Decadent Black Forest Cheesecake
A rich and creamy cheesecake combining chocolate, cherries, and a crunchy crust, perfect for special occasions.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1.5 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs (or Oreo cookie crumbs) Use Oreo crumbs for a richer flavor.
- 0.25 cups granulated sugar
- 0.5 cups unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 24 oz cream cheese, softened 3 (8-ounce) packages
- 1 cups granulated sugar
- 0.5 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 large eggs
- 0.5 cups sour cream
- 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled slightly
- 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Toppings
- 0.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- as needed pieces Fresh cherries or maraschino cherries For garnish.
- as needed Whipped cream For serving.
- as needed Chocolate shavings For garnish.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine the chocolate graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Mix until well combined and press into the bottom of the pan.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool.
Make Filling
- Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and cocoa powder, mixing until combined.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition. Mix in sour cream and vanilla extract, then fold in melted chocolate chips.
- Pour over cooled crust.
Bake Cheesecake
- Place the cheesecake pan inside a larger baking dish and fill with hot water (water bath method).
- Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 55-60 minutes until edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.
- Turn off the oven and let cool in the oven for 1 hour.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Prepare Ganache and Serve
- Heat heavy cream until simmering. Pour over chocolate chips and let sit for 2-3 minutes. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool slightly before pouring over the cheesecake.
- Once the cheesecake is chilled and ganache is set, spread cherry pie filling over the top.
- Garnish with fresh cherries, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings.
- Carefully remove from the springform pan, slice, and enjoy!
Notes
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid lumps in the batter. Use a water bath to help bake the cheesecake evenly and prevent cracks. Feel free to use fresh cherries if you prefer over canned pie filling.