Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Food

CHOCOLATE ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa and butter. Press onto the bottom of a 9-in. springform pan; chill. , In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, and remaining sugar until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon extract and remaining cocoa. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. , Pour into crust. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until the 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. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan., In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and remaining extract; beat until stiff peaks form. Spread evenly over cheesecake. Sprinkle with almonds. Store in refrigerator.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine crust ingredients; reserve 2 tablespoons for garnish. Press remaining crumbs evenly onto the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan. Chill. , For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the sour cream, chocolate and extract. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust., Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes (filling will not be set). Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes., Meanwhile, combine topping ingredients. Gently spread over filling. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 10 minutes longer. , Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Garnish with sliced, toasted almonds if desired.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the chocolate graham crackers and the almonds to a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and salt and process to the consistency of wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and almonds. Using your fingers, work in the butter until the mixture has the texture of a crumble topping. Set aside.
• For the filling: Place the cream cheese, sugar and yogurt in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt; beat another minute on medium. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate until combined. Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping.
• Bake until the center of the cake is just set, 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled.
• Serve cold, with a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE BITES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F. Cut 14x12-inch sheet of heavy-duty foil; line 8-inch square pan with foil so foil extends over sides of pan. Spray foil with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press in bottom of pan.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in egg and almond extract, scraping bowl if necessary. Pour over crust.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until edges are set (center will be soft but will set when cool). Cool on cooling rack 1 hour. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour. Meanwhile, cover 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper.
• Remove cheesecake from pan by lifting foil. Cut into 8 rows by 6 rows, making 48 oblong cheesecake bites. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and shortening uncovered on Medium (50%) 3 minutes. Stir; microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
• Work with half of bites at a time (24 bites); refrigerate other half until needed. Place 1 bite on fork and dip fork into chocolate to coat. Lift fork from chocolate and allow excess chocolate to drain off. Place on 1 waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Repeat with second half of bites and second waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave candy coating and oil uncovered on High 1 minute. Stir; microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until melted. Spoon into small resealable food-storage plastic bag. Seal bag; cut tiny hole in corner of bag. Pipe melted coating over dipped bites. Store covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Wrap bottom and sides of 9-inch springform pan with wide heavy-duty foil. In medium bowl, stir together cookie crumbs and melted butter until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press evenly into bottom and 1 inch up sides of pan. Bake 6-8 minutes or until set; cool on wire rack.
• Place 6 oz. chopped chocolate in medium heatproof bowl; place over saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until chocolate is smooth and melted; remove bowl from saucepan.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar at low speed until smooth. Beat in flour. Beat in 2 of the eggs just until combined; repeat with remaining 2 eggs. Scrape down sides of bowl. Beat in sour cream and vanilla just until blended.
• Reserve 2 C batter in another medium bowl; stir in 1 t almond extract.
• Stir melted chocolate into batter in large bowl until completely blended; pour into crust. Place pan in large shallow roasting or broiler pan. Fill with hot tap water halfway up sides of springform pan.
• Bake 35 minutes. Carefully slide out oven rack several inches. Pour reserved almond batter evenly over cheesecake. Bake 25 minutes or until edges are puffed and top is dry to the touch. Remove cake from water bath; remove foil. Place on wire rack; cool for about 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, place 6 oz finely chopped chocolate in another large bowl. Place cream, 2 T butter and corny syrup in heavy medium saucepan; heat over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until hot. Remove saucepan from heat as soon as first bubble appears; pour over chocolate. Let stand 1 minute to soften; stir until mixture is smooth and chocolate is melted. Stir in 1/2 t almond extract. Cool to room temperature. Pour glaze over cooled cheesecake in pan, spreading evenly over top. Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND MARBLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs, almonds, 1/4 cup sugar and melted butter. Mix well. Press into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 10 inch springform pan.
• In the top of a double boiler, heat chocolate, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Fold in the almond extract and sour cream. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the filling into a smaller bowl. Stir the melted chocolate into the smaller bowl, then fold loosely back into plain filling. Pour into crust. With the tip of a knife, swirl the filling to create a marbled effect.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Turn off oven and let cake cool in oven for 1 hour, with the door closed. Cool at room temperature, then refrigerate overnight.

CHOCOLATE-FRANGELICO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Wrap foil tightly around outside of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Finely grind graham cracker cookies in processor. Add butter and process until blended. Press mixture onto bottom (not sides) of prepared pan. Set aside.
• For filling
• Blend cream cheese, 2/3 cup sugar, sour cream and cornstarch in processor. Add eggs, yolk and vanilla; process until well blended, scraping down sides of processor occasionally. Transfer 3/4 cup cream cheese mixture to small bowl; set aside. Add Frangelico, almonds and almond extract to remaining cream cheese mixture in processor. Blend well, using on/off turns. Spoon 2 1/2 cups Frangelico mixture over crust.
• Mix cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons sugar into reserved 3/4 cup cream cheese mixture. Spoon 2/3 cup cocoa mixture over Frangelico mixture in pan. Spoon remaining Frangelico mixture over cocoa mixture. Drop remaining cocoa mixture over by spoonfuls. Run tip of small knife through batter several times to marbleize.
• Bake cheesecake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake cake until sides are puffed and center is set, about 45 minutes. Transfer cake to rack. Using small knife, cut around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cool cake completely in pan. Cover; chill overnight. Remove pan sides from cake. Cut into wedges and serve.

LOW-CARB CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, whisk flour and sugar substitute. In another bowl, whisk eggs, melted butter and vanilla until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Pour into a greased 11x7-in. baking dish., For cheesecake layer, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar substitute until smooth. Beat in sour cream and vanilla. Add egg; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with white and chocolate baking chips. For crumble layer, mix almond flour and sugar substitute. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over chips., Bake until center is just set and edges are golden brown, 40-45 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours or overnight before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BREAKFAST DONUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Generously spray or brush a nonstick donut pan with cooking spray; set aside until needed.
• Place eggs, vegetable oil, and maple syrup into a mixing bowl and whisk thoroughly until the mixture is emulsified, light, and a little bit foamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add almond flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder; mix everything together thoroughly with a spatula until all the almond flour is incorporated and you've achieved a very thick batter.
• Transfer batter into a pastry bag, or a plastic zip-top bag with one of the corners cut off. Pipe the batter evenly into the prepared donut pan.
• Dip a finger in water and smooth the tops of the batter to even out. Tap the pan on a work surface a few times to settle the batter even more.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until a wooden skewer inserted into a donut comes out clean, 9 to 10 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire cooling rack. Cool completely before serving.

CHERRY CHEESECAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• In a food processor pulse almonds until ground. Add chocolate wafer cookies and grind fine. Add butter, sugar, almond extract, and salt and pulse until combined well. Transfer mixture to a 9-inch springform pan and press evenly onto bottom and 1 inch up side. Bake crust in middle of oven 10 minutes and transfer to a rack to cool. Crust may be made 3 days ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.
• Make topping:
• In a very small bowl sprinkle gelatin over water and let stand about 1 minute to soften. In a heavy saucepan bring cherries, sugar, and lemon juice to a boil, stirring. Remove pan from heat and reserve 1/2 cup juice for filling. To mixture remaining in pan add gelatin mixture and almond extract and stir until gelatin is dissolved.
• Make filling:
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Beat in flour and add eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in sour cream, vanilla, and reserved cherry juice until combined well.
• Pour filling into crust and bake in middle of oven 50 minutes. (Cake will not be set in center but will set as it cools.) Transfer cake in pan to a rack to cool completely. Chill cake, loosely covered, 1 hour. Remove side of pan and transfer cake to a plate. Spread topping evenly over cake. Chill cake, loosely covered, at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.