Everybody loves chocolate, right? When we made a poll on our YouTube channel between gingerbread and chocolate-flavored desserts, chocolate won with a landslide. Hence the birth of our best double chocolate cheesecake is too good to be true. It's not using the bain-marie method so guess what? It's going to be a super easy and less hassle one.
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Recipe Highlights
Taste and texture - decadent and creamy chocolate cheesecake filling with Oreo base and yes, chocolate ganache as topping.
Level - easy but with bearing a few things in mind. See tips below. Our amazing baked mini chocolate cheesecakes and blueberry swirl cheesecake bars are as easy!
Method - direct baking (no bain-marie needed).
Occasion - perfect for holidays or to impress, or hey whenever you fancy.
Lets Talk Ingredients
Cream cheese - full fat, please. Pure cream cheese, none of those whipped ones. Could come in bricks or tubs.
SUBSTITUTION: Use mascarpone instead, just know that it'll be double rich.
Greek yogurt - full fat also, please. Sour cream works great as well.
Semisweet chocolate - I use 55% cacao like in my delicious mini salted chocolate tarts. You can use darker chocolate, just know that it'll affect the taste (less sweet).
Brown sugar - any brown type will do for that caramel hint, like what we use in our cinnamon roll cheesecake. White or coconut sugar also works fine.
How To Prevent My Cheesecake From Cracking
Yes, let's talk about that.
The beauty of a baked cheesecake is that smooth top, with no cracks at all. Right? Usually, people use the bain-marie method to achieve that but what if I told you there's a way that's easier and less hassle?
Follow my tips, understand the reason behind them and your cheesecake will never crack, ever again.
Less is more - whisk as little as you possibly can whenever you're mixing ingredients. This prevents incorporating air into the mixture thus avoiding cracking when baked.
Low speed - whether you're using a standing or handheld mixer, always use the lowest speed. Same reason as above.
Low oven temperature - each oven is another world. Make sure you're reading the accurate temperature by using a portable thermometer. I use one like this. Ovens can vary in temperature easily by 20 degrees, and that's too much. Baking at a very low temperature ensures the cheesecake cooks slowly and evenly. It's like mimicking bain-marie.
Conventional mode - meaning your oven only provides heat from the upper and lower part of the oven, without circulating any hot air. Hot air makes the cheesecake (or any baked goods) dry and crack. Convection ovens are also easily 25-35 degrees hotter, which we don't want-same reason as above.
Ingredients temperature - last but not least, make sure you follow the temperature mentioned for each ingredient. Everything is thought of so that mixing all ingredients is easier and faster with less whisking. See the first reason.
More Chocolate Recipes
- No-bake chocolate cheesecake
- No-bake peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake
- Double chocolate fudge cookies
- Nutella stuffed chocolate chunks cookies
Recipe Video
📖 Recipe
The Best Double Chocolate Cheesecake
Video
Ingredients
The Base
- 14 oreo cookies with filling , crushed (1 ½ cup cookie crumbs or 150 g)
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter (45 g)
The Filling
- 12 oz full fat cream cheese (340 g), room temperature
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt (80 g), room temperature
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (55 g), packed
- 2 tablespoon all purpose flour (16 g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon natural cocoa powder (10 g)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 oz semisweet chocolate 55% (170 g), chopped
- 2 large eggs , room temperature
Chocolate Ganache
- 6 oz semisweet chocolate 55% (170 g), chopped
- ¾ cup whipping cream min 35% fat (190 ml)
Instructions
The Base
- Mix cookie crumbs and butter in a bowl, using a spoon. Pour into a 7 inch (18 cm) springform pan and press evenly. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
The Filling
- Using a standing mixer, add all ingredients into the mixing bowl except for semisweet chocolate and eggs. Using the paddle attachment at lowest speed, mix everything well. Do not over mix at any point in this recipe. Set aside.
- In another bowl, melt the semisweet chocolate in microwave or use double boiler. Now pour into the mixing bowl and immediately mix until well incorporated. Set aside.
- In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Now add in the cheese mixture into the egg bowl in 3 additions, mixing well after each addition. Use a hand whisk. Pour the mixture into our prepared pan and spread evenly. Give it a few taps on the kitchen counter.
Baking
- Bake in a preheated oven at 265ºF (130ºC) using a conventional mode (no fan-assisted), at lower ⅔ rack, with upper and lower heat for 55 minutes or until the edges set and the center still wiggle when you lightly shake the pan.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely before chilling it in the fridge for 8 hours. I'd recommend this step as it develops further the flavour.
Chocolate Ganache
- Heat whipping cream in a pot until the second that it starts to boil and then immediately pour into a bowl containing the chopped chocolate. Leave for 30 seconds and then mix everything together using a hand whisk.
Assembling
- Remove cheesecake from the fridge and pour half of chocolate ganache on top. Swirl the pan to help cover all the surface. Place cheesecake back in the fridge while waiting the balance of the ganache is firm enough to pipe.
How To Remove Cheesecake From The Pan
- Run a knife all around the cheesecake to help loosen it up. Release the spring and remove the ring. Run a knife all around under the cheesecake base to loosen it. Insert 2 big flat spatula underneath, on opposite direction. Swiftly yet confidently lift up the cheesecake using the spatulas and place it on a serving plate.
- Pipe the ganache on top and it's ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pack brown sugar (for cup measurement)
- Use portable oven thermometer (like this one) for a more precise temperature reading (I use it too)
- Refer to my post above for ingredients notes and tips
- Like any other cheesecakes and more with this one that has ganache, I don't recommend you to put it out at room temperature for hours as it will effect the texture. 1 hour out max, then place it back in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
The nutrition facts provided are an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Marcie says
I am in the process of making this cheesecake now fingers crossed, and I have one question for that beautiful piping on top with the chocolate ganache. How exactly should I accomplish that because don’t ganache get hard
Bea & Marco says
Hi, Marcie! I used the balance of the ganache, but I chill it in the fridge until it's firm enough to pipe. You can see in the tutorial video how it firms up nicely when piping. Hope it helps and thank you!
Jacquelyn Schechter says
OK.......I've made this cake 3 times (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years). One person said "This is the only cake I want to eat the rest of my life!". Another person said "This cake is better than Sweet Lady Jane). I was told I could open a fine French bakery featuring this cake. Several people called the next day begging for the recipe. The only things I did differently was I used sour cream instead of Greek yogurt..... chocolate whipped cream instead of ganache for the decorative piping....and I added chocolate curls in the top center. Enough said......this is one delicious cake, and thank you for sharing the recipe. Jacquelyn
Bea & Marco says
Hi Jacquelyn! I'm so flattered (and honored!) that our recipe made it into your home during the festive days! It warms my heart to know that ❤️. Thank you so much for your lovely comment and for sharing your twist on the recipe!
Lisa says
Have you tried making this recipe into mini cheesecakes (a chocolate version of your world famous recipe)?
Thank you!
Bea & Marco says
I haven't but it's extremely doable. And I also have mini chocolate cheesecake recipe, do check it out. Hope it helps!
Audrey says
For the ganache do I use whipped cream (like cool whip) or heavy whipping cream?
I’ve made it before and it turned out legendary but I can’t remember!
Bea says
Use heavy whipping cream. Have fun!
madison says
hello, i'd love to make this recipe. how long does it last in the refrigerator?
Bea says
Hi! It's best consumed within 3-4 days. Hope it helps!
Aud says
I’m using a 10 inch pan. What changes do I do?
Bea says
Multiply all ingredients by 1.6. Follow the baking instructions as written above (baking time might vary though). Hope it helps!
Donna maier says
I am thinking about making this chocolate cheesecake soon. I am wondering what type of cocoa powder do you use for this cheesecake natural or dutched process cocoa powder?
Donna Maier says
I see now it says natural Cocoa Sorry, but is there a brand of cocoa powder you prefer? Thanks
Bea says
Hi Donna! Yes, it's natural cocoa. Honestly, I use our local supermarket brand here in Spain (it's called Hacendado). It has good reviews even being a supermarket brand. I used to use Nature's Heart organic raw cocoa until Costo here doesn't bring it anymore. I think any brand with good quality will do. Hope it helps.
Donna says
Thank you! I Plan to make it in July!
Bea says
Awesome! Hope you'll like it as much as I do, thanks Donna!
Ces says
Can i omit greek yogurt on the recipe? I can't find any here in the Philippines 🙂 thanks!
Bea says
Hi! You can substitute it with sour cream if you can't find Greek yogurt. Hope it helps!
Zeke says
If I’m using a 9 inch pan, what changes should I do?
Bea says
Multiply all ingredients by 1.4. Hope it helps.
Nina says
It was so delicious Bea! Can I freeze the balance?
Thank your for sharing.
Bea says
Yes, you can (I do it with all my cheesecakes). Freeze them in portions so that it'll be easier to grab and thaw later. Hope it helps and thank you Nina!
Leena says
Hello
If I double the ingredients should i use the 7 inch pan or i use a bigger one?
Thank you
Bea says
Hi Leena! You can use 2 x 7 inch pans or a 12 inch pan (for the same height). Hope it helps.
Odessa says
I made this for Christmas dessert for.my husband who is a chocolate lover. This was my first time making a cheese cake, but won't be my last. Great recipe with easy directions (I watched the video). Absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Bea says
I'm so happy to know you and your husband liked it, and wow for a first cheesecake, congrats! Keep on cooking and thanks for leaving your comment!