by: Donna Monday
Smooth, creamy, and oh so sophisticated – that’s chocolate velvet cheesecake.
Crust
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
½ cup chopped pecans
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Filling
2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 6-oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate pieces, melted
3 tablespoons almond flavored liqueur (substitute 2 tablespoons milk and ¼ teaspoon almond extract for almond flavored liqueur)
Topping
2 cups sour cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Combine crumbs, pecans, granulated sugar and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.
Combine cream cheese and brown sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in chocolate and liqueur (or extract and milk); pour over crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes.
Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.
Combine sour cream and granulated sugar; carefully spread over cheesecake. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.
Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill until firm.