Chocolaty Almond Cheesecake Food

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

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

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:

• In a bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, almonds and sugar; stir in butter.
• Press onto the bottom and 1 3/4 inches up the sides of a greased 9 inch springform pan.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• In a small saucepan, soften gelatin in milk; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until gelatin is dissolved.
• Cool to room temperature, about 6 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream and almonds extract until smooth.
• Beat in melted chocolate and gelatin mixture.
• Fold in whipped cream.
• Spoon into crust.
• Cover and chill for 6 hours or overnight.
• Just before serving, run a knife around edge of pan to loosen.
• Remove sides of pan.
• Garnish with chocolate kisses, almonds and additional whipped cream.
• Refrigerate leftovers.

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.

ALMOND WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• FOR THE CRUST:.
• Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat ot 350°F.
• Butter 9-inch springform pan with 2 3/4 inch sides.
• Grind shortbreads and almonds in a food processor. Add butter and process until clumps form. Press the dough into the pan bottom. Bake until golden brown - about 8 minutes. Cool crust completely. But maintain oven temperature.
• FOR THE FILLING:.
• In top of double boiler set over barely simmering water, stir white chocolate until it is melted. Remove pan from water.
• Using a mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until completely blended and smooth. Add sour cream and Amaretto and beat until well-blended. Beat 1 egg at a time, then beat in melted chocolate.
• Pour filling into crust and bake until golden and puffed. Center will be set in just about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cool pan on rack and refrigerate until cold.
• Before serving, run a knife around the sides of the spring-form pan to loosen the cake. Remove the pan sides and smooth the sides of the cake with a knife or spatula. Transfer the caker to a platter, garnish with additional chopped, toasted almonds and serve.

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.

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.

CHOCOLATE-MARBLED ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• heat oven to 325*F.
• in large mixer bowl combine sugar and cream cheese. beat at medium speed scraping bowl often until light and fluffy.
• continue beating, adding eggs one at a time, until creamy.
• add remaining ingredients except chocolate chips and almonds.
• continue beating, scraping bowl often until well mixed.
• by hand fold in melted chocolate chips to swirl chocolate throughout batter for marble effect.
• lightly butter 9" springform pan; press almonds firmly on bottom of pan.
• pour batter into prepared pan.
• bake for 65 to 75 minutes or until set.
• turn off oven; leave cheesecake in oven for 2 hours.
• loosen sides of cheesecake from pan by running knife around inside of pan.
• cool completely.
• cover, refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
• store refrigerated.

CHOCOLATE-GLAZED COCONUT ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, coconut and almonds; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325°., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in coconut extract. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in coconut. Pour into crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to larger pan. , Bake 45-55 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes; loosen sides from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., For glaze, place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Cool slightly to reach a spreading consistency, stirring occasionally., Remove rim from pan. Spread glaze over cheesecake. Refrigerate 1 hour or until set. Top with toasted coconut and almonds if desired.

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.