Chocolate Cheesecake With Saltine Cracker Crust Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH SALTINE CRACKER CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter the side of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Make the crust: In a food processor, grind the crackers fine. Add the butter, and sugar and pulse the motor until thoroughly combined. Pour the crumbs into the prepared pan and press them onto the bottom and 1 inch up the side of the pan. Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes. Let cool.
• With an electric mixer fitted with flat beater, beat the cream cheese and sugar on low until smooth. In another bowl whisk together the eggs, yolks, and vanilla, add to the batter and beat until smooth, scraping the bowl. Add the chocolate and beat until smooth, scraping the bowl. Stir in the liqueur and pour batter into the pan.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 55 minutes. The center of the cake will appear unset.
• Immediately run a thin knife around the edge of the pan to release the cake and let it cool completely in the pan. Chill the cake for at least 4 hours or until chilled throughout. Remove the side of the pan and serve.

ALMOND BUTTER PIE WITH CHOCOLATE SALTINE TOFFEE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the oil, granulated sugar, crushed saltines and 1/2 cup water in a large bowl. Press into the bottom and all the way up the sides of a 9-inch deep-dish pie dish. Chill for 15 minutes. Bake the crust until golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, microwave the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Set aside 2 tablespoons in a small bowl.
• Drizzle the crust with the caramel sauce, then the remaining melted chocolate. Refrigerate while you make the filling.
• Whip the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Beat the almond butter and cream cheese in a second medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream until just combined.
• Pour the filling into the crust and smooth out the top, taking care not to cover the crust edge. Drizzle the reserved chocolate in a lacy pattern around the edge of the pie and decorate with the sliced almonds. Chill until set, 6 hours and up to overnight.

SALTINE CRACKER PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch pie pan.
• Crush saltine crackers either with your hands in a bowl or with a food processor. Add sugar and salt; mix. Mix in butter, followed by honey. Press crust into the prepared pie pan using a measuring cup.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and set, about 16 minutes. Remove from the oven and while crust is still fairly hot, use the measuring cup to re-form as crust will fall down while baking. Let cool before adding a filling of your choice.

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).