1 c Vanilla Wafer Crumbs 1/2 c Chopped Pecans 3 tb Granulated Sugar 1/4 c Margarine, Melted 16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened 1/2 c Brown Sugar, Packed 2 ea Large Eggs 6 oz Semi-sweet Chips, Melted 3 tb Almond Flavored Liqueur 2 c Sour Cream 2 tb Granulated Sugar
Combine crumbs, pecans, granulated sugar and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream sheese and brown sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in chocolate and liqueur; pour over crust. Bake at 325 degrees F., 35 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Combine sour cream and granulated sugar; carefully spread over cheesecake. Bake at 425 degrees F. 10 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.
VARIATION: Substitute 2 Tablespoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract for almond flavored liqueur.
Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Creme-filled Cookie Crumbs * 2 tb Margarine, Melted 32 oz Cream Cheese, Softened 1 1/4 c Sugar 3 ea Large Eggs 1 c Sour Cream 1 ts Vanilla 6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips** 1/3 c Strained Raspberry Preserves 6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips 1/4 c Whipping Cream
* Cookie crumbs should come from 18 Cream Filled Cookies that have been finely crushed. **
The 6 ozs of Chocolate chips should be melted and cooled slightly .Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Combine 24 ozs of cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.Blend in sour cream and vanilla; pour over crust.
Combine remaining 8 ozs cream cheese and melted chocolate, mixing at medium speed on eletric mixer until well blended. Add Red Raspberry preserves; mix well. Drop rounded measuring tablespoonsfuls of chocolate cream cheese batter over plain cream cheese batter, do not swirl. Bake at 325 degrees F., 1 hour and 25 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Melt chocolate pieces and whipping cream over low heat stirring until smooth. Spread over cheescake. Chill. Garnish with additonal whipping cream, whipped,raspberries and fresh mint leaves, if desired.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Supreme
1 c Chocolate Wafer Crumbs 3 tb Margarine, Melted 24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened 3/4 c Sugar 1/4 c Unbleached All-Purpose Flour 3 ea Large Eggs 1/2 c Sour Cream 1 ts Vanilla 1 c Mini Semi-sweet Chips
Combine crumbs and magarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese, sugar and flour, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips and pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees F., 55 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh mint leaves, if desired.