Chocolate Cheesecake
Craving a really decadent treat? Look no further than this creamy, rich chocolate cheesecake recipe. It will satisfy your most intense craving!
Hey there! Did you have a nice weekend?
Mine was so. much. fun. I did a girl’s trip to Hershey PA. We went to the spa, drank chocolate martinis, and sat around gabbing for 2 straight days. It was the best!
I get invited to all the most fun things, because I always bring yummy treats. For this trip I brought cinnamon rolls, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, homemade croissants with raspberry jam, and this chocolate cheesecake. Suffice it to say, I do think I will be invited back. Every tummy was full and every beautiful face was smiling.
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
To make this creamy-dreamy, decadent dessert, start by mixing cream cheese, sugar, cocoa, and a little salt together in a large mixing bowl. It should only take a minute or two until these ingredients are smooth and well-combined.
Then, scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula, and mix in the first egg. For smooth, lump-free cheesecake, it’s really important to stir in the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl after each addition. I have a beater with a silicone edge on it, so when you watch me making it in the video below, you won’t see me scraping every time. But if you don’t have this kind of attachment, you’ll definitely want to do that!
Once the eggs are in, you can add the yolks, melted chocolate, and vanilla.
Just pour this luscious concoction over your crunchy cookie crust. I chose to do an Oreo crust, but a graham cracker crust or vanilla wafer crust would work really well too!
Once you’ve transferred the batter to the pan, place the whole thing in a larger baking dish, and pour hot water all around. The hot water should come at least halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan. This is called a “water bath,” or “bain marie,” and it really helps to cook the cheesecake gently and avoid it cracking.
Bake it for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F, then turn the oven temperature down to 250 degrees F, and check it after another 60 to 65 minutes. It should be fully set around the edges, and just the teensiest bit wobbly towards the center.
When it reaches that point, turn off the oven, leave the door slightly ajar, and let it cool in there for an hour or so. Then remove it from the oven and let it come to room temperature.
Chill it in the fridge for at least two hours (or preferably overnight) before slicing in.
WHAT KIND OF PAN TO USE
I have strong opinions on this matter! Read on.
AN 8-INCH CAKE PAN
My top choice for baking cheesecakes is always going to be an 8-inch diameter round cake pan. I know it sounds crazy, but this is how I always did it in my professional pastry chef days, and I promise it works!
I love this type of pan because it gives you a cheesecake that’s slightly taller. And it never leaks! The crust always comes out nice and crunchy, and that is such a lovely contrast with the smooth, creamy filling.
As long as the cheesecake is well chilled, it should come out of the pan easily. Just turn it out onto a piece of parchment, then flip it right-side-up onto the serving plate.
If you find it difficult to remove from the pan, it’s probably just because the butter in the crust has hardened from being in the fridge. Run a thin knife around the edge, wrap it in a hot towel or run it (quickly!) over a low flame on your stove to soften the butter, and it should slide right out.
A SPRINGFORM PAN
Springform pans really are not my jam, for cheesecakes anyway. I always recommend baking a cheesecake in a water bath (aka: bain marie) to prevent cracking (more on that below), and with a springform pan they just ALWAYS leak. Even if they’re wrapped in foil I still have this problem. And a crunchy crust is so much better than a soggy one!
But if you really prefer a springform, then you do you. It’s not my cup of tea, but maybe you have some trick that always works for you. So go for it! Just be aware that springform pans are often larger (9- or 10-inches in diameter), and therefore may require some adjustment to the bake time.
A SQUARE PAN
You can use an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan for this recipe too, and that will give you cheesecake bars rather than a round cake. Again, just keep an eye on the bake time, because a bigger, thinner cheesecake may need less time in the oven than a smaller, taller cheesecake would.
GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
The filling for this is already gluten-free, but if you want to make a completely gluten-free chocolate cheesecake, just substitute the Oreos in the crust for a gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookie.
HOW TO AVOID CRACKS IN YOUR CHEESECAKE
There are a few things you can do to prevent a cheesecake from cracking:
- Don’t beat too much air into the batter.
- Cook it in a water bath.
- Cook it low and slow.
- Allow it to cool slowly too- at first in the oven, then at room temperature, and finally, in the refrigerator.
All of these tips should guarantee your cheesecake will be beautifully smooth on top, and free of ugly cracks!
CAN THIS RECIPE BE MADE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE?
You can definitely sub out the bittersweet chocolate for white. Use the same amount of white chocolate in place of the bittersweet, and sub out the cocoa powder for 3 tablespoons of cornstarch.
And be sure to keep an eye on the bake time! These substitutions may require a slightly longer bake. You’ll know your white chocolate cheesecake is done when it’s set around the edges but still just a teeny bit wobbly towards the center.
Side note: either white or regular chocolate cheesecake would be fantastic with a little raspberry coulis! Pop about 2 cups of raspberries (fresh or frozen) into a little pot along with 1/4 cup of sugar. Simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes or until syrupy, then pass through a fine mesh sieve to strain out the seeds. Voila!
CAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME
Cheesecake is a perfect make-ahead dessert!
To really do it well, it’s actually best to allow lots of extra time. Let it cool s-l-o-w-l-y, to avoid any cracks in the top. And for really clean, beautiful slices, I like to give it an overnight in the fridge.
CAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE BE FROZEN?
Cheesecake freezes very well! Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap so it doesn’t pick up any funky freezer odors. It might be a good idea to slip it into a zip-top bag as well!
HOW LONG DOES CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE LAST?
You should be able to leave this cheesecake out at room temperature for a day or two, without a problem. It’s really nice and extra-creamy when it’s served at room temperature.
If you need to store any leftovers, they should keep in the fridge for at least a week, or in the freezer for a month or more. Just be sure to wrap everything up nice and tight, so it doesn’t get dried out.
If you’re craving something rich and decadent, this chocolate cheesecake recipe has got your name all over it! So creamy, smooth, and rich, with so much deep chocolate flavor. Give it a try and let me know how you like it!
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Chocolate Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the Oreo crust:
- 24 chocolate sandwich cookies
- 5 tablespoons (5 tablespoons) unsalted butter,, melted
For the chocolate cheesecake filling:
- 24 ounces (680.39 g) cream cheese, (3 bricks)
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (43 g) unsweetened cocoa powder, (regular or dark)
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) kosher salt
- 4 eggs,, large
- 2 egg yolks, , large
- 1/2 cup (119 ml) heavy whipping cream
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) bittersweet chocolate, , melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To make the Oreo crust:
- Mist an 8-inch diameter by 3-inch high round cake pan with non-stick pray and line with a circle cut from parchment paper.
- Place the cookies in the bowl of a food processor and process until fine.
- Drizzle in the melted butter and process together until combined.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
To make the chocolate cheesecake filling:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the cream cheese, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a large mixing bowl and mix on medium-low speed until smooth.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula after each addition.
- Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula, and stir in the yolks, cream, melted chocolate, and vanilla.
- Pour the batter over the prepared crust, place the cake pan in a larger baking dish, and pour water into the larger dish until it comes halfway up the sides of the pan.
- Bake the chocolate cheesecake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F, then lower the oven temperature to 250 degrees F and bake for another 60 to 65 minutes, or until set around the edges but still slightly wobbly towards the center.
- Turn off the oven and prop the door open with a wooden spoon. Allow the cheesecake to cool slowly in the oven for at least an hour.
- Allow the cheesecake to come to room temperature, then chill it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or preferably overnight).
Great recipe! So sinfully chocolate.
I have ALWAYS baked my cheesecake in a 3″ tall cake pan. I have baked 6, 8, 9 and 10-inch cheesecakes this way for years and yours is one of only two sites recommending this method, YAY!
I have a cheesecake moat if the cheesecake requires the use of a springform pan and layers that would stop you from tipping the pan upside down. I love the use of whole eggs plus egg yolks as well. This always helps make my cheesecakes rich and creamy.
Thank you so much for your ideas and wonderful recipes. 🙂
This is an Amazing chocolate cheesecake recipe! I made it for my best friend’s birthday party . The cake literally Vanished ! I decorated the top of the cake with dollops of whip cream & added a raspberry on each dollop. Thank you for sharing this decadent recipe .  Oh! And for the helpful tips too.  I consider myself an adequate baker . However, I do not bake cheesecakes often . So I ‘m always a little nervous when I attempt one . I found your recipe easy to follow and would encourage bakers who have always wanted to try making a cheesecake but have been a little leery to try to go for it ! Especially if they were to use your recipe.
Thank you so much for the positive feedback! I’m so happy this worked well for you.
Hello, can I switch the whipped cream with either yoghurt or sour cream?Â
Thanks!
I think that should work ok! Good luck!
This is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever made or eaten! The recipe is excellent and the finished product tasted INCREDIBLE! I’d never had the guts to attempt a baked cheesecake before this, but this recipe was just perfect! You need to set aside a few hours to make sure you cool correctly, but it is absolutely worth the effort! And the tip about using a standard cake pan and tipping the cheesecake out totally works (even though I was convinced it was all going to fall apart haha). The author of this blog is a genius! Thanks so much!!
P.S. Don’t be intimidated by the water bath (as I have been for years!), it’s really very simple and makes all the difference!
Would this recipe work in an instapot?
I have not tried that but feel free to play around!
I loved it, I made it and it was really delicious and creamy
Should there be four ounces of melted chocolate before or after melting?
I usually weigh it out before, but it doesn’t really matter because it weighs the same regardless of whether it’s melted or not. Good luck!
I baked it in a cake pan to the chagrin of my friends and they were amazed it came out of the pan so smoothly! I swiped the pan over an open flame a few times before flipping the cheesecake onto wax paper and back onto a dessert serving plate. Am definitely doing this from now on. And Merry Christmas from Mpls! 😀
Thank you and a Happy New Year to you! That is exactly how I do it too. I’m happy to hear it worked well for you! Hope you and your friends enjoyed!
YOU BAKE CHEESE CAKE OR YOU COOK CHEESE CAKE?
Not sure I understand your question, sorry!
I tried this recipe recently, for my mom’s birthday cake/dessert. It was absolutely incredible, and I’ve bookmarked it for future. The only thing I changed, which is just down to personal preference, was to make a thicker crust/use more cookies. Thank you for sharing your amazing chocolate cheesecake recipe!!
So happy you enjoyed; thanks so much for the positive feedback!
You can never go wrong with a decadent dessert like this chocolate cheesecake! It looks heavenly!
It looks very delicious and I would like to try that. Mam, 24 ounces of cream cheese, can you pls provide to me in cup measurement? 4 ounces of bittersweet chocolate is equal to 1/2 cup I’m I, right? Pls advice. Thanks a lot, mam.
This is one of our fav cheesecake recipes!
Do you put the whole cookie in the food processor or just the sandwich portion?
You can put in the whole cookie.