ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH MACAROON CRUST

Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake with Macaroon Crust image

Provided by Lynnda Cloutier

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 t. butter
1 cup macaroon cookie crumbs
1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature (3 pkgs, 8 oz. each)
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
3 eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 t. vanilla
1 pkg (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips, melted

Steps:

1. In a 10" springform pan, spread the butter on the bottom and sprinkle crumbs evenly over all. Set pan aside. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese, sour cream, eggs, sugar and vanilla until blended. Do not overbeat. Beat in the melted chocolate until blended.
2. Beat in the melted chocolate until blended. Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Allow to cool and then refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Overnight is good, too. Decorate top with a generous sprinkling of grated chocolate. To serve, cut into wedges and keep the portions small. Serves 12 Can be prepared 1 day earlier and stored in the refrigerator. Two tablespoons Crème de Cacao can be added to the cream cheese mixture, if you enjoy the subtle addition of liqueur.
3. To gild the lily,Melt additional chocolate and put into a squeeze bottle or zip lock bag with a corner cut off. Drizzle melted chocolate over cheesecake in a decorative pattern and top with sliced strawberries to decorate.