Sunday, 5 June 2016

Chocolate and Vanilla Cheesecake (Nanaimo)

I made the full amount for the base but only half the amount for the cheesecake and ganache. I tried to do white chocolate feathering on top of the ganache but it didn't work. Tastied very nice but would probably make 2/3 for the base next time as it was quite thick.



4 tbsp butter, melted
3 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups chocolate digestives crushed

For the Cheesecake
4 (8oz) bricks of cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp vanilla custard powder

For the Chocolate Ganache
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the biscuit crumbs,  cocoa powder, and sugar in a food processor and process until fine crumbs. Pulse in the vanilla and melted butter until moistened. Press into the bottom and a little up the sides of a 10 inch springform pan. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, but keep oven on.

Place a 9x13 baking dish on the bottom rack of your oven and fill with warm water.In the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time, beating in-between, and scrape down sides of bowl occasionally.
Add the sour cream, sugar, vanilla and vanilla custard powder. Mix until smooth. Pour onto the prepared crust. Bake on the rack above the pan filled with water for 1 hour.
Turn off the oven, crack it open slightly and leave in oven for 1-2 hours. Remove from oven and let come to room temperature completely. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge to chill for 2 hours. 
For the Ganache:
Place the chocolate chips in a bowl, set aside. Heat the cream in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes, then pour on top of the chocolate chips. Let sit for 30 seconds, then whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly, then carefully pour on top of the cheesecake. Refrigerate again until set.