Velvet Chocolate Cheesecake Recipes

RED VELVET CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. , In a small bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, butter and sugar. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, buttermilk, cocoa and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in food coloring. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. , Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 60-70 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove sides of pan., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost top of cheesecake. Refrigerate until serving.

CHOCOLATE VELVET CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Prepare chocolate crumb crust.
• Place oven rack in centre of oven, heat to 350 degrees.
• Combine chocolate and butter in top of double boiler, place over hot but not simmering water.
• Cook over low heat just until chocolate is completely melted.
• Remove top of double boiler from water, stir chocolate mixture until smooth.
• Reserve at room temperature uncovered.
• Cut cream cheese into 1 inch cubes, place in large mixer bowl.
• Beat at medium speed, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until completely smooth.
• Gradually beat in chocolate mixture.
• Continue beating, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until mixture is smooth and uniformly coloured.
• Continue beating while gradually adding cream and vanilla, beat until blended.
• Continue beating cheese mixture at medium speed while very slowly adding granulated sugar, beat until sugar is absorbed.
• Add eggs, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well and scraping down sides of bowl after each addition.
• Sieve cocoa powder over batter, beat at low speed until cocoa is thoroughly incorporated.
• Pour batter into cold unbaked chocolate crumb crust, spread top smooth.
• Gently rotate pan several quarter turns to settle batter.
• Bake 30 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees, continue baking 30 minutes longer.
• Turn oven off.
• Let cake stand in oven with door ajar 30 minutes.
• Transfer pan to wire rack away from drafts.
• Let cool undisturbed until sides and bottom of pan are completely cooled to room temperature.
• Remove sides of pan.
• Refrigerate cake uncovered overnight or at least 8 hours.
• Cover cake loosely with plastic wrap, refrigerate until serving time.
• Just before serving, Sieve powdered sugar lightly over cake.
• Serve garnished with strawberries if desired.

VELVET CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F if using a silver 8-inch springform pan (or to 350°F if using a dark nonstick 8-inch springform pan). Crush 20 of the cookies; mix with margarine. Press firmly onto bottom of pan. Stand remaining 10 cookies around side of pan; set aside.
• Reserve 2 Tbsp. of the sugar. Beat cream cheese in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add remaining sugar, the cocoa and 1 tsp. of the vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust. Cover tops of cookies with strip of foil to prevent overbrowning.
• Bake 50 minutes or until cheesecake is puffed and almost set in center. Remove from oven. Mix reserved 2 Tbsp. sugar, the sour cream and remaining 1/2 tsp. vanilla until well blended; spread evenly over cheesecake. Return to oven; bake an additional 10 minutes. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.