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Chocolate Cheesecake from Emeril

Source of Recipe

by Sandy H.


List of Ingredients

Crust:
2 cups oreo crumbs
1 stick butter, melted

Filling:
1 1/2 pounds cream cheese (full fat - not light!!)
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup flour
pinch salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 ounces milk chocolate, melted

Glaze:
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream


Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Crust: Combine ingredients and mix thoroughly. With your fingers, press into bottom and slightly up sides of a greased 10-inch springform pan.

Filling: In mixer bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and mix. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Add the cream, flour, salt and vanilla and mix until smooth, scraping sides of bowl as needed. With the mixer on low, pour in the melted chocolate in a steady stream. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour, 20 minutes, or until the outer edges are set but the center is still a little jiggly. Turn off oven and leave in there for another hour to cool. Run a thin-bladed knife around the edges to loosen, but don't take the sides off the pan yet. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

Glaze: A few hours before serving, make the glaze. Combine chocolate chips with heavy cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick and smooth - stir constantly. Remove sides of pan from the cheesecake and place on serving plate. Immediately spread the chocolate over the cheesecake, and refrigerate until serving time.

WATER BATH CONTROVERSY--
Many people swear by the use of a water bath when making cheesecakes. This is when you put the cheesecake in a pan of hot, hot water, about halfway up the sides of the inner pan, while baking in the oven, to prevent cracking. You will probably need to wrap the bottom of the springform pan with foil before placing in the water bath. The reason I call this a controversy is, I have both used a water bath, and not used one, and sometimes they crack, and sometimes they don't, regardless. It's your call - and let me know how it works out!

4/22/04 - additional notes: When I made Emeril's cheesecake, I used the water bath this time and had NOT ONE CRACK. Go figger! And I want to change one thing in the recipe - one stick of melted butter is WAY too much for the 2 cups of oreo crumbs for the crust, It was literally dripping through the bottom of the pan! So I would cut that amount in half, and it will be fine.