A few hours before you want to make the cheesecakes, pull out the cream cheese to let it come to room temperature and make the mint-infused heavy cream. To make the cream, bring the heavy whipping cream and fresh mint to a gentle simmer in a small saucepan, then turn off the heat and let it cool down until it is no longer too hot to the touch. Transfer the infused cream to a heat-proof dish or container (I used a glass measuring cup) and refrigerate until completely cool.
Once the cream cheese is at room temperature and the infused cream has cooled down, prepare your mini cheesecake or muffin tin pans by either spraying the cheesecake tins (with removable bottoms) with cooking spray or lining the muffin tins with paper liners. Set aside.
Next, prepare the crust. Depending on the equipment you have available, either combine the chocolate cookies and melted butter in a food processor and process until finely crumbled, or smash the cookies into small pieces in a resealable plastic bag, then combine the crumbs in a small bowl with the melted butter.
Firmly press the cookie and butter mixture evenly into the bottom of each of your tins and set aside.
Remove the infused cream from the refrigerator and place in either a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the mint syrup and vanilla extract. Using your hand mixer or the whisk attachment on the stand mixer, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. This may take a while, 5-10 minutes.
In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Gently fold in the mint-infused whipped cream until just incorporated, being careful not to overmix.
Scoop the cheesecake filling evenly into each of your mini cheesecake or muffin tins. Refrigerate for at least three hours before serving. If you feel the cheesecakes are still too soft, feel free to pop them into the freezer for 20-30 minutes before removing them from the pan.