Chocolate & Coffee Cravings

Sometimes I bake. Mostly I just leave the baking up to my sister, considering she's in school right now for pastry arts, and I just do the eating. However, since she's all the way in Rhode Island and I still wanted something chocolatey and coffee-y, I had to take the situation into my own hands. The outcome? An absolutely delicious Dark Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake with an Oreo Cookie Crust. The batter alone was so decadent and rich I almost died and went to chocolate heaven. 

RECIPE ADAPTED FROM HERE

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12 Oreo cookies

• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 8 ounces dark chocolate

I used bars from Trader Joe's "Chocolate Passport"

IMAGE SOURCE | IMAGE SOURCE

• 2 tablespoons whipping cream
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules dissolve in 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup Kahlúa
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter one 9 inch springform pan.
2. Combine the Oreo cookie crumbs, softened butter, 2 tablespoons white sugar, and the cinnamon. Mix well and press mixture into the buttered springform pan. Line the perimeter with 12 Oreo cookies, set aside.
3. In a medium size bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add 1 cup white sugar, mixing until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat at low speed until very smooth.
4. Melt 8 ounces of dark chocolate with 2 tablespoons whipping cream in a pan or bowl set over boiling water, stir until smooth. 
5. Add chocolate mixture to cream cheese mixture and blend well. Stir in sour cream, salt, coffee, Kahlúa, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Pour mixture into prepared pan. 
6. Bake in the center of the oven at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Center will be soft but will firm up when chilled. Do not over back. Leave cake in over with the heat turned off and door ajar for 45 minutes. Remove cake from oven and chill for 12 hours. 

YUMMM

- Sam