Heavenly Black Forest Cheesecake Delight ️
Indulge in a symphony of flavors with this decadent cheesecake! Layers of creamy cheesecake, rich chocolate, and sweet and tart cherries come together to create a truly delightful dessert.
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
1/4 cup melted butter
Cheesecake Filling:
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
Chocolate Swirl:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
Cherry Pecan Topping:
1/2 cup chopped cherries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup maraschino cherries, for garnish
Decoration:
Chocolate ganache, for topping (optional)
Instructions:
Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Combine chocolate cookie crumbs and melted butter in a bowl. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool completely.
Make the Cheesecake Filling: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract, then add the eggs one at a a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the sour cream and heavy cream until just combined.
Create the Chocolate Swirl: Separate about 1/3 of the cheesecake batter into another bowl. Gently fold the melted chocolate chips into this batter.
Assemble the Cheesecake: Pour the plain cheesecake batter over the cooled crust. Spoon dollops of the chocolate batter on top of the plain batter. Use a knife to swirl the batters together gently, creating a marbled effect.
Bake and Chill: Bake the cheesecake for 50-60 minutes, or until the center is just set. The cheesecake will still be a bit wobbly in the center, but it will firm up as it cools. Let the cheesecake cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best results.
Top it Off: Once chilled, top the cheesecake with chopped cherries and pecans. Decorate with maraschino cherries and drizzle with chocolate ganache, if desired. Slice and serve!