Luxurious Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Recipe You’ll Adore

Whipping up a decadent dark chocolate cherry cheesecake promises pure indulgence for dessert enthusiasts.

Sweet cherries nestled against rich chocolate create an irresistible flavor combination.

Creamy textures meld with intense cocoa notes that dance across your palate.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this dessert brings elegant restaurant-quality pleasure right into your kitchen.

Seasonal fresh cherries elevate the recipe from ordinary to extraordinary.

Each bite delivers a symphony of luxurious chocolate and bright fruit elements.

I guarantee you’ll fall in love with this stunning cheesecake that looks as incredible as it tastes.

Reasons to Crave Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

• Savor Indulgent Chocolate Delight: Dark chocolate and fresh cherries create a luxurious dessert that feels like a gourmet treat without professional baking skills.
• Minimize Kitchen Complexity: The recipe requires basic mixing and baking techniques, making it accessible for home bakers with minimal cooking experience.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: Perfect for special gatherings, dinner parties, or when you want to impress friends and family with a stunning homemade cheesecake.
• Customize with Ease: Adaptable recipe allows for simple variations like adding extra chocolate garnish or switching cherry types to match personal preferences.

Ingredients for Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

• Chocolate Cookie Crumbs: A rich and crumbly base that provides a delicious chocolate foundation for the cheesecake.
• Unsalted Butter: Helps bind the cookie crumbs together and creates a firm, compact crust.

• Cream Cheese: The creamy, smooth core ingredient that gives the cheesecake its signature texture and rich flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps balance the deep chocolate and tangy cream cheese flavors.
• Dark Chocolate: Provides an intense, luxurious chocolate flavor throughout the cheesecake.
• Cocoa Powder: Enhances the chocolate depth and adds a rich, dark color to the filling.
• Eggs: Act as a binding agent and help create a smooth, stable cheesecake texture.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and a subtle tanginess that complements the chocolate.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings a warm, classic flavor that enhances the overall taste of the cheesecake.

• Fresh Cherries: Provide a bright, juicy contrast to the rich chocolate cheesecake and add a beautiful pop of color.

Instructions to Make Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Step 1: Create the Chocolate Cookie Crust

Grab your chocolate cookie crumbs and melted butter. Mix them together until they feel like damp sand. Press this delicious mixture firmly into the bottom of a springform pan, creating a solid foundation for your cheesecake masterpiece.

Step 2: Whip Up the Creamy Cheesecake Base

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until super smooth and dreamy. Sprinkle in cocoa powder and blend until it looks like a rich chocolate paradise. The mixture should be completely lump-free and silky.

Step 3: Incorporate the Eggs

Add eggs one by one, giving each a good beating to ensure they’re perfectly mixed. This is where the magic starts happening – your cheesecake will begin to take shape and become wonderfully creamy.

Step 4: Mix in the Decadent Extras

• Sour cream
• Vanilla extract
• Melted dark chocolate

Blend everything until it looks like a luxurious chocolate dream. The mixture should be glossy and completely combined.

Step 5: Fold in the Cherries

Gently fold fresh cherries into the cheesecake batter. Be gentle to keep those beautiful cherries intact and evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Step 6: Prepare for Baking

Pour the batter into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Tap the pan lightly to release any air bubbles and ensure a smooth top.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Slide the cheesecake into a preheated oven at 325F (160C). Bake for 55-65 minutes until the center is just set and the edges look slightly puffy. The cheesecake should have a slight wobble when gently shaken.

Step 8: Cool Down Slowly

Turn off the oven and crack the door open. Let the cheesecake cool inside for about an hour. This slow cooling prevents cracking and helps create a smooth texture.

Step 9: Chill and Set

Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours, but overnight is even better. This allows the flavors to meld and the texture to become perfectly creamy.

Step 10: Serve and Enjoy

Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan, slice, and serve. Each bite is a decadent combination of rich chocolate and sweet cherries that will make taste buds dance with joy!

Tips for Perfecting Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

• Select Premium Cookies: Choose high-quality chocolate cookie crumbs for a rich, crumbly base that enhances the overall cheesecake texture.
• Prevent Cracking Technique: Create a water bath by placing the springform pan in a larger baking dish filled with hot water to ensure even baking and prevent surface cracks.
• Control Cherry Distribution: Gently fold cherries to avoid breaking them, ensuring even spread and maintaining their beautiful whole appearance throughout the cheesecake.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream to reach room temperature before mixing to achieve a smoother, lump-free cheesecake batter.
• Chill for Best Flavor: Refrigerate the cheesecake for a full night to develop deeper, more intense chocolate and cherry flavors and achieve the perfect creamy consistency.

Variations to Explore with Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

• Vegan Cherry Chocolate Delight: Replace cream cheese with cashew-based cream cheese, use coconut oil instead of butter, and swap eggs with silken tofu or flax eggs for a plant-based version.
• Gluten-Free Cherry Chocolate Dream: Substitute chocolate cookie crumbs with gluten-free graham crackers or almond flour, ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
• Low-Sugar Cherry Chocolate Treat: Use sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit sweetener, and opt for sugar-free dark chocolate to reduce overall sugar content while maintaining rich flavor.
• Raspberry Chocolate Alternative: Swap fresh cherries with fresh raspberries for a tangy twist, maintaining the same chocolate cheesecake base and creating a different berry experience.

Pairing Recommendations for Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

• Swirl Bold Red Wine: Choose a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot that matches the intense dark chocolate flavors, cutting through the creamy cheesecake with elegant wine notes.
• Brew Robust Coffee Companions: Select a dark roast espresso or rich French press coffee to complement the deep chocolate and cherry undertones, enhancing the dessert's complex flavor profile.
• Match Liqueur Elegance: Serve a small glass of cherry liqueur like Kirsch or chocolate liqueur such as Godiva, which will beautifully echo the cheesecake's core ingredients and provide a sophisticated dessert experience.

How to Store Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

• Wrap the cheesecake tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, preventing any absorption of other food odors.
• Slice the cheesecake into individual portions, wrap each slice separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months without losing flavor or texture.
• Transfer frozen cheesecake slices to the refrigerator overnight. Let them slowly defrost to maintain the creamy consistency and prevent moisture loss.
• Warm individual slices at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving. Avoid microwave reheating, as it can make the cheesecake texture rubbery and compromise its delicate structure.

FAQs on Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

• Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate?

Dark chocolate provides a richer, less sweet flavor profile that complements the cherries perfectly. Milk chocolate would make the cheesecake too sweet and lose the sophisticated taste.

• How do I prevent my cheesecake from cracking?

Allow the cheesecake to cool gradually in the oven with the door slightly ajar, which helps prevent sudden temperature changes that cause cracking. Also, avoid overmixing the batter and overbaking.

• What type of cherries work best in this recipe?

Fresh sweet cherries like Bing or Rainier are ideal. If fresh cherries aren’t in season, you can use high-quality frozen cherries, just make sure to drain them thoroughly before adding to the batter.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Recipe

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4.8 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 5 hours 55 minutes (including at least 4 hours refrigeration)
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Silky dark chocolate cherry cheesecake brings luxurious Italian dessert artistry to your table with rich, creamy textures and deep flavor contrasts. Sweet cherries and smooth chocolate create an irresistible dessert experience you won’t forget.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 24 ounces (680 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 8 ounces (226 grams) dark chocolate, melted
• 1 1/2 cups (225 grams) fresh cherries, pitted and halved

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) chocolate cookie crumbs
• 1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, melted

Additional Ingredients:

• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (25 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
• 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven at 325F (160C) and coat a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick spray.
2. Crush chocolate cookies and blend with melted butter, pressing the mixture compactly into the pan’s base to create a solid foundation.
3. Whip cream cheese and sugar until silky smooth, then integrate cocoa powder thoroughly, ensuring no lumps remain.
4. Incorporate eggs individually, mixing extensively after each addition to maintain a uniform texture.
5. Fold in sour cream and vanilla extract, blending until the mixture achieves a consistent, creamy consistency.
6. Melt dark chocolate and gently swirl into the cheesecake batter, creating a rich, decadent appearance.
7. Delicately fold fresh cherries through the mixture, distributing them evenly without crushing.
8. Transfer the batter into the prepared crust, smoothing the surface to ensure an even layer.
9. Bake for 55-65 minutes until the center stabilizes and edges become slightly elevated.
10. Switch off the oven, leaving the cheesecake inside with the door slightly open for one hour to prevent cracking.
11. Chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight to set completely before serving.

Notes

• Enhance chocolate flavor by using high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content for a rich, intense taste.
• Prevent cracking by avoiding overmixing the batter and using room temperature ingredients which blend more smoothly.
• Use fresh, pitted cherries for the best texture and burst of natural sweetness, or substitute with frozen cherries if fresh are unavailable.
• Create a gluten-free version by replacing chocolate cookie crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free graham cracker crumbs for the crust.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 442 kcal
• Sugar: 34 g
• Sodium: 260 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg