Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients:

1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped hazelnuts, toasted
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 cup sour cream
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Dash salt
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
GLAZE:
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped cream and additional toasted hazelnuts, optional

Method:

1Preheat oven to 350°. Mix wafer crumbs, hazelnuts and melted butter; press onto bottom of an ungreased 9-in. springform pan.
2Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cooled chocolate, then sour cream, extracts and salt. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet.
3Bake until center is almost set, 60 to 65 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate 3 hours.
4For glaze, in a microwave, melt chocolate with cream; stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Spread over chilled cheesecake. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. Remove rim from pan. If desired, served with whipped cream and additional hazelnuts.

Helpful Hints:

Note: Semisweet baking chocolate may be substituted for the bittersweet chocolate.
Total Time
Prep: 20 min. Bake: 1 hour + chilling
Makes 16 servings
Nutrition Facts
1 piece: 484 calories, 39g fat (21g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 235mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 3g fiber), 8g protein.


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