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featured cherry chocolate cheesecake

Cherry Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe

Course: cheesecake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Chill Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
Total Time: 11 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 989kcal
Do you like the texture of a chocolate cake, but don’t want the frosting? If so, these cakey brownies are going to knock your socks off. 
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • Kitchen Scale (optional)
  • 9-inch Springform Pan
  • Stand Mixer

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 3 cups crushed Oreo cookies 255 grams
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar 27 grams
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter 141 grams, melted (1¼ sticks)

For the Cheesecake

  • 32 ounces cream cheese 908 grams, room temperature (4 bricks)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
  • ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
  • 1⅓ cups heavy cream 303 grams, room temperature
  • 1 cup chocolate chips 170 grams, melted
  • ½ cup sour cream 114 grams, room temperature
  • 3 large eggs 150 grams, room temperature
  • 3 egg yolks 42 grams, room temperature
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 21 grams
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 grams
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
  • 1 cup pitted cherries 113 grams, fresh or frozen/thawed

For the Chocolate Ganache

  • cups chocolate chips 255 grams
  • ¾ cup heavy cream 170 grams
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 43 grams

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and gently spray the sides with nonstick spray. Set aside.
    how to make cherry chocolate cheesecake

For the Crust

  • To make the crust, combine the crushed Oreos and brown sugar in a medium-sized bowl. Add in the butter and stir until the mixture resembles wet sand.
    3 cups crushed Oreo cookies, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
    how to make cherry chocolate cheesecake
  • Press the crust in an even layer in the bottom of the springform pan.
  • Place into the oven to bake for 15 minutes. Once baked, remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool while you make the cheesecake.

For the Cheesecake

  • Add the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat together on high speed for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth and creamy.
    32 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar
    how to make cherry chocolate cheesecake
  • Add in the heavy cream, melted chocolate chips, and sour cream and beat together for 1 minute.
    1⅓ cups heavy cream, 1 cup chocolate chips, ½ cup sour cream
    how to make cherry chocolate cheesecake
  • Beat the eggs and egg yolks in for 30 seconds to fully incorporate. Whisk in the cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla.
    3 large eggs, 3 egg yolks, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    how to make cherry chocolate cheesecake
  • Pour half of the cheesecake batter into the springform pan on top of the crust. Layer the cherries in an even layer over the cheesecake batter.
    how to make cherry chocolate cheesecake
  • Pour the remaining cheesecake batter over the cherries and smooth out.
    1 cup pitted cherries
  • Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan with aluminum foil to prevent any water from seeping in. Place the springform pan into a larger baking pan and fill the larger baking pan with enough water to come 1 inch up the sides of the springform pan to create a water bath.
  • Place both pans into the preheated oven to bake for 1½ hours. Once baked, turn the heat off and leave the cheesecake in the oven to rest for 1 hour with the door closed.
  • Once the cheesecake has rested, remove from the oven, unwrap the aluminum foil from around a springform pan, and place the pan onto a cooling rack to cool completely to room temperature.
  • Cover the top of the cheesecake and place into the refrigerator to chill for at least 8 hours.

For the Chocolate Ganache

  • Once the cheesecake has chilled, make the ganache. Heat the heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute. Pour the heated heavy cream over the chocolate chips and let set for 1 minute to allow the chocolate chips to melt. Mix together until a smooth ganache has formed. Mix in the butter until fully incorporated. Pour the ganache over the top of the cheesecake in an even layer. Return to the refrigerator to set for 20 minutes.
    1½ cups chocolate chips, ¾ cup heavy cream, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Once the ganache has chilled and set, run a butter knife around the inside edge of the springform pan to release the cheesecake. Release the springform pan and remove the side from the cheesecake.
  • Place the cheesecake onto a serving platter or cake stand and slice into 12 slices.

Notes

  • Instead of an Oreo cookie crust, a graham cracker crust may be used for this cheesecake recipe. Use the same amount (3 cups) of graham cracker crumbs instead of crushed Oreos.
  • Plain yogurt (Greek or regular) can be used in place of the sour cream.
  • When making the cheesecake, be sure to beat the cream cheese well at the beginning to ensure that it is smooth. If, when the cheesecake batter is complete, you still have lumps, simply press them against the side of the bowl using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.
  • Do not overmix the cheesecake batter as it will add air and result in uneven baking and can cause it to crack at the end.
  • Be sure to leave the cheesecake in the oven for the hour after baking to rest. This allows the cheesecake to set, thus preventing or at least lowering the chances that the cheesecake top cracks. Sometimes, cheesecakes still crack on top. 
  • When making the chocolate ganache, my favorite way for ease and smoothness is to use an immersion blender instead of a whisk after the heavy cream and chocolate have set long enough for the chocolate to begin to melt.
Storage: Store cherry chocolate cheesecake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 989kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 72g | Saturated Fat: 41g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 258mg | Sodium: 632mg | Potassium: 337mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 64g | Vitamin A: 2194IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 6mg