Ingredients:
1 chocolate crumb crusts ( recipe in recipezaar)
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 lbs cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
powdered sugar
fresh strawberries, if desired
Directions:
Prepare chocolate crumb crust.
Place oven rack in centre of oven, heat to 350 degrees.
Combine chocolate and butter in top of double boiler, place over hot but not simmering water.
Cook over low heat just until chocolate is completely melted.
Remove top of double boiler from water, stir chocolate mixture until smooth.
Reserve at room temperature uncovered.
Cut cream cheese into 1 inch cubes, place in large mixer bowl.
Beat at medium speed, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until completely smooth.
Gradually beat in chocolate mixture.
Continue beating, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until mixture is smooth and uniformly coloured.
Continue beating while gradually adding cream and vanilla, beat until blended.
Continue beating cheese mixture at medium speed while very slowly adding granulated sugar, beat until sugar is absorbed.
Add eggs, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well and scraping down sides of bowl after each addition.
Sieve cocoa powder over batter, beat at low speed until cocoa is thoroughly incorporated.
Pour batter into cold unbaked chocolate crumb crust, spread top smooth.
Gently rotate pan several quarter turns to settle batter.
Bake 30 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees, continue baking 30 minutes longer.
Turn oven off.
Let cake stand in oven with door ajar 30 minutes.
Transfer pan to wire rack away from drafts.
Let cool undisturbed until sides and bottom of pan are completely cooled to room temperature.
Remove sides of pan.
Refrigerate cake uncovered overnight or at least 8 hours.
Cover cake loosely with plastic wrap, refrigerate until serving time.
Just before serving, Sieve powdered sugar lightly over cake.
Serve garnished with strawberries if desired.
Servings: 10
Time preparation: 15 min.
Time total: 90 min.