Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
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Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with an Oreo crust and a rich chocolate glaze is a decadent dessert that is ultra creamy and smooth. If you are a chocolate lover, this cheesecake with THREE different chocolate layers is for you!
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Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
It’s no secret, I LOVE cheesecake.
There is an ever-growing archive of cheesecakes on my blog and I don’t plan to stop. You may remember my super popular Nutella cheesecake and this recipe for the best cheesecake. But personal favorites are Butterfinger cheesecake and cappuccino cheesecake.
Today we’re visiting the decadent chocolate variety again. I’m trading Nutella for a triple chocolate cheesecake that’s LOADED with chocolate flavor.
You are welcome.
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Details
Let’s talk about the triple layers of chocolate in this cheesecake.
Layer one – chocolate-filled Oreos ground into crumbs then mixed with butter or the crust.
Layer two – chocolate cheesecake.
Layer three – chocolate glaze.
So basically this is a mountain of chocolate and an even larger mountain of calories. But hey, it’s dessert and it’s meant to be eaten in moderation so we’re okay here.
What You’ll Need
The ingredient list seems long but a few of the ingredients are used in multiple parts of the recipe.
- Chocolate filled Oreos
- Unsalted butter
- Semisweet chocolate
- Cream cheese
- Granulated sugar
- Unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- heavy cream
- You may use sour cream in place of heavy cream. Increase the amount to 1 cup.
- Eggs
- For The Glaze
- Light corn syrup
- This is an optional ingredient. It adds shine to the chocolate ganache but won’t ruin the recipe if you omit it.
How to Make Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
Oreo cookie crust. I used chocolate-filled Oreos but if you can’t get them in your area, regular Oreos are perfectly fine. Any other chocolate cookie with a chocolate filling will also work.
Pulse the Oreos in a food processor, filling and all, until the cookies turn to crumbs. Mix the crumbs with melted butter and press them into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan or cheesecake pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes so it sets.
Chocolate cheesecake. The chocolate cheesecake filling is my go-to cheesecake base. It’s so luscious and creamy. I used this batter in every single cheesecake on the blog.
It starts with full-fat block cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and heavy cream. I typically add vanilla also. Today, I’m also including melted chocolate and cocoa powder. So much CHOCOLATE.
We’re using 3 blocks of cream cheese which in total is 24 ounces. Most of the time I use 4 blocks but this batter needed room for an entire 12 ounces of melted chocolate.
I find it easiest to beat the cream cheese first until it’s smooth then beat in the sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla until it’s all mixed in well. Next, beat in the heavy cream followed by the melted.
The batter gets a little thick here but I add the eggs at the very end to loosen it up.
Folding the eggs in at the end also prevents whipping excess air into them. This is the main cause of cracks in cheesecakes.
Spread the batter evenly over the baked Oreo crust then bake the cheesecake. I bake for one hour and then turn the oven off and let the cheesecake sit with the door closed for another hour. This also helps to prevent cracks.
Always plan ahead because cheesecakes are time-consuming.
After the two-hour bake and cool down, the cheesecake still needs to cool completely then chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours. I prefer to chill cheesecakes overnight though.
After the cheesecake has chilled, it’s time to add the glaze. I made a simple glaze with chocolate, butter, and corn syrup all melted together. You can skip the corn syrup if you like. All it does is add shine to the glaze.
Slicing this triple chocolate cheesecake can be tricky. If the glaze is refrigerated, it will firm up and be difficult to slice through. But on the other hand, if it hasn’t had time to set, it will go everywhere when you slice through.
My suggestion is to glaze the cheesecake just before you plan to serve it then chill it for about 10 minutes so the glaze sets but doesn’t become too firm.
Also, run a knife under hot water, wipe it dry with a clean towel, then cut through the cheesecake. Repeat these steps after each cut and you’ll get neat and clean slices.
To lighten the cheesecake, serve with whipped cream. Chocolate shavings will also make a lovely presentation when serving a crowd.
Tips for Success
- Make sure all the ingredients are room temperature before you start making the cheesecake. I like to set the cold ingredients out on the counter about 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Use a water bath for the best texture! Use this free download to get a pdf printout of how to properly use a water bath and prevent leaks.
- Add the ingredients in order of the recipe. It’s super important that each ingredient is added at the right time. Eggs should always come last and they should be folded in, not mixed in with the mixer.
- Allow the cheesecake to sit in the oven for an extra hour after baking. This will help prevent cracks. I also recommend letting the cheesecake refrigerate overnight after it has completely cooled.
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the crust
- 2 ½ cups (250 g) chocolate filled Oreos or plain Oreos, about 25 cookies
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the filling
- 12 ounces (340 g) semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 24 ounces (680 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (28 g) unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (180 ml) heavy cream, at room temperature
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten at room temperature
For the glaze
- 4 ounces (113 g) semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
Instructions
Make the crust
- Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350ºF. Wrap the outer bottom of a 9-inch springform pan tightly with aluminum foil; set aside.
- Combine the cookie crumbs and melted butter. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and about 2-inches up the sides of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool while you make the filling.
Make the filling
- Reduce the oven temperature to 300ºF.
- Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over a pot of barely simmering water. Stir continuously until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt then beat until well combined.
- Beat in the heavy cream followed by the melted and cooled chocolate. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Using a silicone spatula, gently stir in the eggs just until combined.
- Pour the batter over the crust in the prepared pan. Place the cheesecake inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan. (Alternatively, you can place the roasting pan filled with water on the lower rack of the oven.)
- Bake for 1 hour, OR until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly. The center of the cheesecake will still look wet, this is normal. Turn the oven off, leave the cheesecake in the water bath in the oven with the door closed for another hour.
- Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and run a small knife around the outer edge of the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan. Allow it to cool completely to room temperature. (The cheesecake should not feel the slightest bit warm.) Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours but preferably overnight.
Make the glaze
- Remove the sides of the pan and place the cheesecake on a serving platter.
- Combine chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in a heatproof bowl and set it over a pot of barely simmering water. Stir continuously until melted and smooth.
- Use an offset spatula to spread the glaze over the top of the cheesecake. Refrigerate for 10 minutes to allow the glaze has set.
Notes
- Oreos: If you can’t find Oreo cookies any chocolate-filled sandwich cookie will work.
- Dutch-processes cocoa: It has a smoother chocolate flavor. I recommend it but the natural cocoa powder will also work.
- Heavy cream: Sour cream can be used in place of heavy cream. Increase the amount to 1 cup (226 g).
- Corn syrup: It is added for shine. It’s completely optional so feel free to leave it out if you don’t want to use it.
- Baking variation: Bake the cheesecake in 24 muffin cups lined with paper for 20-25 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave them in for another hour.
- Prevent a soggy cheesecake! Read through my helpful tips on how to create a leakproof water bath.
- The baked and chilled cheesecake will keep for up to 4 days covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator.
- The cheesecake will keep for up to 2 months covered tightly and stored in the freezer. Cut frozen and let the slices sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients and brands you used in the recipe.
Does this recipe have to be done in a springform pan or can I do it in a aluminum 9-in pan?
It’s going to be very difficult to remove from a regular cake pan once assembled.
I know this is an older recipe but I am making it for the first time today. This is actually my first cheesecake. I am so excited to taste it. Thank you for sharing your recipes. They are always fun.
Hi, this cheesecake is awasome, i will try it, but i have a question some website indicate that you should use water at room temperature for the bath, i am confused should i use warm or hot water?
Always use what the recipe calls for. My recipe calls for hot water to make the water bath. This is how the recipe was developed and tested. If you make a different recipe and it calls for room temperature water, use room temperature water because that is how that recipe was developed and tested.
Am so excited to try this today! My first time with water bath and it looks perfect so far. One question….. after removing sides and bottom, how did you get the foil off??? I followed your water bath directions but couldn’t get the bottom foil off. Suggestions???
Once the cheesecake has chilled completely in the refrigerator overnight, it’s easy to lift the cheesecake off the base and slide it onto a serving platter. The crust should be firm enough to slide a spatula between it and the foil.
What will happen if I bake without a water bath? I normally do not use it when baking cheesecakes and have had success. However, I also know it changes for each recipe. Will I need to change the bake time in the oven?
It will be fine as long as you place a pan of water on the lowest rack below the cheesecake. You need the moisture from the humidity to keep the filling creamy and free of cracks.
Hi Jen,
I am planning to bake this for my husband’s birthday. I havea 7inch pan, can i half the recipe and make it? also, can i substitute heavy cream with Sour cream?
There shouldn’t be an issue with halving the recipe or using sour cream. The smaller pan will require less bake time.
I’ve made this cheesecake a few times now for special occasions and I’ve had multiple people say it’s better than The Cheesecake Factory. Wonderful recipe! Thanks for making me look like a great baker. 😉
i would like to know if i dont want to bake the cheesecake…how long would it take to set in the fridge?
Unfortunately, this recipe requires baking.