Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake - ButterYum

Hubby loves chocolate.

Hubby loves cheesecake.

I love Hubby.
Happy Birthday Hubby.
XO

This is a fantastic chocolate cheesecake - not only does it taste A-MA-ZING, it bakes evenly without cracks and you don't have to fuss with a water bath.  Plan ahead and prepare this cheesecake at least a day before you want to serve it.  After baking, it will need several hours to rest and cool before chilling overnight in the refrigerator.  We think it gets better with age, so make it a few days in advance if you wish.

 

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake (adapted recipe form Martha Stewart)

makes one 9-inch cheesecake

Serves 12-16

Crust

9 ounces cream filled chocolate cookies (like Oreos), ground in food processor

4 ounces unsalted butter, melted

Filling

4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream, room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, melted

Topping

4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate

4 ounces heavy cream

Garnish (optional) 
blanched and chopped pistachios

To make the crust:

Preheat oven to 325F.  In a food processor, process cream-filled cookies to fine crumbs (cream filling and all).  Add melted butter and combine; press mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan.  Place springform on a sheet tray and bake crust for 10 minutes.  

To make the filling:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat together on low speed the room temperature cream cheese, sugar, and salt; scraping sides of bowl if needed.  When mixture is silky smooth, add eggs, one at a time; scraping sides of bowl if needed.  Finally, add the room temperature sour cream, followed by the melted chocolate; mix on low until combined; scraping the bowl if needed.  Pour mixture into springform pan and return to the oven for 1 hour.  Make ganache and blanch optional pistachios while cheesecake is baking (directions below).  After the cheesecake has baked for an hour, turn off the oven and do not open the door for another hour, then open the door slightly for yet another hour (that's a total of 3 hours so far).  Finally remove cheesecake from oven and rest on counter until completely cool.  Top with cooled ganache and optional pistachios, cover with plastic or place in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight preferred before releasing the springform sides from the base.  For neat slices, heat and dry knife blade between cuts.  

To make ganache topping:

While the cheesecake is baking, prepare ganache by bringing cream to a boil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.  As soon as the cream boils, remove from heat and stir in chocolate; stir to combine.  Pour ganache into a bowl; cover with a tea towel and allow it to rest until the cheesecake has cooled completely (several hours).

To blanch pistachios:
Put shelled pistachios in boiling water; remove from heat and wait 1 minute.  Drain and rub with a clean kitchen towel to remove the skins.  You can use the pistachios right away, or toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat until they're fragrant (just a minute or two).  Cool and chop.  

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake - ButterYum