The Best Chocolate Cheesecake

I’ve been working toward a go-to chocolate cheesecake recipe that would satisfy the deepest of chocolate cravings. Here we have it.
In this ultimate chocolate cheesecake, a crumbly, chocolate wafer crust belies an incredibly rich filling with a pillow of softly whipped vanilla cream for lightness. Swirl in some (optional) fudgy ganache for an experience you won’t soon forget.

A few secrets to the most chocolatey chocolate cheesecake ever. To amp up the deep chocolate flavour, the key is to employ both melted dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Cocoa powder adds a depth that can’t be achieved by chocolate alone. A good pinch of salt and a splash of real vanilla both enhance the chocolate flavour in important ways.

Do I have to splurge on expensive chocolate?

Usually for baking, I do reach for premium dark chocolate. The creaminess, perfect melting, and not-to-sweet, fruity cocoa flavour can’t be matched in a bag of chocolate chips.

The Best Chocolate Cheesecake
My favorite cheesecake flavor is most definitely hot chocolate!!

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins

Ingredients

Crust

•     20 chocolate sandwich cookies (You'll need 1 cup cookie crumbs)
•     4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
•     2 tablespoons white sugar

Filling

•     4 packages (8 ounces EACH) full fat cream cheese, at room temperature
•     4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
•     1 package (10 ounces) milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips
•     1 and 1/2 cups white sugar
•     1/2 teaspoon salt
•     4 large eggs
•     1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

Ganache

•     1 cup semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate chips
•     1 tablespoon unsalted butter
•     1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Topping

•     GODIVA Masterpieces
•     1 tablespoon powdered sugar
•     1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•     3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Wrap a well-greased 9-inch springform pan in two layers of heavy duty foil. Secure around the pan.
2. In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and sugar and then stir in butter. Press firmly into the bottom of the greased and prepared springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes and then remove onto a cooling rack. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in busts of 15 seconds stirring in between each burst for 10 seconds until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature.
3. In a very large bowl, beat the ROOM TEMPERATURE (must be room temperature) cream cheese and sugar until smooth at consistent low-medium speeds. Be careful to not over-beat. Beat in cooled chocolate and cocoa powder.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the eggs. Add them to the mixture along with the salt and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until JUST combined. Pour this mixture into the springform pan. Place the pan in a large baking pan and add 1 inch of BOILING water to the pan surrounding the springform pan.
5. Bake the cheesecake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until center is just set and top is not shiny. Remove the springform pan from water bath and remove the foil. Cool the cheesecake on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then gently loosen the edges of the pan with a butter knife. loosen edges from pan with a knife. Cool AT ROOM TEMPERATURE for one hour and then transfer to the fridge (covered) and chill for at least 8 hours (preferably overnight).
6. For the ganache: place chocolate in a small bowl with the butter and heavy cream. Microwave in bursts of 20 seconds, stirring in between each burst for 10 seconds until the mixture is smooth. Let stand at room temperature for an hour before topping the cheesecake with the ganache. Spoon the ganache into the center of the cheesecake (keep it about an inch away from the edge) and let sit in the fridge for an hour (or until the ganache is firmly set).
7. When ready to serve, combine the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a stand mixer. Beat on high until soft peaks form and then spoon or pipe the whipped cream over the cheesecake slices. Place a GODIVA Masterpiece on top of the whipped cream on each piece of cheesecake.

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