Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
• 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, melted (no substitutes)
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon, rind of
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs, seperated
• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 5 tablespoons butter, cubed
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons strong brewed coffee
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
• chocolate sprinkles (optional)
• additional whipped cream (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a small bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, pecans and sugar; stir in butter.
• 2 press onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the sides of a greased 9 inch springform pan.
• 3 place pan on a baking sheet.
• 4 bake at 375 for 8 minutes.
• 5 cool on a wire rack.
• 6 reduce heat to 325.
• 7 in a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla until smooth.
• 8 add egg yolks; beat on low speed just until combined.
• 9 in a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on high until stiff peaks form; fold into cream cheese mixture.
• 10 pour into crust.
• 11 return pan to baking sheet.
• 12 bake for 25-30 minutes or until center is almost set.
• 13 cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• 14 carefully run knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.
• 15 refrigerate until completely cooled.
• 16 in a microwave, melt chocolate and butter.
• 17 cool for 10 minutes.
• 18 in a small heavy saucepan, whisk egg yolks, sugar and coffee.
• 19 cook and stir over low heat until mixture reaches 160; stir in vanilla.
• 20 whisk in chocolate mixture.
• 21 set saucepan in ice and stir until cooled, about 2 minutes.
• 22 fold in whipped cream.
• 23 spread over cheesecake and refrigerate until set.
• 24 remove sides of pan.
• 25 garnish with dessert decorations and whipped cream, if desired.
• 26 refrigerate leftovers.