Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake
User Reviews
4.9
Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake
Description
The Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake begins by preparing a chocolate wafer crumb crust combined with melted butter, pressed into a springform pan, and baked briefly to set. The cheesecake filling blends full-fat cream cheese with granulated and brown sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate melted gently over simmering water. Eggs and vanilla are incorporated to enrich and bind the mixture. This filling is poured over the pre-baked crust, and the pan is wrapped in foil to prevent water seepage when it is baked in a water bath, ensuring even gentle heat and preventing cracking.
Once baked, the cheesecake cools before being topped with a smooth chocolate ganache made by melting semi-sweet chocolate with heavy cream and cubed butter. This glazing adds a glossy finish and extra chocolate depth, enhancing the dessert's decadent texture and flavor. The final cheesecake is dense yet creamy, rich with chocolate layers, suitable as a special occasion dessert or indulgent treat.
This method combines tempering chocolate and slow baking to maintain a silky texture without dryness or cracks. Wrapping the pan securely and controlling oven temperature are key to success.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 chocolate wafer crumbs 1/2 cups (180g/6.3 ounces
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter 57g/2 ounces, melted
For the Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake:
- 2 cups bittersweet chocolate coarsely chopped, 340g/12 ounces
- 1 cream cheese full-fat, at room temperature, ½ pounds (680g/24 ounces
- 1 cup granulated sugar 198g/7 ounces
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed, 53g/1 and 7/8 ounces
- 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder natural
- 4 egg large eggs plus 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup heavy cream at room temperature, 170g/6 ounces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Ganache:
- 1 semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped, 1/3 cups (226g/8 ounces
- 1 heavy cream 1/4 cup (12 ounces
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into cubes, 57g/2 ounces
Instructions
For the Crust:
- 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.
For the Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake:
- 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.
For the Chocolate Ganache:
- 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.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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