Cocoa Motion Cheesecake Recipes

Steps:

• For the crust, combine graham-cracker crumbs, cocoa, sugar and melted butter and mix very thoroughly. Line a clean, ungreased springform pan with the crumb mixture by pressing it first against the sides, then the bottom of the pan. (Crumb mixture should hold its shape; the sides will take about 2/3 of the mixture.) Press until very smooth and even all around. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
• Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler and keep warm. In small glass dish or teacup, stir together instant coffee, water and vanilla and orange extracts. Set aside.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar. Gradually add softened cream cheese, mixing well after each addition. Stir in melted chocolate, coffee mixture and the cocoa. Mix well. Gradually add sour cream, mixing well after each addition. Fold in melted butter and blend thoroughly but gently. Pour batter over chilled crust in pan. Place pan on heavy cookie sheet and bake 45 minutes. Cut off heat and open oven door, but do not move cheesecake. Let sit in turned-off oven 10 to 15 minutes.
• Gently transfer cheesecake, still on the cookie sheet, to counter and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, unfasten the ring from the springform pan and remove. If desired, garnish top of cheesecake with drizzle of melted dark chocolate, orange candy, chocolate-covered espresso beans and orange zest.

Steps:

• For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
• For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
• Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
• Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
• Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottoms of 12 paper-lined muffin cups. Bake 8 min.
• Beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder in medium bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Spoon over crusts.
• Bake 22 to 25 min. or until centers are almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, cover baking sheet with parchment. Melt semi-sweet chocolate as directed on package; spoon into resealable plastic bag. Cut small piece off one bottom corner of bag; use to squeeze chocolate into 12 shapes on prepared baking sheet to resemble cup handles as shown in photo. Freeze until ready to use.
• Remove liners from cheesecakes. Beat cream and remaining sugar in separate medium bowl with mixer on high speed until soft peaks form; spoon onto cheesecakes. Sprinkle with remaining cocoa powder; top with marshmallows. Gently press chocolate handle into side of each cheesecake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch springform pan.
• In a small bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 1/2 inch up the sides of the prepared 9 inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Allow to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• To Make Filling: In a small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup whipping cream and 1/4 cup chocolate chips, stirring constantly, until chips are melted. Remove from heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar until smooth. Add cocoa and beat well. Add eggs and beat on low until just blended. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and reserved chocolate mixture until blended. Pour over crust. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 45 to 50 minutes or until center is almost set.
• To Make Topping: In a small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup whipping cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla until just before boiling. Stir constantly and be careful not to boil over. Have 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips ready in a small bowl. Pour in the hot cream and stir with a spoon until smooth. Spread over baked cheesecake and refrigerate overnight.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Make and bake 36 cookies as directed on pouch. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes. Store 16 cookies in airtight container for another use.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil to prevent leaking. Spray inside of pan with cooking spray.
• In food processor, process half of the remaining 20 cookies to fine crumbs. Remove to medium bowl. Process second half of remaining cookies to fine crumbs; add to bowl. Stir in cocoa and 1/4 cup melted butter until well blended. Press very firmly on bottom and 1/2 inch up side of pan. Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until set in center.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until smooth. Beat in melted chocolate. Beat in eggs one at a time, just until blended. Beat in vanilla. Pour into crust.
• Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from edge of pan and center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan. Refrigerate uncovered at least 6 hours or overnight before serving.
• When ready to serve, discard foil and remove side of pan. If needed, run metal spatula along side of cheesecake to loosen before removing pan. In chilled medium bowl, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form; add marshmallow creme, and beat until blended and smooth. Fit decorating bag with 1/2-inch round piping tip; fill with cream mixture. Starting on outer edge of cheesecake, and using constant pressure on bag, pipe clockwise, working toward center and ending in a tall peak (use photo as guide). Decorate as desired. Store covered in refrigerator.