Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients

• 1-3/4 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs (about 9 whole crackers)
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 pound fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) fat-free cream cheese, cubed
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• 1 cup (8 ounces) fat-free cottage cheese
• Sugar substitute equivalent to 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed, divided
• 13 medium fresh strawberries
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack.
• Hull strawberries if necessary; puree in a food processor. Remove and set aside. In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Transfer to the food processor; add the cream cheese, cottage cheese and sugar substitute. Cover and process until smooth.
• Add strawberry puree; cover and process until blended. Transfer to a large bowl; fold in 2 cups whipped topping. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until set.
• For garnish, wash strawberries and gently pat with paper towels until completely dry. Cut tops off berries. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate at 50% power; stir until smooth. Dip each berry tip until half of the berry is coated, allowing excess to drip off. Place with tips pointing up on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Carefully run a knife around edge of springform pan to loosen; remove sides of pan. Arrange berries, chocolate tips up, around edge of cheesecake and place one in the center. Garnish with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 12 servings.

Editor's Note: This recipe was tested with Splenda no-calorie sweetener.

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake published in Light & Tasty April/May 2007, p26