Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake

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

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecans, toasted, chopped
• 4 (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate squares
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsel
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 7 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• fresh mint sprig (optional)
• sliced strawberry (optional)

Recipe

• 1 sprinkle 1/2 cup toasted and chopped pecans evenly over the bottom of each of 2 greased and floured 9-inch springform pans.
• 2 microwave chocolate squares in a microwave-safe bowl at medium (50% power) 1 1/2 minutes, stirring at 30-second intervals until melted.
• 3 stir until smooth.
• 4 beat butter and 2 cups sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
• 5 add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
• 6 add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
• 7 add flour, beating at low speed just until blended.
• 8 stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and chocolate morsels.
• 9 divide batter evenly between pans, spreading over chopped pecans.
• 10 beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; add 1 3/4 cups sugar, beating until well blended.
• 11 add 7 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
• 12 stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla.
• 13 divide cream cheese mixture evenly between each pan, spreading over brownie batter.
• 14 bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until set.
• 15 remove from oven; cool cheesecakes completely on wire racks.
• 16 spread top of each cooled cheesecake with 1 recipe chocolate glaze; cover and chill 8 hours.
• 17 remove sides of pans before serving. garnish with mint sprigs and sliced strawberries, if desired.
• 18 chocolate glaze:.
• 19 melt 1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels and 1/2 cup whipping cream in a 2-quart microwave-safe bowl at medium (50% power) 2 1/2 to 3 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt.
• 20 whisk until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. if you wish, double the chocolate glaze recipe if making two cheesecakes.
• 21 makes about 2 cups.