Fondue-Inspired Chocolate Cheesecake

Mmmm. Cheesecake. It has been my favourite dessert since I first tasted and swooned over a real cheesecake when I was in my early teens.

My mother soon added a homemade cheesecake to her baking repertoire and I followed suit by baking cheesecakes when I was in my late teens.

I loved baking different flavours for various holidays…white chocolate cranberry cheesecake at Christmas and pumpkin chocolate cheesecake in the fall.

The rich taste of cream cheese along with an assortment of delicious flavours and toppings make for an amazing dessert to savour.

Who can resist that ‘party in your mouth’ feeling of a creamy cheesecake with it’s velvety rich and smooth taste?

And who remembers those Philly calendars with a different cheesecake recipe for each month of the year? I loved those!

Last summer, I created this cheesecake for my birthday. Yup. I made my own birthday cake. Why? Because making a cheesecake is fun and the result…delicious! I was inspired to create this cheesecake from another dessert that I love…chocolate fondue. It’s become a favourite this year!

This is a wonderful cheesecake to serve during summer with fresh seasonal berries & fruit. It can be changed up to include any fruit your family craves….Mmmm.

Fondue-Inspired Chocolate Cheesecake

{makes 1 cheesecake}

3 packages {250 g} Philadelphia brick cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cup OREO cookie crumbs

1/2 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup sugar

3 eggs

4 squares Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate, melted

1 tablespoon chocolate liqueur

1/2 cup chocolate syrup

2-3 cups various seasonal berries and fruit cut into chunks

2 cups sliced strawberries to go around edge of cake

1/2 cup white chocolate wafers, melted

1/2 cup milk chocolate wafers, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees.

2. Mix crumbs and melted butter. Press crumbs firmly into the bottom of a 9″ springform pan.

4. Beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until blended. Add eggs 1 at a time mixing on low speed until just blended. Stir in melted chocolate liqueur and pour over crust.

5. Bake 40 min, or until centre is set. Remove from oven.

6. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake. Let cake cool completely before removing rim.

7. Refrigerate for 4 hours to let set.

8. Pour chocolate syrup over top of cake. This will help to hold the fruit. Arrange fruit on top. Press sliced strawberries into side of cake as shown.

9. Melt white chocolate wafers and drizzle over fruit. Melt milk chocolate wafers and drizzle over fruit. Let set. Refrigerate until serving time.

Does it not look just totally delish and colourful?