Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake

Rich, creamy, and supremely flavorful, this is the ultimate chocolate cheesecake!

INGREDIENTS 

For the Crust:

• 1 and 1/2 cups (180g/6.3 ounces) Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
• 1/4 cup (57g/2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted

For the Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake:

• 2 cups (340g/12 ounces) bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 and 1/2 pounds (680g/24 ounces) full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup (198g/7 ounces) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (53g/1 and 7/8 ounces) light brown sugar, packed
• 3 Tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 4 large eggs plus 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup (170g/6 ounces) heavy cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Ganache:

• 1 and 1/3 cups (226g/8 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 and 1/4 cups (12 ounces) heavy cream
• 1/4 cup (57g/2 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into cubes

INSTRUCTIONS 

For the Crust:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Wrap the outside of the pan in layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. You’ll be placing this pan in a water bath, so be sure the pan has been wrapped from every angle.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chocolate wafer crumbs and melted butter. Pat the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack and cool the crust completely. Leave the oven on.

For the Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake:

1. Fill a medium pot one-third full with water and bring it to a low simmer over medium heat.
2. Place a heatproof bowl that will fit on top of the pan snugly, but will not touch the simmering water, on top of the pan. Reduce the heat to low and add the chopped chocolate into the bowl over the pot. Heat until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring occasionally with a silicon spatula. Remove the pot from the heat, leaving the bowl of chocolate over the hot water. Set aside until needed.
3. In the bowl of a food processor (or high-powered blender), pulse the cream cheese until completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, about 2 minutes. Add in both sugars and cocoa powder and beat smooth. Add in the eggs, egg yolks, and heavy cream and mix until just combined, about 20 seconds. Fold in the chocolate. Finally add in the vanilla and pulse for another 20 seconds.
4. Remove the bowl from the food processor and, using a rubber spatula, stir the filling several times to ensure it’s evenly blended.
5. Scrape the filling over the partially baked crust in the prepared pan.
6. Place the springform pan in a roasting pan or large baking pan. Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven and pour enough hot water into the pan to come 1-inch up the sides of the springform pan.
7. Bake the cheesecake in the water bath for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the center of the cake is set but still slightly jiggly. The cake will set completely as it cools.
8. Remove the cake from the water bath and  place the pan on a wire rack. Carefully loosen the foil, then immediately run the tip of a knife around the sides of the pan, to prevent the top from cracking. Cool completely (in the pan), then transfer cheesecake to the refrigerator to chill for at least 6 hours before removing from the pan and slicing. 

For the Chocolate Ganache:

1. Add chopped chocolate to a medium bowl; set aside.
2. In a small saucepan over medium-heat, bring the cream to a low simmer. Pour half of the cream on top of the chocolate pieces and set aside for 1 minute. With a whisk, begin to incorporate the melted chocolate into the cream. Slowly add the remaining cream and continue carefully whisking until smooth and glossy.
3. Add in the butter and use a spatula to stir until the butter is completely melted. The mixture will be dark and glossy. Set aside, at room temperature, until needed.
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