Chocolate Cheesecake With A Strawberry Topping Recipes

CHOCOLATE-COVERED STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap outside of pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons of the sugar in a medium bowl. Press mixture on bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven until set, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, process chopped strawberries in a food processor until completely smooth, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.
• Beat cream cheese with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add flour and remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar, beating until smooth, about 1 minute. Add whole eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed just until blended after each addition (do not overbeat). Add egg yolk, and beat just until incorporated. Beat in zest, strawberry puree, and 2 teaspoons vanilla on low speed just until combined. Gently stir in food coloring gel until desired shade is reached. Pour batter into prepared pan, and place on a large rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven just until center is set, 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes. Turn oven off, and let cheesecake stand in oven, with door closed, 15 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. (Do not remove sides of pan.) Cool completely in pan on a wire rack, about 2 hours. Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
• Place chocolate chips, butter, and corn syrup in a small microwavable bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM (50%) power until melted and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
• Remove sides of pan, and transfer cheesecake to a serving platter. Pour chocolate ganache over top of cake, spreading to edges using a small offset spatula and allowing some to drip down sides. Chill cheesecake until ganache is firm, about 20 minutes. Garnish cake with whole and halved fresh strawberries.

CHOCOLATE-TOPPED STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Mix cracker crumbs and butter; press onto bottom and 1 in. up sides of a 9-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray. Place on a baking sheet. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack., In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved; remove from heat., Hull strawberries if necessary; puree in a food processor. Remove to a bowl. Add cream cheese, cottage cheese and sugar substitute to food processor; process until smooth. While processing, gradually add gelatin mixture. Add pureed strawberries; process until blended. Transfer to a large bowl; fold in 2 cups whipped topping. Pour into crust. Refrigerate, covered, until set, 2-3 hours., Loosen sides of cheesecake with a knife; remove rim. To serve, top with chocolate topping, remaining whipped topping and quartered strawberries.

S'MORES CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
• In small bowl, mix all crust ingredients. Remove 1/2 cup mixture for topping; set aside. Press remaining mixture evenly into bottom of pan. Bake 5 minutes or until crust is just turning deep golden around edge.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed, stopping to scrape side occasionally, until smooth. Add brown sugar, marshmallow creme and vanilla, and beat until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition. Use rubber spatula to stir in cinnamon. Sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips over crust. Pour batter over chips.
• Bake cheesecake 15 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 225°F. Bake 55 minutes longer or until cheesecake is set around edge and center is almost set but just slightly wiggly. (Do not insert knife to test doneness because hole could cause cheesecake to crack.) Turn off oven, open oven door slightly and allow cheesecake to cool to room temperature. Remove from oven, cover loosely with foil and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat 1 cup chocolate chips and the whipping cream over low heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate chips are melted. Spread over cheesecake and sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup crumbs.
• Cover with foil and refrigerate cheesecake 1 hour or up to 48 hours. Run metal spatula along side of cheesecake to loosen and remove side of pan before serving. Store any leftovers covered in refrigerator.

STRAWBERRY TOPPED CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the pecans and cracker crumbs; stir in the butter. Press onto the bottom of a 10-in. springform pan. Set aside., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, lemon juice and vanilla; beat well. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Spoon over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until the center is almost set. Remove from the oven and let stand 15 minutes (leave oven on). For topping, combine all the ingredients; spoon around edge of cheesecake. Carefully spread over filling. Bake 5 minutes longer. Cool pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., Several hours before serving, prepare glaze. In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; add jelly. Bring to a boil over medium-hight heat; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until jelly is melted and glaze is thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in orange juice and food coloring if desired. Cool to room temperature. , Just before serving, remove sides of pan. Arrange strawberries on top of cheesecake with pointed ends up. Spoon glaze over berries, allowing some to drip down sides of cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

SUPREME STRAWBERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Wash strawberries and remove stems; cut large berries in half or roughly chop them.
• Combine strawberries, sugar, and vanilla in a saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. The mixture will sizzle for a while, but then juice will begin to form. Continue stirring; mash a few strawberries with a wooden spoon or heat-proof spatula to help produce the syrup. Cook until sauce thickens, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat. In a blender, puree about 1/3 of the sauce, then mix back into remaining topping. Store in refrigerator.