Dark Chocolate Cheesecake......Mmmmmm

Have you been wondering what I made with the Dove Chef Series dark chocolate I won at the quarter auction this weekend? Well, wonder no more...here it is...Dark Chocolate Cheesecake!

Here's how I made it:

Start by creaming the cream cheese and sugar for 2-3 minutes in an electric mixer. Scrape the bowl, then cream them another 2-3 minutes to eliminate any lumps.

Mix together the eggs, egg yolk and vanilla, then add to the cream cheese and sugar.

Ah, yes...my secret ingredient. Are you drooling yet?

Look how cute they come packaged together in the box! No cheap paper wrappers here!

Ah yes....at this point I'm almost speechless in my bliss.

Melt 5 oz. (that's 2 and a half of the bars shown above) in the microwave on 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth and creamy. Try very hard to refrain from licking the bowl clean at this point. Otherwise, you'll just have to start all over again.

While the chocolate is melting, dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa powder in 1 teaspoon of hot water.

Once the chocolate is melted, add 3 tablespoons of heavy cream to the bowl.

 Stir until smooth.

Then add in the cocoa dissolved in water.

Stir again until smooth.

Add the chocolate mixture to the cream cheese mixture and blend together in the electric mixer.

 

Yes, I think we need more chocolate...link an Oreo crust for our cheesecake.

Pour the cheesecake mixture into the pie crust, then bake for 40-45 minutes at 300 degrees.

Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool completely before chilling it at least 3-4 hours in the refrigerator. Chill it overnight if you can make yourself wait that long. I dare you.

Before serving, break out the mixer again and whip up some more of that heavy whipping cream with sugar.

Remember how we used 2.5 bars of chocolate? Grate up the remaining half bar into cute little chocolate shavings.

Top each slice with a dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkling of chocolate shavings and a drizzling of caramel syrup. Then treat yourself and enjoy! You deserve it!

Here's a printable copy of the recipe (just click to be directed to a full-size version):