Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake (Printer-friendly)

A rich, creamy cheesecake with dark chocolate base and sweet cherry topping. Ideal for celebrations.

# What You Need:

→ Crust

01 - 7 oz chocolate graham crackers or chocolate cookies, crushed
02 - 5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
04 - Pinch of salt

→ Cheesecake Filling

05 - 8 oz dark chocolate (70%), chopped
06 - 32 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 3 large eggs, at room temperature
09 - 1/2 cup sour cream
10 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
11 - 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
12 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Cherry Topping

13 - 12 oz fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
14 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
15 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
16 - 2 tbsp water
17 - 1 tbsp cornstarch

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 340°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the base with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, mix crushed chocolate cookies, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool.
03 - Melt dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water (double boiler); let cool slightly.
04 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Mix in sour cream, vanilla, flour, and salt until just combined. Fold in melted chocolate.
05 - Pour filling over the cooled crust, smoothing the top. Tap the pan gently to release air bubbles. Bake for 50–55 minutes, until edges are set but the center is slightly jiggly. Turn off oven, crack the door, and let cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
06 - Remove from oven, run a knife around the edge, and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
07 - In a saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, lemon juice, and water. Cook over medium heat until cherries release juices (about 5 minutes). Mix cornstarch with a little cold water, stir into cherries, and simmer until thickened (2–3 minutes). Cool completely.
08 - Spread cherry topping over the chilled cheesecake before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of bittersweet chocolate and tart cherries creates this incredibly sophisticated flavor balance that never fails to impress dinner guests
  • Despite looking bakery-fancy, the recipe comes together with straightforward techniques and rewards you with that creamy, dreamy texture
02 -
  • The water bath method seems fancy but skipping it works fine if you use the slow cooling technique
  • Overmixing after adding the eggs can incorporate too much air and cause cracks
  • The jiggly center is completely normal—it will firm up perfectly during chilling
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable for that silky smooth texture
  • Don't open the oven door during baking—sudden temperature changes cause cracks

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