Chocolate Cheesecake

Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson

Show: Nigella FeastsEpisode: Chocolate Heaven

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (37)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(37)

Cook Time:
1 hr 0 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
10 to 12 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: 12 hr 0 min
Cook: 1 hr 0 min
Total:: 13 hr 25 min

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Ingredients

Cheesecake base:

1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 stick butter
1 tablespoon cocoa

Cheesecake filling:

6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped small
2 1/2 cups cream cheese
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1 tablespoon custard powder
3 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon cocoa, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water

Sauce:

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon dark corn syrup
Special equipment: 9-inch springform pan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

To make the base, process the graham crackers to make rough crumbs and then add the butter and cocoa. Process again until it makes damp, clumping crumbs and then tip them into the pan. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan to make an even base and put into the freezer while you make the filling.

Put a kettle on to boil.

Melt the chocolate either in a microwave or double boiler, and set aside to cool slightly.

Beat the cream cheese to soften it, then add the sugar and custard power, beating again to combine. Beat in the whole eggs and then the yolks, and the sour cream. Finally add the cocoa dissolved in hot water and melted chocolate and mix to a smooth batter.

Take the springform tin out of the freezer and line the outside of the tin with a good layer of cling wrap, and then another layer of strong foil over that. This will protect it from the water bath.

Sit the springform tin in a roasting pan and pour in the cheesecake filling. Fill the roasting pan with just boiled water to come about half way up the cake tin and bake in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The top of the cheesecake should be set, but the underneath should still have a wobble to it.

Peel away the foil and cling film wrapping and sit the cheesecake in its tin on a rack to cool. Put in the refrigerator once it is no longer hot, and leave to set, covered with plastic overnight. Let it lose its chill before unspringing the cheesecake to serve.

To make the chocolate sauce: very gently melt the chopped chocolate, cream and syrup. When the chocolate has nearly melted, take off the heat and whisk it to a smooth sauce. Let it cool a little, and pour it over the chocolate cheesecake on its serving plate.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Chocolate Cheesecake
Christi Huntsville, AL 11-03-2009
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Super yummy & Custard Powder!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this recipe EXACTLY according to directions for a dinner party and it turned out great. After trying to find the... custard powder in our local "better" groceries (Publix, Fresh Market) and even the cake supply house, I tried a last ditch effort before giving up (I HATE to give up) at the local Indian grocery store and found it! Well worth the effort.Read more
recipe Chocolate Cheesecake
Rebeca San Juan, AA 02-13-2009
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Let's see...
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I printed out this recipe long time ago (since Nigella basically started in foodnetwork.) and after all this time, I decided... to make this cheesecake today. After I had everything combined & ready to pour on the pan, I noticed the print out has NO TEMPERATURE AT ALL for the oven!!!...so ...:-(......of course, I freaked out & rapidly verify some other recipes of cheesecake in my binder & found one with 325 deg. So I decided on this temp and after having it in the oven for 45 minutes at 325 deg , I tried to find the recipe here, and noticed it called for 350 deg. so I baked the cheesecake for an additional 15 minutes but at 350 de. SOoooooooo.... I am pretty scared about how this is going to come out :-Let's see...!!! I'll keep my fingers cross...:-(Read more
recipe Chocolate Cheesecake
Lori Keene, NH 02-08-2009
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First "Nigella" Recipe I've tried
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

P-H-E-N-O-M-E-N-A-L!!!!!!!!! A time-saving tip that I used was purchasing a Keebler chocolate cookie crumb crust. Flip it... over into the springform pan and there you have it!! No work and saves a few minutes.Read more
recipe Chocolate Cheesecake
Lisa Waynesville, NC 12-23-2008
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Great cheesecake
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My daughter chose this recipe. I did not find it hard to make. Turned out beautifully. I love dark chocolate and thought... this was the best chocolate cheesecake I have ever tasted.Read more
recipe Chocolate Cheesecake
Grant Columbus, OH 11-17-2008
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Wonderful!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was the first of Nigella's recipes that I tried. It turned out so great that I tried ther triple chocolate brownies! ... They truned out great as well. I didn't use the custard powder--I did as she suggested and used the 1Tbsp of cornstarch, 1tsp vanilla and 1 extra tsp of sugar. If you love chessecake and chocolate, this is a must! Read more
recipe Chocolate Cheesecake
Karen Mt Orab, OH 11-09-2008
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Wow!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was an excellent recipe for cheesecake. My friends just kept oohing and aahing the taste and flavor. Will surely make... this again.Read more