Hollywood Black Mint Cheesecake

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 8 1/2 ounces chocolate wafers
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 1/2 cups mint chocolate chips, divided
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon creme de menthe
• 1 1/2 lbs cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups sour cream

Recipe

• 1 crust:.
• 2 generously butter a 9" springform pan. break chocolate wafers into a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form.
• 3 add melted butter and pulse until just blended.
• 4 press crumb mixture onto bottom and 2" up sides of the prepared pan. refrigerate. (can be prepared a day ahead).
• 5 chocolate layer:.
• 6 preheat over to 325 and position rack in lower third of oven.
• 7 place 1 1/4 cups mint chocolate chips together with water in microwave-safe bowl, microwave on medium setting until melted, approximately 1 1/2 minutes in 30 second increments.
• 8 blend in cream de menthe. spoon chocolate mixture over bottom of crust, using back of a spoon to spread evenly. set aside.
• 9 filling:.
• 10 place cream cheese in large bowl. using a mixer, mix for 30 seconds until smooth and creamy. add sugar in a steady stream, mixing for about 1 1/2 minutes.
• 11 mixing on low speed, add eggs, vanilla and sour cream, blending well.
• 12 pour the filling over the chocolate, starting around the sides and then filling in the middle. bake for 50 minutes.
• 13 at the end of 50 minutes, turn off oven and leave cake in oven for an additional hour without opening oven door. remove from oven.
• 14 chop remaining 1/4 cup chocolate mint chips and sprinkle evenly over surface of warm cake. cool on rack for 3 hours, then refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving.
• 15 to serve, run a thin knife around edge of pan and carefully remove the rim. serve in wedges.
• 16 passive work time does not include the 24 hours of refrigeration time.