German Chocolate Cheesecake

German Chocolate Cheesecake

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 package of Oreos, crushed
• 6 Tbsp. butter, melted

Ganache Layer Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 6 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips

Cheesecake Ingredients

• 3 packages (8 ounces each) of cream cheese, room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp. vanilla
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 3 ounces (or about 6 Tbsp.) semi sweet chocolate chips

Cake Ingredients

• I used a chocolate cake mix
• ingredients on the box

Frosting Ingredients

• 1-2 tubs of Coconut Pecan frosting

Directions

• Make the crust layer
• Crush the Oreos in a food processor. Add melted butter to Oreo crumbs and mix. Press into the bottom and sides of a 9 inch springform pan. (Cuisinart 9-Inch Nonstick Springform Pan)
• Make sure you go up the sides of the pan to the top.
• Make the ganache
• Heat the heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat for another 30 seconds and stir. You want the cream to be hot (but make sure you don't bring it to a full boil.) Place the chocolate chips in a bowl. Pour cream over chocolate chip and whisk until smooth and creamy.
• Make the cake layer
• Mix the cake according to the directions on the box. Bake in two 9 inch round pans. You will only use one of the cakes but freeze the other one for future use (or gobble it up warm.) Cool on a wire rack.
• Make the cheesecake layer
• In a stand mixer, mix cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and mix until smooth. Add vanilla and eggs.
• In a small bowl, melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second bursts. Stir after each one. When completely melted and smooth, set aside to cool. Add melted chocolate to cheesecake filling and stir until combined.
• Assembly
• Pour ganache over the crust layer. Spread out and place in the freezer for 30 minutes until ganache is form.
• Pour cheesecake filling over the ganache layer. Spread out evenly. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 55 minutes or until almost firm. The center might crack but that's okay. You'll be covering it up with deliciousness =o) Let cool.
• Spread a thin layer of Coconut Pecan frosting over the top of the cheesecake.
• Place cake on top of frosting layer.
• Mine was super tall at this point. I'm not sure if I did something wrong or not (because it was way taller than the recipe I was following.)
• Spread frosting on top of cake layer. I frosted the sides of the cake too since they were showing.
• Chill for 3 hours or overnight.
• When completely chilled, loosen the sides of the springform pan and remove the sides.