Decadent Chocolate-Espresso Cheesecake

By Tufgrlz

Ingredients

• CRUST
• Vegetable cooking spray
• Parchment paper
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons instant espresso
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• FILLING
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate morsels
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons instant espresso
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• TOPPING
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• Chocolate shavings and shards (optional)

Details

Adapted from myrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Prepare Crust: Preheat oven to 325°. Generously grease bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Cut parchment paper into a 9-inch circle, and place in bottom of pan; lightly grease parchment paper with cooking spray. Stir together flour and next 2 ingredients in a bowl.

2. Microwave butter and 3 oz. chopped chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 minute; stir. Microwave chocolate mixture 1 to 1 1/2 more minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in 1/2 cup each granulated sugar and light brown sugar; cool 10 minutes.

3. Whisk 1 egg and 1 tsp. vanilla extract into chocolate mixture. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture; stir until well blended. Spread mixture in prepared pan.

4. Bake at 325° for 20 minutes. Cool crust in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes.

5. Prepare Filling: Microwave chocolate morsels in a small microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 minute; stir. Microwave morsels 1 to 1 1/2 more minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Cool 10 minutes. Stir together cream and next 2 ingredients in a 1-cup glass measuring cup until instant espresso dissolves.

6. Beat cream cheese and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar at medium-low speed with an electric mixer in a large bowl just until smooth. Add melted chocolate and espresso mixture, and beat at low speed just until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating at low speed just until yolk disappears after each addition; pour into prepared crust.

7. Bake at 325° for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until center of cheesecake jiggles and cheesecake is almost set. Remove cheesecake from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. (Do not remove sides.) Cool cheesecake completely on a wire rack (about 2 hours). Cover and chill at least 8 hours or up to 2 days.

8. Prepare Topping: Beat 2 cups heavy cream and 2 Tbsp. coffee liqueur at medium-high speed until foamy; gradually add powdered sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Dollop on cheesecake.