This straightforward chocolate cheesecake is everything you want it to be: rich, moist, dense, and hugely chocolate. Not only that — it's simple to put together, requiring neither special ingredients nor a fussy water bath. If you're looking for a very rich (and very chocolate) dessert, you've found it.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9" springform pan.
To make the crust: Crush, grind, or otherwise pulverize the cookies together with the sugar; a food processor works well here. If desired, set aside about a tablespoon of the crumbs to garnish the finished cake.
Add the melted butter, processing briefly or stirring until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Press the moist crumbs into the bottom and partway up the sides of the prepared pan. Place the pan on a baking sheet, to catch any potential drips of butter.
Bake the crust for 15 minutes. Remove it from the oven, and set it aside as you make the filling.
Reduce the oven heat to 350°F.
To make the chocolate cheesecake filling: In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl or large cup, combine the milk and chocolate chips. Heat, stirring frequently, until the chips melt and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat, stir in the espresso powder, and set the mixture aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar at low speed, until thoroughly combined. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, and beat briefly, just until smooth.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating to combine after each one.
Stir in the vanilla, then the flour.
Add the chocolate/milk mixture, beating slowly until thoroughly combined. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl; beat briefly, just until smooth.
Pour the batter atop the crust in the pan. Place the pan on a baking sheet; this will make it easier to get the cake in and out of the oven safely.
Bake the cheesecake (remember, the oven temperature should be 350°F) for 45 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the cake 1" from the outside edge comes out clean. A digital thermometer, inserted at the same point, should read 175°F. The center may not look set; that's OK.
Turn off the oven, crack the door open several inches, and allow the cake to cool in the oven for 1 hour. Remove the cake from the oven, and set it on a rack to finish cooling. When it's completely cool, cover the cake, and refrigerate it until ready to serve.
Garnish the cake with the reserved crumbs. Serve it in small slices, with whipped cream and berries.
Storage information: Store leftover chocolate cheesecake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week; freeze for longer storage.
How do you ensure a smooth, lump-free cheesecake? Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature.
For the best cheesecake texture – dense without being heavy – beat filling ingredients at low or medium-low speed. Beating at high speed adds air to the batter; longer, slower beating yields a pleasantly dense cake.
Did your chocolate cheesecake crack? Find out the most common reasons why cheesecakes crack and how to prevent them.
