Chocoholic's Cheesecake #RSC

Ready, Set, Cook! Reynolds Wrap Contest Entry. It was late, the night before my wife's brithday. I am still trying to figure out what to get her for this very special day. Then it hits me, a chocolate cheesecake. I spent the better part of the night quietly preparing this surprise for her, and part of the next day keeping it hid. Her 70th Birthday was very memorable, she loved the cheesecake, and made the comment to my mother, that she is a chocoholic, hence the name; Chocoholic's Cheesecake.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 8-10
• Yields: 1 cheesecake

Ingredients

• Cake Mix Ingredients

•  Reynolds Wrap Foil
•  reynolds parchment paper
• 1⁄2 cup  almonds
• 6  graham crackers
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄3 cup  natural  unsweetened cocoa
• 3  tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3  large  egg whites, at room temperature
• 1  large egg, at room temperature
• 1 (14 ounce) can  condensed milk
• 1⁄4 cup  semisweet chocolate morsel, melted
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Chocolate Topping Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup  semisweet chocolate morsel
• 1⁄4 cup  milk chocolate chips
• 1⁄4 cup  dark chocolate chips
• 3  tablespoons heavy cream
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1  tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1  teaspoon sea salt, to be sprinkled on top when finished

Directions

1. Set the oven rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 300º.
2. Using Reynolds Wrap® Foil, line a 9-inch cake pan with a 20-inch strip of aluminum foil, then using Reynolds Parchment Paper®, cut a circular piece to fit over the aluminum foil. The aluminum foil is used as handles to lift the cheesecake from the cake pan.
3. Place the almonds in a blender and process until you have almond flour.
4. Place the Honey Grahams in a 1 quart zip-loc bag. Remove the air from the bag and seal it. Breakup the grahams by hand, and then using a rolling pin, roll over the bag crushing the grahams into fine crumbs. Place the cracker crumbs, almond flour and sugar in a large jar and shake to combine. Sprinkle the cracker crumbs evenly, into the bottom of the cake pan.
5. Place the cream cheese in an electric stand mixer bowl. Attach the flat beater, and at speed 6 beat until fluffy. Add the cocoa and flour, and mix at speed 2 until incorporated. Add the remaining ingredients, and mix at speed 4 for 2 minutes.
6. Pour the batter slowly into the cake pan. Lightly smooth and level the batter with an angled spatula.
7. Using Reynolds Wrap® Foil, place a 20-inch strip of aluminum foil across a large cake pan. Boil 1-1/2 cups of water, and pour into the large cake pan. Then place the 9-inch cake pan in the larger pan. The aluminum foil is used as handles to lift the cheesecake from the hot water.
8. Place the pan in the middle of the oven, and bake for 50 minutes.
9. Remove the pan from the oven, and carefully remove the 9-inch cake pan from the hot water. Place the 9-inch cake pan back into the oven for 10 minutes, or until the center of the cheesecake is set.
10. Cool the cheesecake on a wire rack for 1 hour, and then place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to cool before starting with the topping.
11. In a Double Boiler, add approximately 1-inch of water to the lower pot. You do not want the water to touch the upper pot when it is in position. Then place the lower pot over medium heat. When the water starts to bubble, turn down the heat just a little to maintain the temperature.
12. Place in the upper pot, the chocolates, milk, vanilla and butter. Place the upper pot atop the lower pot.
13. Use a spoon to stir the chocolate until it is melted and creamy looking. Keep stirring until the chocolate looks like it is of a pouring consistency, adding more milk if needed.
14. Pour the chocolate over the cheesecake, and use a spatula to smooth the chocolate to the outer edge.
15. Sprinkle the Sea Salt evenly over the topping.
16. Cool for 1 hour or more in the refrigerator.
17. Remove the cheesecake from the cake pan and place on a cake stand.