Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Best Cheesecake Ever.

Marble Swirl Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (I use Annie's Bunnies)

3 TBS melted butter

2 pounds cream cheese, softened

1 1/3 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups heavy cream

7 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1/3 cup water

Preheat the oven to 325. Grease a 9" springform pan.

Combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter and mix well. Press into the bottom of the pan. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the crust is just set and slightly firm. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Lower the oven temp to 300.

Beat the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Add the vanilla and cream, beat well, and scrape the sides of the bowl. Remove 1 cup of the batter and set aside while you melt the chocolate.

Combine the water and chocolate and melt over low heat. Mix in the reserved batter.

Pour the vanilla batter into the pan. Pour or spoon the chocolate batter over the top of the vanilla batter in a circle. Run a small knife through the chocolate and vanilla batters to create a marbelized effect. Don't overdo it or the two will just mix together.

Put the cheesecake in a larger pan. Add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake sit in the oven for another hour (or all night if you forget)!

Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 8 hours.

7 comments:

Mindy said...

mmm, i LOVE cheesecake. i always skip the recipes that need a water bath though, cuz i think it will be a pain. is it?

Shannon said...

it's really not. i just use my big stockpot. i really think it helps contribute to the texture of the cheesecake. but that could also be the long baking/rest time. i'm tempted to try it without the bath but it's too expensive to ruin! and it's not even a pain. seriously, this cheesecake rocks. it converted my non-cheesecake-eating cousin.

Cheri said...

I told dad he should sell this in his coffee shop! Nice picture..by the way!

Shannon said...

why, yes, it is a lovely picture! you sure have great photo skills!

Mrs Starling said...

that could totally make my week having that come out of the oven.....we had cheesecake for our wedding cake. hands down best dessert ever in my book!

Hansen Happenings said...

I made this today! YUM:) Good thing I'm sharing it this weekend!
Thanks for the recipe.

Ethel said...

gulp...now i suppose i have to make this! I'm a cheese cake head.