Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE CAPPUCINO CHEESECAKE

Category: Cheesecake

3 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate
2 tbsp whipping cream
1 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp instant Espresso; dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup Coffee liqueur
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup whipping cream
2 tbsp confectioners sugar
2 tbsp Coffee liqueur

CHOCOLATE CRUST: Combine 1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs, 1/4 cup soften butter, 2 tbsp sugar and 1/4 tsp cinnamon; Mix well. Press mixture into buttered springform pan; set aside.

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add sugar, mixing until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat at low speed until very smooth.

Melt chocolate with cream over boiling water, stir until smooth. Blend well with cheese mixture. Add sour cream, salt ,coffee liqueur and vanilla; beat until smooth. Turn into pan. Bake in center of oven at 350 for 45 minutes or until sides are puffed. Center will be soft but will firm up when chilled. Turn off oven; leave door ajar. Allow cake to cool in oven for 45 minutes. Cover. Chill for 12 hours.

Whip cream. Flavor with sugar and liqueur. Garnish with mounds of whipped cream and chocolate leaves.

CHOCOLATE LEAVES: Brush real leaves on one side with melted chocolate. Freeze until firm. Peel off leaves. Freeze until needed.