Chocolate Macadamia Cheesecake
Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook
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When one of my co-workers turned 50, I created this recipe for her birthday. There wasn't a crumb left on the platter when I left for that day!
—Bob Weaver, University Place, Washington
SERVINGS: 12
CATEGORY: Dessert
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 35 min. Bake: 50 min. + chilling
Ingredients:
- 1-1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs (about 25 wafers)
- 1/4 cup ground macadamia nuts
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
- FILLING:
- 8 squares (1 ounce each) white baking chocolate
- 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 eggs
- 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
- TOPPING:
- 8 squares (1 ounce each) semisweet chocolate
- 7 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- White chocolate shavings and chopped macadamia nuts
Directions:
In a bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, nuts and sugar; stir in butter and almond extract. Press onto the bottom of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 325°.
In a saucepan over low heat, melt white chocolate, stirring frequently until smooth. Cool. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined.
Remove 1 cup and set aside. Stir melted white chocolate into remaining cream cheese mixture; beat just until combined. Pour over crust.
In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Stir in reserved cream cheese mixture; drop by spoonfuls over filling. Cut through filling with a knife to swirl chocolate mixture.
Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 55-60 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen. Cool 1 hour longer.
In a saucepan over low heat, melt semisweet chocolate with cream; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Spread over cheesecake. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers. Garnish with chocolate shavings and macadamia nuts. Yield: 12 servings.