German Chocolate Cheesecake With Coconut Pecan Topping Food

BAKER'S GERMAN'S CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F if using a silver 9-inch springform pan (or to 325°F if using a dark nonstick 9-inch springform pan). Mix chocolate wafer crumbs, 2 Tbsp. of the sugar and 3 Tbsp. butter; press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 min.
• Beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the sugar and the flour in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add chocolate and 2 tsp. of the vanilla; mix well. Add 3 of the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 45 to 50 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• Place milk, remaining sugar, the 1/4 cup butter, remaining egg and remaining 1/2 tsp. vanilla in small saucepan; cook on medium-low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in coconut and pecans. Cool. Spread over cheesecake just before serving. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position racks in the middle and lower third of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Make the crust: Wrap the outside (bottom and side) of a 9-inch springform pan with foil. Coat the inside of the pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper. Pulse the graham crackers, butter, sugar and salt in a food processor until fine moist crumbs form, about 1 minute. Press evenly into the bottom and 1/4 inch up the side of the prepared pan. Bake until set, about 15 minutes; transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Make the topping: Line 2 baking sheets with foil. Spread the coconut on one and the pecans on the other. Bake, stirring the coconut once or twice, until the coconut and pecans are toasted, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool. Pulse the pecans in the food processer until coarsely chopped; transfer to a small bowl. Combine the butter, egg yolks, sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reduces and caramelizes slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in the chopped pecans and 1 1/2 cups coconut (reserve the remaining coconut for topping). Set aside to cool.
• Make the cheesecake: Fill a roasting pan halfway with water and set on the lower oven rack. Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted; let cool to lukewarm. Wipe out the food processor; add the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder and salt and pulse until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides. Add the melted chocolate, sour cream and vanilla; pulse until combined.
• Transfer about half of the batter to the prepared crust; smooth with a spatula. Spoon about two-thirds of the topping evenly over the batter. Top with the remaining batter; smooth the top. Set on the middle oven rack (directly over the pan of water) and bake until set around the edge but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until cold and set, at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Run a thin knife around the edge of the cheesecake and remove the springform ring. Microwave the remaining topping to soften, about 30 seconds (stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons water to loosen, if necessary). Spread on top of the cheesecake; top with the reserved coconut.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter, coconut and pecans.
• Press evenly into bottom and 1/2-inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Cool slightly.
• Increase oven temperature to 375°F.
• In a saucepan, melt the chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat; cool.
• In large bowl, beat the cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, sour cream and vanilla with electric mixer until thoroughly combined.
• Add the flour and beat well.
• Add the eggs and cooled chocolate all at once; beat on low speed until just combined.
• Spoon into cooled crust.
• Place on shallow baking pan in oven.
• Bake at 375°F for 45 to 50 minutes or until center appears nearly set when shaken.
• Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes.
• Loosen cake from sides of pan.
• Cool 30 minutes longer; remove sides of pan.
• Cool completely on wire rack.
• To make Coconut-Pecan Topping: In small saucepan, melt butter.
• Stir in brown sugar, half and half and corn syrup.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until it is bubbly.
• Stir in coconut, pecans and vanilla.
• Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
• Spread Coconut-Pecan Topping over cheesecake.
• Cover and refrigerate for 3 to 24 hours.
• Garnish with pecan halves dipped half-way in chocolate.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust: In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar and cocoa.
• Add egg, butter and vanilla.
• Beat with mixer till well combined.
• With well buttered fingers, press dough into the bottom of greased 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake crust at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly brown.
• Set crust aside to cool (in pan) while mixing filling.
• Filling: In large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar& sour cream.
• Beat with mixer till smooth.
• Add eggs and yolk one at a time.
• Beat well after each addition.
• Beat in vanilla.
• Stir in chocolate.
• Pour filling over crust.
• Bake at 350° for 15 minutes, lower temp to 200° and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until center is no longer shiny or wet looking.
• Remove cake from oven, and run a knife around the inside edge of pan.
• Chill cake uncovered overnight!
• Coconut Pecan Topping: Melt butter in small saucepan.
• Stir in sugar, evap milk and egg yolk.
• Cook and stir over low heat about 10 minutes or till thickened.
• Stir in 2/3 cup coconut, chopped pecans and vanilla.
• Spread topping over cake.
• Garnish: (optional) Garnish with 1/3 cup coconut, pecan halves and chocolate curls.
• Keep cake in refrigerator till time to serve.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH COCONUT PECAN TOPPING

Steps:

• FOR THE CHOCOLATE COOKIE CRUST: In a medium bowl stir together flour, sugar, and cocoa powder. Add egg, butter or margarine, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer till well combined. With generously greased fingers, press the dough evenly onto the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes or till lightly browned. Remove from oven and set aside.
• FOR THE CHOCOLATE FILLING: In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream. Beat with an electric mixer till smooth. Add eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Stir in melted chocolate. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust.
• Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. LOWER the temperature to 200°F and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or till the center no longer looks wet or shiny. Remove the cake from the oven and run a knife around the inside edge of the pan. Chill, uncovered, overnight.
• FOR THE COCONUT PECAN TOPPING: In a small saucepan melt the butter or margarine. Stir in sugar, evaporated milk, and egg yolk. Cook and stir over low heat about 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 2/3 cup of the coconut, chopped pecans, and vanilla extract. Spread over the chilled cake. Garnish with remaining coconut, pecan halves, and chocolate curls. Chill till serving time. Makes 12 to 18 slices.
• Cheesecake Extraordinaire.