CHOCOLATE CHERRY CHEESECAKE

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Crust:

1-1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs (about 18 wafers)
2 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. melted butter or margarine


Filling:

2 (250 g or 8-oz) packages cream cheese
1 (125 g or 4-oz) package cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup whipping cream
3 medium eggs
1 (19-oz.) can cherry pie filling
2 tbsp. chocolate cherry liqueur (optional)
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 oz. grated semi-sweet chocolate

Combine chocolate wafer crumbs, 2 tbsp. sugar and melted butter.
Press into bottom of 9 inch spring form pan. Bake in moderate
oven, 350 degrees, for 10 minutes. Cool. Reduce oven temperature
to 300 degrees.

Have cream cheese at room temperature. Beat in large mixing bowl
at medium speed until creamy. Gradually beat in the one cup of
sugar and cocoa. Add vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat
until smooth. Pour over chocolate crust. Bake in slow oven, 300
degrees, about one hour until center of cake is firm. Remove
from oven and cool to room temperature.

Combine cherry pie filling with liqueur, if being used. Pour
over cooled cheesecake.

Add the two tbsp. sugar and vanilla to whipping cream in bowl.
Whip until stiff. Spoon onto cake, covering evenly. Chill
several hours before serving.

Decorate with grated chocolate. Makes 10 to 12 servings. This
cheesecake freezes well.
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