Chocolate Cheesecake With Chocolate Wafer Crust Recipes

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.

NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Wrap exterior of pan (including base) in a double layer of foil. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Place crushed wafer cookies and 3 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl; stir until well combined. Pour melted butter over cookie mixture and mix until evenly moistened. Press mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake until crust is set, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides as needed. In a large bowl, whisk together remaining 2 1/4 cups sugar and flour. With mixer on low speed, gradually add sugar mixture to cream cheese; mix until smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined; do not overmix.
• Pour cream cheese filling into prepared pan. Set pan inside a large, shallow roasting pan. Carefully ladle boiling water into roasting pan to reach halfway up sides of springform pan. Bake 45 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Continue baking until cake is set but still slightly wobbly in the center, about 30 minutes more. Turn off oven; leave cake in oven with door slightly ajar, 1 hour. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cake cool completely. Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 6 hours or overnight. Before unmolding, run a knife around the edge of the cake.
• Slice the top and bottom of 1 orange with a paring knife. Set one of the flat sides on your work surface. From top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit, cut away peel and white pith. Trim off any remaining pith. Holding the orange over a bowl, cut along both sides of each segment, staying close to the membrane, to release. Repeat with remaining oranges. Pour in liqueur and toss to combine. Serve over cheesecake.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together cookie crumbs, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and up 1 inch on sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• Melt chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, about 2 minutes. Let cool.
• Put cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. With mixer on low speed, add remaining cup sugar in a slow, steady stream. Add salt; mix until combined. Add sour cream, cocoa, vanilla, and melted chocolate; mix until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing each until just combined (do not overmix). Pour cream cheese filling over crust.
• Bake until set but still slightly wobbly in center, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack. Refrigerate, uncovered, 6 hours or overnight. Before unmolding, run a knife around edge of cake.

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE-CRUST CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Place cookies in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add 3 tablespoons sugar and 6 tablespoons butter and mix until evenly moistened. If needed, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Press into bottom and 3/4 of the way up the sides of a 6-inch springform pan. Freeze while you prepare the filling.
• Make the filling: Using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese, lemon juice, and remaining 1/3 cup sugar on medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes. In another bowl, whip cream to soft peaks; gently fold into cream cheese mixture (do not overmix.) Pour filling over frozen crust, spreading evenly to edges. Cover with plastic wrap; freeze until set, at least 30 minutes. Transfer to refrigerator and chill until firm, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.
• To serve, press half of the raspberries through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl to create a puree. Slice cake and serve drizzled with puree and topped with remaining berries.

BERRY CHEESECAKE IN CHOCOLATE CRUST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press on bottom and slightly up side of ungreased springform pan, 9x3 inches, to seal bottom.
• Place cream cheese, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/2 cup sour cream and the orange peel in food processor. Cover and process until smooth. Add eggs. Cover and process until well blended. Spread over crust.
• Bake about 1 hour 20 minutes or until center is set. Cool on wire rack 15 minutes. Run metal spatula along side of cheesecake to loosen; remove side of pan. Refrigerate uncovered 3 hours; cover and continue refrigerating at least 4 hours.
• Mix 1/2 cup sour cream and 2 tablespoons sugar; spread over top of cheesecake. Top with berries.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH GRAHAM CRACKER CRUNCH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250 degrees. Line a 9- or 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter, and use fingers to mix well. Press firmly into prepared pan, evenly covering the bottom and about 1/2 inch up the sides. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
• In a microwave or the top of a double boiler, heat sour cream and chocolate together just until chocolate is melted. Mix until smooth.
• In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth and fluffy, at least 2 minutes. Mix in eggs one at a time. At low speed, gradually pour in chocolate mixture and mix until smooth.
• Pour filling over the crust in the pan and bake about 1 1/2 hours, until top is set and dry but still jiggles in the center when you shake the pan.
• Set aside to cool and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 2 days.
• For garnish, place graham crackers in a thick sealable plastic bag and crush, using your hands or a pot, into irregular crumbs. In a small skillet, melt butter until it foams. Add crumbs and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted and fragrant.
• When ready to serve, gently remove sides of springform pan. Serve chilled cheesecake in slices, sprinkled with crumbs and drizzled with chocolate ganache (if using).

VANILLA NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE WITH A CHOCOLATE COOKIE CRUST

Steps:

• Grease a 9" springform pan with cooking spray or softened butter. Line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.
• To make the crust, process the cookies, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor until the cookies are finely ground. Pour in the butter and vanilla and process until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Alternatively, you may place the dry ingredients in a sealed resealable plastic bag, cover it with a tea towel, and crush the crackers with a rolling pin. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl and stir in the melted butter and vanilla. Scrape the crust mixture into the prepared pan and firmly press it into the bottom and 1" up the sides, using your fingers. Place the crust in the freezer while you make the filling.
• To make the filling, briefly beat the cream cheese on medium-low speed in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, just until smooth, scraping the bowl with a flexible spatula as needed. Beat in the sweetened condensed milk and salt just until combined, and then the lemon juice and vanilla. Turn off the mixer as soon as all the ingredients are incorporated. Do not overmix or the cream cheese will lose structure. Scrape the filling into the prepared crust, smoothing the top with an offset spatula or butter knife. Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove the sides of the pan and, if you would like to remove the base (though you don't have to), slide a long, serrated knife between the crust and the parchment paper and transfer the cake to a serving plate. Slice the cake with a large chef's knife that's been dipped in hot water and dried in between slices. Serve with a dusting of cocoa powder (if using). Keep the cake, wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH CHOCOLATE WAFER CRUST

Steps:

• 1. To make crust, crush wafers; add melted butter to make crumbly dough.
• 2. Press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan; set aside.
• 3. To make filling, melt butter in top of double boiler over hot water; add chocolates and heat until melted, stirring until smooth.
• 4. Beat cheese until creamy; add vanilla and whipping cream.
• 5. Stir in chocolate mixture; beat eggs with sugar and slowly beat into chocolate mixture.
• 6. Turn into crust and bake at 350 40 to 45 minutes, or until cake puffs slightly in center; cool, then chill thoroughly before unmolding - Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE I

Steps:

• Prepare crumb crust by combining cracker or wafer crumbs, butter or margarine, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Press mixture into bottom and 2 inches up sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate.
• Melt chocolate chips in top of a double boiler over hot water. Set aside.
• Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Blend in eggs. Gradually pour in chocolate mixture beating on low speed until well-blended. Add 1/2 cup sour cream, flour, vanilla. Blend until smooth. Pour into prepared crust.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 55 - 60 minutes or until filling is firm. Turn oven off. Cool cheesecake 1 hour without opening door. Cool completely. Chill several hours or over night. Garnish just before serving with sweetened sour cream made by combining 1 tablespoon sugar with 1/2 cup sour cream.