesecake cupcake, covering the blueberry preserves. The purple tint will contrast nicely with the vibrant blueberries and fresh lime garnish.

Step 8: Garnish and Chill

• Garnish each cupcake with fresh blueberries, lime slices, and a sprinkle of lime zest.
• Refrigerate the cupcakes for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together and for the cheesecake filling to firm up.