Description
Indulge in the rich, creamy delight of Boston Chocolate Cream Pie Cheesecake. This luscious dessert combines a buttery graham cracker crust with a smooth chocolate-infused cream cheese filling, topped with fluffy whipped cream and decadent chocolate ganache. Perfectly baked and chilled to perfection, it’s a classic treat that blends the best of cheesecake and chocolate cream pie in one elegant dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Chocolate Mixture
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Cheesecake Filling
- 1 1/2 cups cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Whipped Cream Topping
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finishing Touch
- 1/2 cup chocolate ganache
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for baking the crust and cheesecake.
- Mix Crust Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar to create the base mix.
- Add Butter to Crust: Stir in melted unsalted butter until the mixture is evenly combined.
- Form Crust: Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan to form an even crust layer.
- Bake Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then remove and allow it to cool completely.
- Heat Cream: In a medium saucepan, warm heavy cream over medium heat until it just begins to simmer, preparing for the chocolate melting.
- Melt Chocolate: Add semi-sweet chocolate chips to the hot cream and stir until smooth and fully melted.
- Cool Chocolate Mixture: Remove from heat and let the chocolate mixture cool slightly for incorporation into the batter.
- Prepare Cheesecake Base: Beat softened cream cheese with sugar in a large bowl until smooth and creamy using a mixer.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition for a uniform mixture.
- Add Flavorings: Mix in vanilla extract and salt until fully combined for enhanced flavor.
- Combine Chocolate and Cheesecake Mixture: Slowly pour in the cooled chocolate mixture and blend until smooth and evenly mixed.
- Fill Crust: Pour the cheesecake batter into the cooled graham cracker crust, smoothing the surface with a spatula for an even layer.
- Bake Cheesecake: Bake in the oven for 50-55 minutes until the center is set but still slightly jiggly when shaken gently.
- Cool in Oven: Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside with the door slightly open for 1 hour to prevent cracking.
- Cool to Room Temperature: Remove from the oven and let the cheesecake cool completely to room temperature on a countertop.
- Chill Cheesecake: Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight to set fully and enhance flavors.
- Whip Cream: In a medium bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form for topping.
- Add Vanilla to Whipped Cream: Fold in vanilla extract gently to maintain the whipped texture.
- Top Cheesecake: Spread whipped cream evenly over the chilled cheesecake surface.
- Drizzle Ganache: Pour chocolate ganache over the whipped cream, letting it drip naturally down the sides for decoration.
- Set Ganache: Return cheesecake to the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the ganache to firm up.
- Remove from Pan: Carefully release the springform pan and transfer the cheesecake to a serving platter.
- Serve: Slice the cheesecake and serve chilled for the best texture and taste experience.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps in the cheesecake batter.
- Allow the crust to cool completely before adding the filling to prevent sogginess.
- Do not overbake the cheesecake; it should still jiggle slightly in the center when done to ensure creaminess.
- Chilling overnight improves the texture and flavor infusion.
- Use a hot water bath if desired to minimize cracking, though this recipe does not require it.
- For a richer chocolate flavor, use high-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate.
