Guinness Anniversary Cheesecake Food

CHOCOLATE-GUINNESS CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Liberally butter a 9 inch springform pan, then wrap the base in heavy-duty foil. Set a kettle on to boil.
• In a small bowl, mix the crushed chocolate cookies, butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, and cocoa until well moistened. Press into the bottom of the prepared springform pan; use a glass or measuring cup to pack the crust down firmly.
• Place the cream cheese in a large bowl (or the work bowl of a stand mixer) and beat with an electric mixer set to low speed until smooth. Slowly add 1 cup sugar, then the eggs, one at a time. Continue beating until smooth.
• Combine the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Beat the chocolate into the cream cheese mixture. Add the sour cream, salt, beer, and vanilla; blend until smooth. Pour the mixture over the crust. Place the pan into a large, deep baking dish. Place the pan on the middle rack of your oven. Fill the dish with boiling water halfway up the side of the springform pan.
• Bake the cheesecake in the water bath in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Turn oven off, leaving the cheesecake in the oven with oven door slightly ajar another 45 minutes; remove from oven. Run a thin knife along the edge of the cheesecake to loosen from pan. Chill in refrigerator at least 4 hours.
• Melt the semisweet chocolate in a small bowl using the microwave (stir every 20 seconds until fully melted). Make chocolate clovers by dropping 3 small drops of melted chocolate close to one another on waxed paper. Drag a toothpick from between two dots outward to make the stem; chill until hardened. Arrange the chocolate clovers on top of the chilled cheesecake for decoration.

THE BEST CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Put the butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl, cover with a paper towel and melt in the microwave in 10-second increments. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the melted butter.
• Stir together the remaining butter with the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and salt. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly to the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool. Place the pan on a large sheet of foil and wrap up the sides. Place in a roasting pan.
• For the cheesecake: Beat together the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat until just combined. Mix in the eggs by hand, one at a time, until just combined. (Take care not to overmix or the cheesecake will puff up and crack.) Pour the batter evenly over the crust, smoothing the top. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the foil-wrapped springform pan. Bake until the outside of the cake is set but the center is still slightly loose, about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
• Run a knife around the edge of the pan once more and unlock to unmold the cheesecake. Transfer to a serving platter or cake stand and smooth the edges with a knife.

GUINNESS® CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a bowl; press into an 8-inch springform pan.
• Combine cream cheese, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a bowl until smooth; stir beer into cream cheese mixture until batter is thin and smooth. Pour batter over graham cracker crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheesecake is puffed and set in the middle, 40 to 60 minutes. Cool completely.
• Melt chocolate chips and cream in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Pour over cooled cheesecake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours to overnight.