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Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake




Source of Recipe


Southern Living, DECEMBER 2005






Recipe Introduction


Never fearing too much of a good thing, we topped our best-ever brownie batter with a ribbon of feather-light cheesecake, and poured on a chocolate truffle glaze.

The recipe makes 2 triple-layered treats – perfect for serving a crowd or sharing as a gift.





List of Ingredients



• 1/2 cup toasted, chopped pecans
  
• 4 (1-ounce) unsweetened chocolate baking squares
  
• 1 cup butter, softened
  
• 2 cups sugar
  
• 4 large eggs
  
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
  
• 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
  
• 7 large eggs
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
  
• 2 Chocolate Glaze
  
• Garnishes: fresh mint sprigs, sliced strawberries
  






Instructions



1. Sprinkle 1/2 cup pecans evenly over the bottom of each of 2 greased and floured 9-inch springform pans.
   
2. Microwave chocolate squares in a microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 1/2 minutes, stirring at 30-second intervals until melted. Stir until smooth.
   
3. Beat butter and 2 cups sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
   
4. Add flour, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and chocolate morsels. Divide batter evenly between pans, spreading over chopped pecans.
   
5. Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; add 1 3/4 cups sugar, beating until blended. Add 7 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Divide cream cheese mixture evenly between each pan, spreading over brownie batter.
   
6. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until set. Remove from oven; cool completely on wire racks.
   
7. Spread top of each cooled cheesecake with 1 recipe Chocolate Glaze; cover and chill 8 hours. Remove sides of pans before serving. Garnish, if desired.
   






Final Comments


Makes 2 (9-inch) cheesecakes

Note: We topped each cheesecake with 1 full recipe of Chocolate Glaze. For a thinner layer of chocolate on top, divide 1 recipe of glaze between the two cakes.

Chocolate Glaze

1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup whipping cream

Melt 1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels and 1/2 cup whipping cream in a 2-quart microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 2 1/2 to 3 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. Whisk until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth.