Description
Indulge in this rich and creamy Black Forest Cheesecake, a delightful fusion of classic chocolate and cherry flavors inspired by the traditional German Black Forest cake. Featuring a chocolate cookie crust, a luscious chocolate-infused cream cheese filling, and topped with sweet cherry pie filling, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings, this dessert is perfect for holidays and special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 20 chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos), crushed
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled
Topping
- 1 ½ cups cherry pie filling
- Whipped cream (optional)
- Chocolate shavings (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). In a medium bowl, combine the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies with melted butter until evenly mixed. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan to form an even crust. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
- Make the filling: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla extract, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overmixing. Stir in the melted chocolate chips until the batter is fully blended and smooth.
- Assemble and bake: Pour the cream cheese filling over the cooled crust, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake the cheesecake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until the center is set but still slightly jiggly. Once done, turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside with the oven door slightly open for 1 hour to cool gradually, which helps prevent cracking.
- Chill the cheesecake: After cooling in the oven, carefully remove the cheesecake and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight to let it fully set and develop flavor.
- Serve: Before serving, spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Optionally, garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings for an elegant finish.
Notes
- For best results, use room-temperature ingredients to ensure a smooth batter.
- To prevent cracking, avoid overmixing the filling batter and consider baking the cheesecake in a water bath.
- You can substitute store-bought cherry pie filling with homemade cherry topping if preferred.
- Allow the cheesecake to chill thoroughly for optimal texture and flavor.
