Hint of Chocolate & Caramel Cheesecake

 

This is an original recipe not adapted from anywhere.  Since being snowed in all day yesterday during Snowstorm Nemo, I had the opportunity to research methods and measurements to create my own creation.

 

Ingredients:

 

Crust-

• 1 stick of butter, melted
• 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
• 1 Tbsp of brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup of granulated white sugar
• 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Filling-

• 3 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese
• 1 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 Tbsp flour

Topping-

• 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Caramel sauce of your choice (I used the one available in the produce section)

Directions:

 

1) Mix butter and graham cracker crumbs in medium bowl. with a wooden spoon.  Crumble in brown sugar and white sugar and mix.  Press mixture into bottom and slightly up sides of a non-stick springform pan.  Bake at 325 for 10 minutes.

 

2) Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with 1/4 cup chocolate chips, leave for a moment and then lightly spread now melted chips with spatula.  (Adding this layer creates an added hardness to the crumb layer and a similar s'mores like taste to the cheesecake overall.)  Set aside.

 

3) In large bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer.  Add white sugar and vanilla and beat until mixed.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each one.  Lastly, add sour cream and flour and beat once more.

 

4) Pour filling onto prepared crust.  Bake at 425 for 10 mins, then reduce oven temp to 325 and continue making for about 55 mins. 

(Do not open oven during cooking, use oven light to see how it's doing.  I noticed it cracked circularly around the entire edge and puffed up like a soufflé would.

 

5) Remove from oven to cool on wire rack.   After being out for about 5 minutes, cheesecake will deflate back down to look normal.  Sprinkle with last 1/4 cup of chocolate chips.  Warmness of cheesecake will act like glue to adhere them on.  After about an hour of cooling, drizzle with caramel sauce. (I melted mine in the microwave for a minute for a smoother consistency.)  Transfer cheesecake to refrigerator, wire rack included. (As bottom of springform pan remains super hot.  (Chill for at least 4 hours)

 

6) Enjoy!!!!