Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake (Printable Version)
A luscious creamy cheesecake with chocolate crust, strawberry filling, and ganache topping, finished with fresh strawberries.
# What You'll Need:
→ Crust
01 - 20 chocolate sandwich cookies (approximately 7 oz)
02 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
→ Filling
03 - 24 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 1 cup granulated sugar
05 - 3 large eggs
06 - 3/4 cup sour cream
07 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 cup strawberry puree (fresh or frozen, blended and strained)
09 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
→ Chocolate Ganache
10 - 6 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
11 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
→ Topping
12 - 1-1.5 cups fresh strawberries, halved
13 - 1 oz dark chocolate, melted (optional for drizzling)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - Pulse chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor until finely crushed. Combine with melted butter and press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool slightly.
03 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until completely smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla extract.
04 - Whisk strawberry puree with cornstarch until smooth, then gently fold into the cream cheese batter until evenly incorporated.
05 - Pour filling over the cooled crust and smooth the top. Bake for 50-60 minutes until the center is just set with a slight wobble. Turn off oven, crack door open, and let cool inside for 1 hour.
06 - Remove from oven and run a thin knife around the edge to loosen. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
07 - Heat heavy cream until just simmering, pour over chopped semisweet chocolate, and let sit for 2 minutes. Stir until completely smooth. Cool slightly before spreading.
08 - Spread ganache evenly over chilled cheesecake. Top with fresh strawberry halves. Drizzle with melted dark chocolate if desired. Chill for 30 minutes before slicing.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of chocolate crust and strawberry filling creates this perfect sweet tart balance that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
- Despite looking like it came from a fancy bakery, the process is actually quite forgiving for a homemade cheesecake
02 -
- The oven cooling method is absolutely crucial for preventing cracks, so do not skip this step or rush the process
- Room temperature ingredients are nonnegotiable for smooth cheesecake texture
03 -
- A water bath can eliminate cracks completely if you want to get fancy
- Chill your springform pan in the freezer for 10 minutes before pressing in the crust for easier removal