This Death by Chocolate Cheesecake recipe is for true chocoholics only. It’s the definition of chocolate decadence. There’s chocolate in FOUR forms: chocolate graham cracker crust, double chocolate filling (both cocoa powder and melted chocolate), and a chocolate ganache topping.
If you’ve ever muttered, “this is too rich and chocolaty” in your life than this may not be the recipe for you.
Besides the delightful chocolate flavor, the texture in this recipe is simply incredible. You get that perfect contrast of a slightly crunchy yet buttery crust, rich and smooth filling, and fudgy ganache topping.
I made this cheesecake for Father’s Day this past weekend and everyone loved it! You can serve alongside fresh strawberries or raspberries to really complement the chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe Tips
Chocolate Cookie Crust
This recipe calls for 15 “full size” chocolate graham crackers, meaning the entire rectangular sheet of graham cracker. This should weigh 225 grams or 8 ounces. If you’re using pre-ground crumbs, it should be 1 cup crumbs.
You could also make an Oreo cookie crust if you’d prefer! Simply swap in 30 (340 grams) standard whole Oreo cookies (NOT double-stuffed) and reduce the butter to 4 tablespoons (57 grams).
Cheesecake Filling
Be sure to use high quality full-fat bricks of cream cheese. It really makes a difference! And whatever you don’t, don’t use cream cheese that’s for spreading on a bagel.
The cream cheese should be completely room temperature. If it’s too cold, it won’t mix thoroughly and you’ll end up with little bits and pockets of unblended cream cheese. For best results, make sure your eggs are room temperature too!
Really beat the cream cheese well before adding in any other ingredients. You’ll also want to routinely scrape down the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl, even if you’re using a paddle attachment that scrapes as it blends.
Baking Cheesecake without a Water Bath
There is no water bath required for this recipe! I decided to skip that hassle because even if some cracks form, we’re covering the cheesecake with thick chocolate ganache which will hide any imperfections.
To prevent cracks without the need for a messy water bath, we use the oven door trick. Once the cheesecake is almost done baking, turn off the oven but leave the cheesecake inside. Crack the oven door just slightly to allow the oven to lose some of that heat. The key to preventing cracks is to baby the cheesecake. Any dramatic changes in temperature will cause cracks to form! If you want more tips for baking cheesecake without cracks, check out my free Ultimate Cheesecake Guide.
That’s why it’s also important to allow the cheesecake to cool to room temperature completely before chilling. When it comes to cheesecake, it’s always better to err on the side of underbaking than over-baking. The edges should be set and dry, but if the center is still slightly wobbly or jiggly that’s fine. The residual heat will continue to cook the cheesecake even once it’s removed from the oven.
In my online baking class The Magic of Baking, I go in-depth in this concept and others so that you can know with confidence when something is truly done.
Serving & Storing Cheesecake
The hardest part of this recipe is that you must let it chill for at least 4 hours before you even think of slicing and serving it! I usually like to let it chill overnight, just to make sure it’s completely set and I’m able to cut clean slices. Use a sharp knife and run it under hot water in between cuts for beautiful bakery-quality slices.
Store the cheesecake in the fridge for up to 2 days.
wonderful cheesecake recipe.and perfect for next dinner party since the chocolate seems to add a little more panache, or something, anyway, it looks good, so thank you
Made chocolate whip cream too. Added raspberries also. Was soo good and rich.
can this be reduced to half the recipe??????
What brand of chocolate do you use?
It took two days to make it but so good I shared it with my entire family. If you love real cheese cake you will love it. Am going to make it for Thanksgiving.
How do I test if the cheesecake is cooked completely ?
This cheesecake recipe is amazing! I made this about a month ago and added a layer of homemade salted caramel before the ganache, and it was SO GOOD.
I made it again tonight (per a friend’s request) and I added a small dash of vanilla extract to it with the melted chocolate. I don’t get to try the finished product but the batter tasted pretty delicious. I’ll be added more salted caramel and the ganache once it’s out of the fridge. Thank you for this recipe!
Can this be made in an instant pot?
I love chocolate cheesecake and have tried several recipes, but this recipe is by far my favorite. This chocolate cheesecake is so rich and decadent and is a chocolate lover’s dream. I love it! I used to be so intimidated to make homemade cheesecakes, but this recipe is so easy to follow and all of the tips are super helpful. If you love cheesecake and chocolate, then you will for sure love this recipe!
Just to confirm, no water bath and cheesecake bakes at 325 degrees like the crust as well? Maybe I missed that part? Thank you!
When is the best time to add the ganache topping? Before the 4 hour (or overnight) chill, or after?
Tessa, I would love to make this for my sisters for our birthdays (all September) as we all love chocolate and we all love cheesecake. Does it get any better? So the question is this: I am just getting the idea or nuance of flavor (Ok, what that means is I like intense flavor and sometimes overdo it!). I love 60% chocolate chips, but is that too much for this ganache? Would it be better with regular semi-sweet chocolate chips, or is it a matter of preference? Thank you for always responding to our questions!!