Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake (Print Version)
A creamy chocolate and strawberry delight with cookie crust and ganache topping.
# Recipe Ingredients:
→ Crust
01 - 20 chocolate sandwich cookies (approximately 200 g)
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 strawberries, blended and strained)
09 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
→ Chocolate Ganache
10 - 6 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
11 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
→ Topping
12 - 1 to 1.5 cups fresh strawberries, halved
13 - 1 oz dark chocolate, melted (optional, for drizzling)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - Pulse chocolate cookies in a food processor until finely crushed. Combine with melted butter. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool slightly.
03 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Whisk strawberry puree with cornstarch, then fold into the batter.
04 - Pour filling over cooled crust. Smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the center is just set and slightly wobbly. Turn off oven, crack the door, and let cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
05 - Remove from oven and run a thin knife around the edge to loosen. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
06 - Heat heavy cream until just simmering, pour over chopped chocolate, and let sit 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Let cool slightly, then spread over chilled cheesecake.
07 - Top with fresh strawberries. Drizzle with melted dark chocolate if desired. Chill 30 minutes before slicing.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of creamy strawberry cheesecake and rich chocolate ganache creates the perfect balance of sweet and indulgent
- Despite its impressive appearance, this dessert comes together faster than you'd expect
02 -
- The most common mistake is overbaking, so remove it from the oven when the center still has a slight wobble
- All ingredients must be at room temperature before you begin, especially the cream cheese and eggs
03 -
- Run your springform pan under warm water for 10 seconds before releasing the sides for clean edges
- For the smoothest strawberry puree, press it through a fine mesh sieve to remove all seeds