Deep Dark Chocolate Cheesecake

Yield: Makes 12 servings

BON APPÉTIT | OCTOBER 2006

 

BY JEANNE THIEL KELLEY

Ingredients

Crust

• 24 chocolate wafer cookies (from one 9-ounce package)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

Filling

• 1 9.7-ounce bar Scharffen Berger 70% Cocoa Bittersweet Chocolate,* chopped
• 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Scharffen Berger)
• 4 large eggs

Topping

• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 6 ounces Scharffen Berger 70% Cocoa Bittersweet Chocolate,* chopped
• 1 tablespoon sugar

• Bittersweet chocolate curls

• *If unavailable, substitute another high-quality bittersweet chocolate.

Preparation

For crust:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 3-inch-high sides. Blend cookies in processor until finely ground; blend in sugar. Add melted butter and process until well blended. Press crumbs evenly onto bottom (not sides) of prepared pan. Bake just until set, about 5 minutes. Cool while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.

For filling:

Stir chopped chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove bowl from over water; cool chocolate until lukewarm but still pourable. Blend cream cheese, sugar, and cocoa powder in processor until smooth. Blend in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in lukewarm chocolate. Pour filling over crust; smooth top. Bake until center is just set and just appears dry, about 1 hour. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife around sides of cake to loosen. Chill overnight.

For topping:

Stir cream, 6 ounces chocolate, and sugar in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. Pour over center of cheesecake, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edge and filling any cracks. Chill until topping is set, about 1 hour. Do ahead: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover with foil and keep refrigerated.

Release pan sides. Transfer cheesecake to platter. Top with chocolate curls. Let stand 2 hours at room temperature before serving.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/deep-dark-chocolate-cheesecake-236209

I halved the recipe and make it in cupcake pans.  Baked for 15-20 minutes.  Used chocolate gram crackers for the crust.  Garnished some with strawberries.  Incredible rich, may try in mini muffin tins in the future.