Chocolate Cheesecake

Oreo Crust

• 2/3 package Oreos, crushed
• 1 stick butter, melted

Chocolate Cheesecake

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 lbs cream cheese, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
• 8 ounces melted semisweet chocolate

Chocolate Ganache

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces chocolate (your choice, dark chocolate or milk chocolate)

Oreo Crust

1. Combine the crushed oreos and melted butter.
2. Put into a 9" round springform cake pan, and press along the bottom and sides. Put in the fridge while you make the cheesecake batter.

Chocolate Cheesecake

1. Put your softened cream cheese and sugar in a bowl. Mix on high until it is very smooth, you don’t want any lumps in it.
2. Add one egg at a time, mixing on low in between each egg to combine, and then add the egg yolk last.
3. Add the heavy cream slowly while the mixer is still on low speed.
4. Sift the cocoa powder in and mix it until it is well combined.
5. Add the melted chocolate, and again mix it until it is well combined.
6. Pour into your pan with the crust.
7. Put the pan into a larger pan, so that you can make a water bath. Pour water into the larger pan until it is about ¼ of the way up the side of your cheesecake pan.
8. Bake at 325 degrees F for about 1 ½ hours. It will be done when you jiggle the pan and you don’t see any ripples of movement in the batter.
9. Let it cool completely before topping with the ganache.

Chocolate Ganache

1. Heat the heavy cream until it boils. Pour over the chocolate. Let it sit for 1 minute, then stir to combine it. Let it cool slightly before pouring on top of the cheesecake.