Dark Chocolate Mint Cheesecake Recipes

DARK CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray a 6-inch springform pan with cooking spray to coat the bottom and sides.
• Add the graham crackers to a resealable plastic bag. Using your hands or a rolling pin, crush the graham crackers into crumbs. Transfer them to a mixing bowl and add the melted butter. Fold and press together with a spatula until a loose, crumbly mixture is made. Pour the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and press to create an even base for the cheesecake. Chill the crust in the fridge while you make the filling to set the base.
• For the filling: Add the chocolate to a heatproof bowl and set the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Heat, stirring with a spatula, until the chocolate is melted and completely smooth. Set aside.
• Mix the cream cheese, sugar and cocoa powder in a food processor until smooth. Remove the lid and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla, salt and egg and process until completely incorporated. Scrape down the sides once more. Turn the machine back on and while the machine is running, drizzle in the melted chocolate and allow it to completely incorporate into the mixture.
• Pour the chocolate filling over the prepared crust and smooth out the top with a spatula. Transfer the cheesecake to the center rack and bake until the filling is no longer soupy but still slightly jiggly, about 32 minutes. Turn off the oven and open the door just a hair. Allow the cheesecake to sit in the warm oven for 15 more minutes with the door ajar.
• Transfer the cheesecake to a cooling rack and let cool for 30 minutes.
• Run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan to help free the cheesecake, but keep it in the pan. The cheesecake will continue to shrink while it cools and this step makes it easier to separate the cheesecake when you are ready to serve it.
• For the topping: Pour the cherry pie filling onto the cooled cheesecake and smooth into an even layer, leaving a bit uncovered around the edges. Cover the springform pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• When you are ready to eat, remove the cheesecake from the fridge and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.

ST. PATRICK'S CHOCOLATE & MINT CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Beat cake mix and butter with an electric mixer on low speed in a bowl until crumbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside 1 cup for topping.
• Press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
• Place in preheated oven and bake until edges begin to crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
• Beat cream cheese and frosting with an electric mixer on medium speed in a bowl until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Drop eggs one at a time into the cream cheese mixture and beat until blended, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour in 6 drops green food coloring, or more for a darker color; beat until color is blended, about 2 minutes.
• Beat in creme de menthe candy flavoring until thoroughly blended, about 2 minutes. Taste and add more flavoring if needed.
• Pour batter over the chocolate crust in the 9x13 pan.
• Sprinkle 1 cup reserved crumb mixture over cheesecake batter.
• Top with 1 cup chocolate and mint morsels; reserve remaining morsels for finishing touches.
• Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake until set, 42 to 45 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven and cool completely.
• Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
• Pour reserved chocolate and mint morsels into a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave morsels in 45 second intervals; stir until completely melted and smooth.
• Pour melted chocolate into a resealable plastic bag.
• Clip a small bottom corner of the bag. Gently squeezing the bag, drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled cake through the clipped corner.
• Cut cake into bars to serve.

MINT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan. In a small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cooled chips, creme de menthe, flour, creme de cacao and extract. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour half the batter over crust; sprinkle with crushed Oreos. Carefully spoon remaining batter over top. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. hot water to larger pan., Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 75-80 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled. , Remove rim from pan. Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth. Spread over cheesecake.

CHOCOLATE MINT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Grind the chocolate wafers and 3 ounces of chocolate in a food processor; the crumbs should be small. Mix in 3 tablespoons of sugar. Melt 7 tablespoons of butter or margarine, and add it to the chocolate crumbs. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
• Melt 12 ounces of chocolate, and cool slightly. Blend in cream cheese, 1 3/4 cups sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup cream, cocoa, vanilla, and peppermint extract. Pour this in crust. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cool overnight.
• In a small bowl, mix together the sour cream and 1/4 cup sugar. Pour on top of cooled cheesecake. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C). Chill for 6 to 8 hours.
• To decorate the cheesecake make a chocolate icing. In a small saucepan, simmer 1/2 cup cream and 1 tablespoon butter. Add to this 6 ounces of chocolate, and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Freeze until the mixture is piping consistency (stir occasionally). Using a pastry bag, pipe a lattice on the top.

DUTCH CHOCOLATE-MINT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Finely grind cookies, chocolate and sugar in processor. Add butter; blend until crumbs begin to stick together. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides.
• For filling:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Cool to lukewarm. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until blended. Add eggs 1 at time, beating just until incorporated. Add melted chocolate, cream, cocoa powder and extracts and beat just until smooth.
• Pour filling into crust. Bake until center is just set, about 1 hour. Transfer to rack and cool 20 minutes. Press down gently on puffed edges to flatten. Run small sharp knife around top edge of pan to loosen. Do not remove pan sides. Cool. Cover and chill overnight.
• For toppings:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine sour cream and sugar in bowl. Spoon sour cream topping over cheesecake. Bake 20 minutes. Chill cheesecake until cold, at least 6 hours.
• Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Add chocolate and whisk until melted. Freeze until firm enough to pipe, whisking occasionally, about 15 minutes. Remove pan sides from cake. Spoon chocolate topping into pastry bag fitted with small star tip. Pipe 6 diagonal lines atop cake, spacing evenly. Repeat in opposite direction, forming lattice. Pipe 12 rosettes of chocolate around top edge of cake. (Can be made 1 day ahead; chill.) Garnish with mint leaves.