Our Best Chocolate Cheesecake Recipes

OUR BEST CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 min.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 45 to 55 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim.
• Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours. Top with strawberries just before serving.

DEEPEST DARKEST CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch-diameter springform pan with cooking spray.
• For the crust: In a food processor, grind the cookies until finely ground. Blend in the sugar and salt. Add the melted butter and process until well blended; it should be the consistency of wet sand. Press the crumbs evenly onto the bottom (not the sides) of the prepared pan. (Or just place the cookie crumb-sugar mixture in the pan, pour the melted butter in and combine.) Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake just until set, about 7 minutes. Allow it to cool while preparing the filling.
• For the filling: Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute until the chocolate is completely melted. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar and cocoa powder together, smoothing out any lumps of cocoa powder. In a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, and then add the sugar-cocoa powder mixture. Add the orange zest, prepared coffee or espresso powder at this time, if using. Beat until fully incorporated, scraping down the sides and bottom with a rubber scraper when necessary. Blend in the eggs, 1 at a time. Mix in the lukewarm chocolate and stir until combined.
• Pour the filling over the cooled crust, tap the pan on the table top to remove any air pockets, and then smooth the top to even out. Bake until the center is just set (jiggles like set gelatin) and looks just dry, about 1 hour 10 minutes, rotating halfway. Cool 5 minutes. Run a knife around sides of the cake to loosen, but do not remove from the springform pan. Chill the cake in the refrigerator overnight.
• For the glaze: Stir the heavy cream, chopped chocolate, honey and prepared coffee in a heavy, medium saucepan over low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. Pour over the center of the cheesecake, spreading to within 1/2-inch of the cheesecake's edge and filling any cracks. Chill until topping is set, about 1 hour.
• Transfer the cheesecake to a platter and release from the springform pan. Serve cold, or allow to come to room temperature, about 2 hours.

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Wrap the outside of the pan in layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. You'll be placing this pan in a water bath, so be sure the pan has been wrapped from every angle.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chocolate wafer crumbs and melted butter. Pat the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack and cool the crust completely. Leave the oven on.
• Fill a medium pot one-third full with water and bring it to a low simmer over medium heat.
• Place a heatproof bowl that will fit on top of the pan snugly, but will not touch the simmering water, on top of the pan. Reduce the heat to low and add the chopped chocolate into the bowl over the pot. Heat until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring occasionally with a silicon spatula. Remove the pot from the heat, leaving the bowl of chocolate over the hot water. Set aside until needed.
• In the bowl of a food processor (or high-powered blender), pulse the cream cheese until completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, about 2 minutes. Add in both sugars and cocoa powder and beat smooth. Add in the eggs, egg yolks, and heavy cream and mix until just combined, about 20 seconds. Fold in the chocolate. Finally add in the vanilla and pulse for another 20 seconds.
• Remove the bowl from the food processor and, using a rubber spatula, stir the filling several times to ensure it's evenly blended.
• Scrape the filling over the partially baked crust in the prepared pan.
• Place the springform pan in a roasting pan or large baking pan. Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven and pour enough hot water into the pan to come 1-inch up the sides of the springform pan.
• Bake the cheesecake in the water bath for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the center of the cake is set but still slightly jiggly. The cake will set completely as it cools.
• Remove the cake from the water bath and place the pan on a wire rack. Carefully loosen the foil, then immediately run the tip of a knife around the sides of the pan, to prevent the top from cracking. Cool completely (in the pan), then transfer cheesecake to the refrigerator to chill for at least 6 hours before removing from the pan and slicing.
• Add chopped chocolate to a medium bowl; set aside.
• In a small saucepan over medium-heat, bring the cream to a low simmer. Pour half of the cream on top of the chocolate pieces and set aside for 1 minute. With a whisk, begin to incorporate the melted chocolate into the cream. Slowly add the remaining cream and continue carefully whisking until smooth and glossy.
• Add in the butter and use a spatula to stir until the butter is completely melted. The mixture will be dark and glossy. Set aside, at room temperature, until needed.
• Pour ganache over cooled cheesecake. Set aside until ganache is set, about 1 hour.
• To serve, slice the cheesecake with a thin-bladed sharp knife, wiping the knife clean between each cut.
• Store, loosely covered, in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days.

OUR BEST CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 min.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 45 to 55 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim.
• Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours. Top with strawberries just before serving.

BEST CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust: Melt butter in saucepan.
• Stir in crumbs, sugar and cocoa.
• Mix well.
• Press into bottom and 3/4 way up sides of ungreased 10 inch springform pan.
• Do not bake.
• Filling: Beat cream cheese and sugar until blended.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.
• Mix in sour cream.
• Combine chocolate chips and butter in saucepan over low heat until melted.
• Stir often.
• Add chocolate to cheese mixture.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake in 325 degree oven for about 90 minutes until center is firm.
• Cool at room temperature, then chill.
• Top with whipped cream, raspberries and shaved chocolate.

OUR BEST CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE - K

Steps:

• PREHEAT oven to 325°F if using a silver 9-inch springform pan (or to 300°F if using a dark nonstick 9-inch springform pan).
• Mix crushed cookies and butter; press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 minute
• BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
• Add chocolate; mix well.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended.
• Pour over crust.
• BAKE 45 to 55 minute or until center is almost set.
• Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan.
• Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• Top with whipped topping and fruit.