Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, pecans and sugar; stir in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake at 375° for 8 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 325°., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla. Add egg yolks; beat on low speed just until combined. In a small bowl, beat egg whites on high until stiff peaks form; fold into cream cheese mixture. Pour into crust. Return pan to baking sheet., Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate until completely cooled., In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes. In a small heavy saucepan, whisk egg yolks, sugar and coffee. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture reaches 160°; stir in vanilla. Whisk in chocolate mixture. Set saucepan in ice and stir until cooled, about 2 minutes. Fold in whipped cream. Spread over cheesecake and refrigerate until set. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with dessert decorations and whipped cream. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Place cookies in plastic bag and crush them into a fine crumb using a rolling pin. Alternatively, a food processor can be used to crush the cookies.
• Pour the cookie crumbs into a medium bowl with the melted butter and brown sugar. Mix until the crumbs take on the character of a coarse, wet sand.
• Pour the crumbs into a 9-inch (23 cm) spring pan. Press the crumb firmly into the pan, making sure to coat the bottom evenly.
• Once the crust has been formed, place it in the refrigerator to firm up.
• Add cream cheese, melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and sugar to a large bowl and whisk, either by hand or with an electric mixer, until all the ingredients are incorporated.
• NOTE: If mixing by hand, it is recommended to microwave the cream cheese slightly before whisking in order to soften it up.
• Add vanilla extract and eggs, and continue to whisk until mixture is smooth and glossy.
• In a separate bowl, combine heavy cream and powdered sugar. Whisk until the cream develops a mousse-y texture and soft peaks form.
• Adding a small amount at a time, carefully fold in the whipped cream into the cream cheese batter, being careful not to let the air out of the fluffy mixture. Fold just until incorporated.
• Once combined, pour the batter over the prepared cookie crust inside the springform pan. Use a spatula to smooth out the top. Give the pan a slight jiggle to release any large air bubbles that may be trapped in the batter.
• Preheat oven to 300˚F (150˚C).
• Place the filled pan on top of a sheet of aluminium foil and fold the foil up the sides on the outside of the pan. Then place the wrapped pan into a larger baking pan or dish lined with 2 paper towels at the bottom.
• NOTE: The aluminium foil will keep water from seeping into the bottom of the pan and the paper towels ensure that the heat is distributed evenly along the bottom of the pan.
• Fill the larger pan with about 1 inch (2 ½ cm) of hot water.
• Bake at 300˚F (150˚C) for 60-70 minutes--checking every 15-20 minutes to add more hot water to the larger dish, as necessary.
• Once out of the oven, immediately run a small sharp knife around the outside of the cheesecake to release it from the pan. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely before removing it from the pan.
• Prepare the ganache by combining chocolate chips with hot cream. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and ganache is smooth and glossy.
• Pour ganache evenly over the cooled cheesecake.
• Refrigerate the ganache covered cake for 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, pecans and sugar; stir in butter.
• Press onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the sides of a greased 9 inch springform pan.
• Place pan on a baking sheet.
• Bake at 375 for 8 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Reduce heat to 325.
• In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla until smooth.
• Add egg yolks; beat on low speed just until combined.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on high until stiff peaks form; fold into cream cheese mixture.
• Pour into crust.
• Return pan to baking sheet.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Carefully run knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.
• Refrigerate until completely cooled.
• In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter.
• Cool for 10 minutes.
• In a small heavy saucepan, whisk egg yolks, sugar and coffee.
• Cook and stir over low heat until mixture reaches 160; stir in vanilla.
• Whisk in chocolate mixture.
• Set saucepan in ice and stir until cooled, about 2 minutes.
• Fold in whipped cream.
• Spread over cheesecake and refrigerate until set.
• Remove sides of pan.
• Garnish with dessert decorations and whipped cream, if desired.
• Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Grease an 8-inch springform pan that will fit inside the pressure cooker. Mix the chocolate wafer crumbs and cinnamon together. Sprinkle the crumb mixture on the bottom of springform pan, pressing gently to form the crust.
• Melt chocolate and butter together and set aside.
• With a food processor or electric mixer, process cream cheese until smooth. Add chocolate mixture, and process until mixture is well-mixed and uniformly colored. Pour in the cream, vanilla extract, sugar, and eggs. Beat well. Sieve cocoa powder over batter, and pulse or mix on low speed until cocoa is thoroughly incorporated. Pour mixture over crumbs in pan. Cover cake with a piece of waxed paper. Wrap the entire pan with aluminum foil.
• Add water to pressure cooker. Place pan on the trivet in pressure cooker. Seal the cooker and bring it up to 15 pounds (high) pressure. Reduce the heat to maintain the pressure, and cook 45 to 50 minutes. Remove cooker from heat, and let the pressure drop on its own. Remove cheesecake from cooker, and let cool to room temperature in pan on a wire rack.
• Remove cheesecake from pan, and refrigerate for 8 hours before serving.

Steps:

• Grated chocolate, cookie crumbs or chopped nuts for coating the sides of cake, if desired
• Cake:
• Lightly coat the insides of 3 9 by 1 1/2-inch cake pans with melted butter. Line each pan with parchment paper, then lightly coat the parchment paper with more melted butter. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place remaining butter and 8 ounces semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Allow to heat for 10 to 12 minutes. remove from the heat, stir until smooth, and hold at room temperature.
• Place the egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on high until slightly thickened and lemon-colored, about 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat on high for an additional 2 minutes.
• While the egg yolks are beating, whisk 4 egg whites in a large stainless steel bowl until stiff, but not dry, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold the melted chocolate mixture into the beaten egg yolk mixture. Add a quarter of the beaten egg whites and stir to incorporate, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans, spreading evenly, and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in the pans for 15 minutes. (During baking, the surface of the cakes will form a crust; this crust will normally collapse when the cakes are removed from the oven.) Invert the cakes onto cake circles, remove the parchment paper, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Filling:
• To prepare the dark chocolate cream, heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place the semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap and allow to heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a stainless steel bowl and set aside until needed. Place heavy cream and sugar in the well-chilled bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a well-chilled balloon whip. Whisk on high until stiff peaks form, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Use a hand whisk to combine 1/4 of the whipped cream into the melted chocolate until smooth and completely incorporated. Add the combined whipped cream and chocolate to the remaining whipped cream and use a rubber spatula to fold together.
• Ganache:
• Heat the heavy cream and the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. Place the semisweet chocolate in a 3-quart stainless steel bowl. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Chill 1 cup of ganache for at least 1 hour. Remaining ganache should be at room temperature
• To assemble cake:
• Arrange one of the cake layers in a 9-inch springform pan, evenly spread half the filling over the cake and top with the second layer. Add remaining filling and top with the remaining cake layer. Chill 2 hours. Transfer chilled cup of ganache to pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Remove cake from springform pan and coat sides and top with room temperature ganache. Using chilled ganache, decoratively pipe stars on top of cake. If desired, coat sides of cake with grated chocolate, cookie crumbs of chopped nuts.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, sugar, cocoa and butter; press onto the bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For cheesecake: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Add the sour cream, vanilla and coffee liqueur; beat just until combined. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet. , Bake for 30-35 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate until completely cooled., For mousse and topping: In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over water; let stand for 1 minute or until softened. In a small saucepan, combine the egg yolks, milk, sugar and coffee granules. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture reaches 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon., Remove from the heat; whisk in gelatin until dissolved. Stir in the chocolate, rum and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until chocolate is melted. Pour into a small bowl. Set the bowl in a larger bowl of ice water; stir occasionally until thickened., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and remaining vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form. Fold half of cream into mousse mixture; spread over cheesecake. Top with remaining cream. Cover and refrigerate overnight., For chocolate curl garnish: In a microwave, melt dark chocolate candy coating; stir until smooth. Spread a thin layer over baking sheet and drag a fork through chocolate. Let stand at room temperature until set., Repeat with white candy coating; carefully spread over dark candy coating. Let stand at room temperature just until set. Holding a dough scraper or sturdy metal spatula at a 45° angle, scrape over the top of the chocolate to form striped curls. Decorate cake with curls.

Steps:

• CHOCOLATE CRUST: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Remove the butter from the heat. Add the chocolate cookie crumbs to the butter and stir until all the crumbs are coated. Press the cookie crumb mixture onto the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan. CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE LAYER: Prepare the cheesecake. Use an electric mixer to combine the cream cheese with the sugar, sour cream and vanilla, until creamy. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl and then blend them with the cream cheese mixture, just enough to incorporate the eggs. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the semisweet chocolate. Add the melted chocolate to the cheesecake mixture, stirring so that it is fully combined. Pour the cheesecake filling into the crust-lined pan and bake for about 12 minutes at 475°F, then turn the oven down to 350°F and bake for 50-60 more minutes or until the cheesecake top is lightly browned. CHOCOLATE MOUSSE In a small bowl, pour gelatin into the cold water and let it stand for a minute or two until it becomes soft, or "blooms." Add boiling water and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Cool slightly. In a medium bowl, stir together sugar and cocoa; Add the whipping cream and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture while scraping the bottom of bowl occasionally. When the mixture has thickened, add the dissolved gelatin and beat until well blended. Cool the chocolate mousse in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble the cake. ASSEMBLE THE CHEESECAKE: When the chocolate cheesecake has cooled, spread the chocolate mousse on top and sprinkle with shaved chocolate. Serve with a topping of whipped cream.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine graham crumbs, butter and 3 Tbsp. of the sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, vanilla and 1 cup of the remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hrs.
• Meanwhile, bring 2 Tbsp. water and 1 Tbsp. of the remaining sugar to boil in saucepan, stirring constantly; cook and stir 1 min. or until sugar is completely dissolved. Pour over chocolate in medium bowl. Let stand 30 sec.; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Cool. Beat whipping cream in medium bowl with mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream, in small batches, into chocolate mixture just until blended. Refrigerate 3 hrs.
• While chocolate mousse is chilling, cook remaining 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup of the remaining sugar in medium saucepan over medium heat 2 to 3 min. or until sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in cranberries. Use slotted spoon to transfer cranberries to wire rack; let stand 1 hr. Roll cranberries, in small batches, in remaining 1/2 cup sugar until evenly coated with sugar; place in single layer on rimmed baking sheet. Let stand at room temperature until ready to use.
• Top cheesecake with chocolate mousse and sugared cranberries just before serving.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whip together cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until light and smooth.
• In a large bowl, prepare chocolate mousse mix with milk, as directed on package.
• Gently fold cream cheese mixture into mousse, until mixture is no longer streaky.
• Sprinkle the bottom of pie crust with some of the chocolate chips, if using.
• Spoon mousse mixture into pie crust and decorate with remaining chocolate chips.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
• Store in refrigerator.