Prize Winning Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Yummy Yummy Yummy !!!!!!!! Time consuming but worth it. Makes me miss my spring form pan that broke. After posting this I may just go get a new one today.

• Ready In: 1 hr 40 mins
• Serves: 10
• Yields: 1 cheesecake

Ingredients

• Crust

• 1 1⁄4 cups  chocolate wafer crumbs (about 18 wafers)
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 3  tablespoons  melted butter or 3  tablespoons margarine

• Filling

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1 (4 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1  cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup  cocoa
• 2  teaspoons vanilla
• 1  cup  whipping cream
• 3  medium eggs
• 1 (19 ounce) can cherry pie filling
• 2  tablespoons  chocolate  cherry flavored liqueur (optional)
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄4 ounce  grated  semisweet chocolate

Directions

1. Combine chocolate wafer crumbs, 2 tablespoons 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.
2. 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.
3. Combine cherry pie filling with liqueur, if being used. Pour over cooled cheesecake.
4. Add the two tablespoons sugar and vanilla to whipping cream in bowl. Whip until stiff. Spoon onto cake, covering evenly. Chill several hours before serving.
5. Decorate with grated chocolate. Makes 10 to 12 servings. This cheesecake freezes well.