I’ve got another dessert and it’s going to take up a lot of room on this blog. So clear the table, the name alone is enough to qualify as two or three desserts. Black Bottom Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake. This crave-worthy cheesecake has a decadent base of chocolate ganache and a kiss of black cherry swirled into the creamy sweet cheese filling.
Remember when I rarely did desserts? Well Pinterest has changed all that, and you’re the one who will have to bear the brunt of the pain. Let me warn you though, you’re going to have to pull up a chair and two forks (this is one dense cake). Get something to drink while you’re up, maybe even something to read too. There’s no rushing through a slice of this cheesecake (no matter how small). It’s more like a marathon. Slow and steady. Know your limitations. Chew diligently. You can do this.
Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
Because this Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake is ridiculous– ridiculous bordering on obscene. Let me put it this way. Chocolate cookie crust. Black chocolate ganache bottom. Sweet cream cheese. Black cherry swirl. All in one obscene dessert.
It’s so obscene that even the tiniest of wedges will take a couple of attempts to get through entirely. I recommend getting up and out of your chair at the halfway point and doing some stretching exercises. Belly stretching I’m afraid. Once you start you won’t be able to stop at halfway. The break will fool you into thinking that “one more bite is no big deal”. So psych yourself up for this Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake. The one with a black bottom of ganache. I have to keep repeating the name, Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake– because I want to to really understand what you’re in for once you decide to sit down.
Are you still reading? Cuz I’m still eating my slice of Black Bottom (did I mention that?) Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake. GREG
This cheesecake, once cooled can be left in the springform pan, wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to three days. Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before unmolding as directed.
Ingredients
- 5 ounce ground chocolate wafer cookies (about 1 cup or 25 Nabisco wafers)
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar (divided)
- 2/3 cup whipping cream
- 8 ounce semisweet chocolate (chopped)
- 6 ounce pitted cherries (fresh or frozen and thawed)
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 32 ounce cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap exterior of a 9‑inch springform pan (including base) in a double layer of foil; set aside.
Make the crust: Stir together chocolate wafer crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom of prepared foil-wrapped pan. Bake in the heated oven until set, about 10 minutes. Let springform pan cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
Make the ganache: Heat the cream in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat until bubbles begin to vigorously form at the edge of the pan. Remove from heat; add chocolate (do not stir). Let stand 5 minutes, then stir until smooth, returning it to very low heat if necessary. Pour chocolate ganache evenly over the bottom of the cooled crust. Chill ½ hour and up to overnight before continuing.
Make the cherry puree: Meanwhile puree the cherries in a food processor or blender until very smooth. Press puree through a fine mesh sieve into a small saucepan; discard solids. Stir in 2 tablespoons sugar and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Make the filling: Put cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; blend on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Lower the speed and add remaining 1 ½ cups sugar in a slow, steady stream. Add salt and vanilla; mix until well combined. Using a rubber spatula, mix in the eggs one at a time until well combined (but do not over mix). Carefully dollop the cream cheese filling over crust, making sure not to disturb the chocolate ganache layer. Smooth the top carefully.
Drop cherry sauce by the teaspoon in various spots evenly around the top. With a wooden skewer or toothpick, swirl sauce into filling, making an attractive pattern on top. Take care not to push the wooden skewer or toothpick deeply enough into the cherry and cream cheese to disturb the chocolate ganache bottom. Experiment, making a pretty pattern. Don’t worry if you don’t use all the sauce, there is no right or wrong way.
Set filled springform pan inside a large, shallow roasting pan. Transfer to oven. Carefully add hot water into roasting pan to reach halfway up sides. Bake until cake is set but still slightly wobbly in center, 60 to 70 minutes.
Transfer cake pan to wire rack; let cake cool completely. Refrigerate, from 6 hours to overnight. Before unmolding, run a warm, wet knife blade around edge of cake. Slice into wedges for serving, wiping the knife clean with warm water after every slice of the knife. Serve immediately.
Looks delish and thinking of making, but wondering, does this recipe really result in that nice lush layer of choc? Seems like 2/3c cream with 8oz choc wouldnt be enough for a 9″ pan. ?
I made the cake pictured here using this recipe. The bottom chocolate layer is about 1/4‑inch chocolate cookie crust and about 1/2 to 3/4‑inch chocolate ganache. The cheese filling is about 1 3/4‑inch thick. GREG
I made this for my husband’s birthday & after trying it tonight will probably be an every birthday dessert! Thank you! Just wonderful!
This looks amazing. I will have to wait for a large gathering to make it though because I do not want this sitting in my refrigerator and calling my name.
Cherry cheesecake with a black bottom ganache?! Sounds decadent. A dessert with panache. 😉
Ganache. Panache. I want you to know that wordplay rarely goes unnoticed here. Thanks. GREG
Breakfast! Love that swirl!
What a beautiful cheesecake. Funny about cheesecake, though. When I was a kid I never liked it. Then one day when I was about 17 years old I was out to lunch at The Hamburger Hamlet with some girlfriends. Suddenly I had a craving. Go figure. I had finally grown into the idea of a dessert with a tang to it. This one looks like a candidate for Best in Show. You did a beautiful job here.
Whoa, chocolate and cherry. I adore. I am also known to take down 7‑layer pieces of chocolate cake on a regular basis, so I bet I could polish off this! I see your cheesecake and raise you a side of whipped cream.
Lovely looking cheesecake!The top turned out so perfectly smooth. I’ll definitely try a water bath the next time I make cheesecake!
This looks fantastic. To die for! Seriously, I think I’d definitely need a drink and a good book to get through a slice… of pure heaven! Mmm.
I bow down to your greatness, and that cherry swirl on top…are you kidding me!
Two of Mark’s major flaws: 1.) He dislikes chocolate. Really. 2.) He dislikes cheesecake. Both grounds for divorce in New York. I think in Arkansas and Delaware, too. I need to give a party so that I can make this.
Greg I had been watching your steps of this masterpiece on Instagram; anxious for the end result.
It is a gorgeous cake indeed. I haven’t made a cheesecake in a year now–it’s time for me to create something wonderful–you’ve inspired me.
And my heart is with you on Mogie. He was a cutie.
God Bless
Wow it’s gorgeous and whatever the reason, I love seeing your desserts! That last pie of yours with the fork/bite mark at the tip, I see it everywhere on Pinterest! I can see how creamy and rich the cheesecake is just by the color of the mixture in the bowl. Wow, I would love this! pinned
I say if you’re going to have dessert, go all the way! Love your cherry swirling technique!
Rookie. Give me a good cup of hot coffee and I could make my way through a slice of that in no time flat. 😉