Chocolate Delight Cheesecake

I love making cheesecake, and especially love it when it involves chocolate!

This cheesecake is easy to assemble and would be perfect for a desert after a casual weekend dinner, or for a nice alternative to pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.

Chocolate Delight Cheesecake
from thedailyjournal.com

1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
3 tablespoons plus 1 cup sugar, divided
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

~ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

~ Butter the bottom of an 8-inch or 9-inch springform pan or line it with a parchment paper circle.

~ In a small bowl, mix together the chocolate wafer crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar and the melted butter.

~ Press the mixture onto the bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the sides of the prepared pan.

~ Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven and let it cool.

~ Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.

~ Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a small saucepan, heat the whipping cream with the chocolate chips over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the chips are melted. Remove from the heat.

~In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and the remaining 1 cup of sugar until the mixture is smooth.

~ Add the cocoa powder and beat well. Add the eggs and beat on low until the mixture is just blended.

~ Stir in the vanilla and the reserved chocolate mixture until they are blended in. Pour the filling over the cooled crust.

~ Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the center is almost set (it should still jiggle somewhat).

~ Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool completely.

[image: flickr]