Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake (Printable)

A rich, creamy cheesecake with dark chocolate base and sweet cherry topping

# What You'll Need:

→ Crust

01 - 7 oz chocolate graham crackers or chocolate cookies, crushed
02 - 5.5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
04 - Pinch of salt

→ Cheesecake Filling

05 - 8 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped
06 - 32 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 3 large eggs, at room temperature
09 - 1/2 cup sour cream
10 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
11 - 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
12 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Cherry Topping

13 - 12 oz fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
14 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
15 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
16 - 2 tbsp water
17 - 1 tbsp cornstarch

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 340°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the base with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, mix crushed chocolate cookies, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool.
03 - Melt dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water (double boiler); let cool slightly.
04 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Mix in sour cream, vanilla, flour, and salt until just combined. Fold in melted chocolate.
05 - Pour filling over the cooled crust, smoothing the top. Tap the pan gently to release air bubbles. Bake for 50–55 minutes, until edges are set but the center is slightly jiggly. Turn off oven, crack the door, and let cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
06 - Remove from oven, run a knife around the edge, and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
07 - In a saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, lemon juice, and water. Cook over medium heat until cherries release juices (about 5 minutes). Mix cornstarch with a little cold water, stir into cherries, and simmer until thickened (2–3 minutes). Cool completely.
08 - Spread cherry topping over the chilled cheesecake before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The combination of bittersweet dark chocolate and tart cherries creates the most sophisticated flavor balance
  • Despite its impressive appearance, the recipe comes together with minimal hands on effort
  • The cheesecake actually improves after a night in the fridge, making it perfect for make ahead entertaining
02 -
  • Rushing the room temperature ingredients step will result in a lumpy textured cheesecake
  • The center should still jiggle slightly when you remove it from the oven as it continues cooking while cooling
  • Letting the cheesecake cool gradually in the oven with the door cracked prevents those dreaded surface cracks
03 -
  • Always bake cheesecake on the middle oven rack to prevent the top from browning too quickly
  • If you notice excessive cracking, a sour cream topping or fresh fruit can hide any imperfections

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