Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake (Print Version)
Luscious creamy cheesecake featuring chocolate crust, strawberry filling, and rich ganache with fresh berries.
# What You Need:
→ Crust
01 - 20 chocolate sandwich cookies (approximately 7 oz)
02 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
→ Filling
03 - 24 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 1 cup granulated sugar
05 - 3 large eggs
06 - 3/4 cup sour cream
07 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 cup strawberry puree (fresh or frozen, blended and strained)
09 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
→ Chocolate Ganache
10 - 6 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
11 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
→ Topping
12 - 1 to 1.5 cups fresh strawberries, halved
13 - 1 oz dark chocolate, melted (optional, for drizzling)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - Pulse chocolate cookies in a food processor until finely crushed. Combine with melted butter. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool slightly.
03 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Blend in sour cream and vanilla.
04 - Whisk strawberry puree with cornstarch until smooth, then fold into the cream cheese batter.
05 - Pour filling over cooled crust. Smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the center is just set and slightly wobbly. Turn off oven, crack the door, and let cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
06 - Remove from oven and run a thin knife around the edge to loosen. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
07 - Heat heavy cream until just simmering, pour over chopped chocolate, and let sit 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Let cool slightly, then spread over chilled cheesecake.
08 - Top with fresh strawberries. Drizzle with melted dark chocolate if desired. Chill 30 minutes before slicing.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of velvety strawberry filling and rich chocolate crust creates this perfect balance that keeps everyone guessing what makes it special
- Despite looking like you spent all day on it, the assembly process is surprisingly forgiving for something so stunning
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable here, cold cream cheese will create lumps that no amount of mixing can fix
- That cooling in the oven with the door cracked is what prevents the dramatic crack down the middle everyone worries about
03 -
- Place a baking sheet on the rack below your cheesecake to catch any butter that might leak from the crust during baking
- Use an offset spatula to spread the ganache, it gives you more control and creates that professional swoop pattern