This double chocolate brownie cheesecake is worth every sinful calorie!  A smooth, dense chocolate cheesecake filling is baked over a fudge-y brownie base, then crowned with gooey, buttery, salted caramel wet walnut topping.  You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven!

Double Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Wet Walnuts- worth every flippin' calorie!

Ragweed needs to go die in a fire.

Do I need to say more?  Probably not but I am going to anyway, at the risk of causing you to completely lose your appetite.

I can’t stop sneezing.  I can’t stop schnotting.  I’m itching all over my scalp, forehead, eyes, and somehow it seems, behind my face.  I just want to rip it off.  I am on a steady dose of Zyrtec but it’s not even touching it.  I was so desperate to get a full breath of oxygen (without sneezing) that I also took Mucinex and even raided my son’s Patanol prescription, but I’m way too far gone for any of that to do a bit of good.  I can’t even function.  Don’t ask me how I managed to snap these pics, it was all a blur of spastic sneezes, rubs, wipes, and groans.  I am miserable and the only thing I can do is to knock myself unconscious with Benadryl and hope that my inflamed membranes will calm themselves down by tomorrow.

Appetizing, huh?

The good news is, I can still taste.  And I can tell you, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this Double Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake needs to go on your must-make list.

Double Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Wet Walnuts- worth every flippin' calorie!

It’s creamy and dense, just like any New York style cheesecake ought to be, but with the added indulgence of deep, rich, chocolate.  As if that weren’t enough, we are baking it over a thin layer of the fudge-iest cocoa brownie, and then topping it with toasty walnuts that have been drowned in gooey, butter-y, salted caramel sauce.  It just doesn’t get any better!

You may notice this recipe states that the cheesecake should be baked in a cake pan.  This is a little unorthodox, I know.  Most of the time, cheesecakes are baked in a springform pan with removable sides.  But here’s the thing: a cheesecake wants to be baked in a water bath, so it gets gentle even heat and doesn’t crack.  But those darn springform pans always, always leak.   Even when they are wrapped in foil, that water somehow makes its way in there and then you have a wet bottom.  That’s just a crying shame.  Making cheesecake is an event.  You don’t want to go to all of that trouble and then end up with a soggy crust.

I have found that the removable sides aren’t even necessary.  If the pan is well-greased, and the cheesecake is well chilled (it’s best to make it the day before so it can chill overnight), it can be flipped out of the pan relatively easily.  Sometimes, if things are really cold, the fat that was used to grease the pan can harden a bit and complicate things, but if you warm up the outside of the pan with a hot towel, it re-liquifies and things slide right out.  I flip it face down onto a big plate and then flip it right side up onto a platter.

Double Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Wet Walnuts- worth every flippin' calorie!

The other nice thing about this size pan is how tall and majestic!  Talk about a jaw-dropper.  Your guests will be so impressed.  And just wait ’til they taste it!  This is one incredibly unforgettable dessert.

Double Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Wet Walnuts- worth every flippin' calorie!

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5 stars (2 ratings)

Double Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Wet Walnuts

Servings: 10 servings
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Cooling Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
This Double Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake is worth every sinful calorie! A smooth, dense chocolate cheesecake filling is baked over a fudge-y brownie base, then crowned with gooey, buttery, salted caramel wet walnut topping. You'll think you've died and gone to heaven!

Ingredients

For the Brownie Base

For the Chocolate Cheesecake

For the Salted Caramel Wet Walnut Topping

Instructions
 

Make the Brownie Base:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, generously mist an 8-inch diameter by 3-inch high straight-sided cake pan with non-stick spray, and line with a circle cut from parchment.
  • Place the sugar, cocoa, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl and whisk to combine.  
  • Add the butter, and microwave in 30-second increments until melted. Stir together until smooth. 
  • Add in the egg and vanilla, stirring until blended, then fold in the flour.
  • Transfer the brownie batter to the prepared pan, and bake for 15 minutes.

Make the Chocolate Cheesecake:

  • Place the sugar, cocoa, and salt in a large mixing bowl, and whisk to combine.  
  • Add the cream cheese, mixing on medium-low speed until combined. 
  • Add the eggs and yolks, one at a time, stopping to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula after each addition. 
  • Stir in the cream, melted chocolate, and vanilla, and transfer the cheesecake batter to the prepared pan.
  • Rap the unbaked cheesecake sharply on the counter a few times, to eliminate any large air bubbles.  
  • Place it in a larger baking dish, and pour very hot water into the larger dish until it comes up about 1-inch around the cheesecake pan.
  • Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F, then lower the oven temperature to 250 degrees F, and bake for another 65 minutes, or until set around the edges but still slightly jiggly 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. 
  • Refrigerate for 2 hours to overnight before flipping out of the pan and onto a serving plate. (Wrap in a hot towel to help release the cheesecake from the pan.)

Make the Salted Caramel Wet Walnuts:

  • Place the walnut halves on a baking sheet in a single layer, and toast in a 350 degree oven for about 4 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant.
  • Transfer the walnuts to a small bowl and fold together with the salted caramel sauce.  
  • Spoon the topping over the cheesecake just before serving.
Calories: 666kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 49g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Cholesterol: 227mg, Sodium: 289mg, Potassium: 362mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 40g, Vitamin A: 1440IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 121mg, Iron: 2.9mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
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