The Ultimate Dark Chocolate Cheesecake

350g digestive biscuits or Graham crackers

2 tbsp dark cocoa powder

100g butter, melted

250g dark chocolate, chopped

1/3 cup Baileys or other liqueur (or strong coffee)

750g cream cheese

250g sour cream

1 cup caster sugar

2 tbsp dark cocoa powder

3 eggs

2 egg yolks

1 Line the base of a 23cm removable base cake tin with baking paper, and lightly grease or spray the sides with neutral oil such as Rice Bran.

2 Whiz the biscuits, cocoa and melted butter together in a food processor until they resemble fine breadcrumbs then pour into the tin and squash down first with your fingers, then smooth out with the back of a tablespoon, taking the crumbs all the way up the sides to give the cheesecake a bit of extra support, but keeping it not too thick on the base. You will need a straight sided glass to squish the crumbs up the sides, and of course you can roll the tin on its side to do this. You are probably hating me right now while you do this – but breathe, have a glass of water, and keep going – it will work (and it doesn’t need to be perfect).

3 Preheat the oven to 150˚C (325˚F) and pop the base in the fridge while you make the filling.
4 Melt the chocolate either in a heat proof bowl over a saucepan of gently boiling water (don’t let the base of the bowl touch the water) or in bursts in the microwave.

5 Add liqueur and whisk until smooth – if it gets too solid when you add the liquid, warm it briefly and whisk again.

6 Whiz the cream cheese, sour cream, melted chocolate mixture, sugar and cocoa together in a food processor (just give the food processor bowl a quick rinse after making the base) until smooth. Add the eggs and extra yolks and pulse to combine. See what I mean about arteries clogging during making??! Pour the filling on top of the base.

7 Cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and allow to cool in the oven with the door open just a crack – wedge something small in the door so its stays just a tiny bit open. Once cool keep in the fridge, and just remember to remove it half an hour before serving. Serve with a bowl of fresh berries on the side.

The Carousel thanks fromthekitchen for this recipe.