Cake - Cheesecake Chocolate Marble

By BlueSchmoo

While this chocolaty delight seems to have the makings of something sinful (and tastes that way, too), the reduced-fat ingredients make this a guilt-free indulgence. Serve this easy-bake cake after a delicious, heart-healthy dinner.

Ingredients

• CRUST
• 2 tablespoons slivered blanched almonds
• Vegetable oil cooking spray
• 6 chocolate wafers
• FILLING
• 15 oz (1 3/4 cup) part-skim ricotta
• 8 oz lowfat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup lowfat sour cream
• 1 large whole egg
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or to taste)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons amaretto (if desired)
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon instant-espresso powder
• 3 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips

Details

Servings 12

Preparation

Step 1

FOR CRUST
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Toast almonds on a small baking sheet for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven; reduce heat to 325 degrees. Coat an 8" springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap outside of pan in foil to prevent seepage. Process chocolate wafers and almonds in a food processor into fine crumbs. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tbsp crumbs onto bottom of pan (just enough to coat bottom lightly). Shake pan to distribute evenly. Reserve remaining crumbs.

FOR FILLING
Puree ricotta in a food processor until smooth, about 1 minute. Add cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, egg, egg whites, almond extract, flour and salt; puree until smooth. Whisk amaretto, if desired (or same amount of hot water), 2 tbsp hot water, cocoa powder and espresso powder in a bowl until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Stir 1 cup plain filling into chocolate mixture. Set aside.

ASSEMBLY
Pour remaining plain filling into prepared pan. Drizzle chocolate filling in a circular pattern over plain filling. Using a knife, make circular strokes to create swirls in the plain filling. Add 1 inch hot water to a shallow baking pan; place springform pan in baking pan. Bake until cheesecake is firm around the edge and slightly soft in the center, 45 to 55 minutes. Run a knife around inside of pan. Remove foil; let cool on a rack. Chill 6 hours or overnight before removing sides of pan. Press reserved crumbs onto side of cheesecake.