How to Make Chocolate Chai Cheesecake

In what little free time I have, I like to play in the kitchen. I've somehow managed to acquire a knack for cheesecake, and came up with this one whilst planning for Blogathon in 2007. My friend John at the Boulevard Market in Tecumseh, MI made the cream cheese by hand, lending this cheesecake a rich, velvety texture that just cannot be duplicated by commercial cream cheese.

Make friends with your local cheesemaker, folks. The best dishes always have the freshest ingredients.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 1/2 cups crushed chocolate chip cookies
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 pound softened cream cheese - mine is freshly made by John Aylward!
• 2 cups heavy sour cream
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 ounce grated dark chocolate
• 1 bar Dagoba Chai chocolate, grated
• 9 inch springform pan

1. Make the crust - combine crushed cookies and butter, then press hard into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.

2. 

   Beat together cream cheese, sugar, salt, vanilla, cinnamon and chocolate until just smooth.

3. Add eggs, beating at low speed til just combined, then stir in sour cream.

4. Turn into the crust and bake at 375F for 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Resources

• The Boulevard Market in Tecumseh, MI