Dark Chocolate Mocha Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups chocolate cookies, finely crushed
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar
• 2 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, 80 g (70% cocoa if possible)
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened (about 500 g)
• 4 eggs, room temp
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee (decaf works fine)
• 2 -3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 ounce dark chocolate

Recipe

• 1 butter sides & bottom of an 8" springform pan.
• 2 combine cookie crumbs, butter & sugar in mixer.
• 3 press mixture evenly onto pan bottom.
• 4 melt chocolate in double-boiler & stir smooth.
• 5 beat cream cheese until smooth, then add eggs, one at a time.
• 6 gradually add sugar, mixing well until blended.
• 7 add melted chocolate, coffee & stir to blend.
• 8 turn mixture into prepared pan.
• 9 bake at 350° (180°c) for 1 hour or until center is almost set. firms when chilled.
• 10 cool on counter for 45 min., cover & chill overnight.
• 11 remove pan sides. sprinkle with powdered sugar from a sieve to prettify and decorate with chocolate leaves (see below.).
• 12 chocolate leaves:.
• 13 melt chocolate in double-boiler.
• 14 brush on cleaned & dried fresh leaves (ficus work well).
• 15 place on small, paper-lined pan & freeze overnight.
• 16 peel leaves & put back in the freezer until time to place on cake & serve.
• 17 hint: leave stem on each leaf to hold onto as you brush on the melted chocolate. be generous with the chocolate - too thin a layer and the leaf crumbles when you try to peel it. pile them artfully in center or however you want and they just take the cake!