Death by Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe

Easy Death by Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe: Sweet Bliss Awaits

Indulgent death by chocolate cheesecake beckons chocolate lovers with its sinful, decadent allure.

Rich layers of intense cocoa flavors promise an unforgettable dessert experience that tantalizes every sense.

Silky smooth textures meld with deep, dark chocolate notes that dance across your palate.

Creamy filling nestled atop a crumbly chocolate crust creates a luxurious contrast that elevates this dessert beyond ordinary expectations.

Each forkful promises a moment of pure, unapologetic chocolate bliss that converts an ordinary evening into something extraordinary.

Dramatic and bold, this dessert challenges traditional boundaries of sweetness and sophistication.

Passionate bakers and chocolate enthusiasts will find this recipe irresistibly tempting.

Why Death by Chocolate Cheesecake Lives Up to Its Name

  • Ultimate Chocolate Indulgence: This decadent cheesecake delivers an intense chocolate experience that satisfies the deepest chocolate cravings with multiple layers of rich, velvety chocolate goodness.
  • Perfectly Balanced Texture Delight: The creamy smooth cheesecake filling combines with a crisp graham cracker crust and silky ganache topping, creating a luxurious mouthfeel that melts perfectly with each bite.
  • Impressive Yet Achievable Dessert: Despite its stunning appearance, this recipe uses straightforward techniques that home bakers can master, making it an excellent choice for special occasions or when you want to wow friends and family with minimal professional baking skills.

What You’ll Need for Death by Chocolate Cheesecake

Crust Ingredients:
  • Graham Crackers: Classic base for cheesecake with a sweet, crumbly texture.
  • Unsalted Butter: Helps bind the crust and adds rich flavor.
Filling Ingredients:
  • Semisweet Chocolate: Provides deep chocolate flavor and rich color to the cheesecake.
  • Cream Cheese: Creamy base that gives cheesecake its signature smooth texture.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cheesecake filling.
  • Heavy Cream: Adds richness and helps create a smooth consistency.
  • Cocoa Powder: Enhances chocolate flavor and deepens the color.
  • Large Eggs: Provides structure and helps bind the filling.
Topping Ingredients:
  • Chocolate Chips: Base for creating a smooth, glossy ganache topping.
  • Heavy Cream: Helps melt chocolate and creates a silky ganache texture.

How to Make a Deep, Dark, and Dreamy Chocolate Cheesecake

Step 1: Prepare the Crunchy Base

Preheat oven to 325°F. Grab graham crackers and crush them in a food processor until finely ground. Mix with melted butter until crumbly.

  • Graham crackers
  • Melted butter

Press mixture into bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes until golden and fragrant. Set aside while keeping oven temperature steady.

Step 2: Create Silky Chocolate Filling

Melt chocolate in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Let cool slightly.

In a mixing bowl, whip cream cheese until creamy and soft.

Combine ingredients:
  • Sugar
  • Heavy cream
  • Cocoa powder

Beat until well blended. Add eggs one at a time, mixing gently after each addition. Fold in melted chocolate carefully.

Step 3: Bake the Cheesecake

Pour filling into prepared crust. Place pan on a baking sheet to catch potential drips. Bake for 50 minutes until top looks dry and center has a slight jiggle.

Step 4: Cool and Stabilize

Turn off oven, crack the door open. Allow cheesecake to cool inside for 10 minutes to prevent cracking. Transfer to wire rack and let cool completely.

Step 5: Chill and Set

Refrigerate cheesecake for minimum 4 hours until fully chilled and firm.

Step 6: Create Luxurious Chocolate Topping

Heat cream until just simmering. Pour over chocolate chips in a bowl. Let sit for 3 minutes, then stir until glossy and smooth.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Remove cheesecake from springform pan. Drizzle warm ganache over chilled cake, letting it cascade down the sides. Serve and enjoy your chocolate masterpiece!

Tips for Baking and Chilling Death by Chocolate Cheesecake

  • Crumb Perfection: Pulse graham crackers until they're ultra-fine for a smooth, compact crust that holds together beautifully.
  • Chocolate Melting Magic: Use low, gentle microwave intervals to melt chocolate smoothly, preventing burning or seizing.
  • Cream Cheese Technique: Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature and beat until silky to avoid lumpy cheesecake texture.
  • Egg Incorporation Trick: Add eggs one at a time and mix minimally to maintain a luxurious, creamy consistency without introducing air bubbles.
  • Cooling Crack Prevention: Let the cheesecake cool gradually in the oven with the door cracked to minimize surface cracking and create a velvety texture.

Keeping Death by Chocolate Cheesecake Fresh and Fudgy

  • Refrigerate: Wrap the cheesecake tightly with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Place individual slices in freezer-safe containers or wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.
  • Thaw: Transfer frozen cheesecake to the refrigerator and let it slowly thaw overnight. Avoid microwaving to prevent texture changes.

What Drinks and Toppings Go with Chocolate Cheesecake

  • Pair with Bold Red Wine: Select a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or rich Merlot that complements the intense chocolate flavors, cutting through the creamy cheesecake's richness and enhancing its deep cocoa notes.
  • Match with Espresso or Strong Coffee: Brew a robust espresso or dark roast coffee to amplify the chocolate's complexity, creating a classic dessert combination that balances sweetness with bitter undertones.
  • Create a Flavor Contrast with Raspberry Liqueur: Drizzle a small amount of raspberry liqueur like Chambord alongside the cheesecake, adding a bright, tangy counterpoint to the dense chocolate dessert and providing a refreshing palate cleanser.
  • Serve with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Add a scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream to introduce a creamy, cold element that softens the chocolate's intensity and provides a smooth textural contrast.

Chocolate Cheesecake Variations That Are Just as Decadent

  • Chocolate Raspberry Remix: Swirl fresh raspberry puree through the cheesecake batter before baking, creating beautiful marbled patterns and adding bright fruity notes to the rich chocolate base.
  • Nutty Chocolate Crunch: Replace graham cracker crust with a ground almond and hazelnut mixture, then sprinkle chopped roasted nuts between ganache layers for extra texture and depth.
  • Salted Caramel Chocolate Edition: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce between ganache layers, providing a sweet-salty contrast that complements the intense chocolate flavor and creates elegant visual appeal.
  • Mexican Chocolate Spice: Incorporate ground cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper into the cheesecake batter, bringing warm, subtle heat that enhances the chocolate's complexity and creates an unexpected flavor profile.
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Death by Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe

Death by Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe


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4.6 from 8 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Death by Chocolate Cheesecake delivers pure indulgence with its rich, velvety layers of chocolate goodness. Chocolate lovers will swoon over this ultimate dessert that promises pure bliss in each sinful slice.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

Crust:

  • 15 (225 grams) chocolate graham crackers
  • 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, melted

Filling Chocolate Base:

  • 8 ounces (227 grams) semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 24 ounces (680 grams) full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar

Additional Filling Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup (21 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder

Topping:

  • 1 cup (170 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Craft a graham cracker foundation by pulverizing crackers into fine crumbs and binding them with melted butter.
  2. Press the crumb mixture firmly into a springform pan, covering the bottom and partial sides, creating a solid base.
  3. Bake the crust briefly until aromatic, maintaining oven temperature for subsequent baking.
  4. Gently melt semisweet chocolate using microwave intervals, allowing it to cool to room temperature.
  5. Whip cream cheese until silky smooth in an electric mixer, ensuring no lumps remain.
  6. Incorporate sugar, heavy cream, and cocoa powder into the cream cheese, blending until uniform in texture.
  7. Carefully introduce eggs one at a time, mixing minimally to prevent over-beating and maintain a delicate consistency.
  8. Fold melted chocolate into the creamy mixture, creating a rich, dark batter.
  9. Transfer the decadent filling into the prepared crust, positioning the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch potential drips.
  10. Bake until the surface appears slightly dry and the center maintains a gentle wobble, avoiding excessive cooking.
  11. Allow the cheesecake to cool gradually inside the oven with the door slightly ajar, preventing potential cracking.
  12. Cool the cheesecake completely at room temperature before refrigerating for several hours to set.
  13. Prepare a luxurious ganache by heating cream and pouring it over chocolate chips.
  14. Stir the ganache until achieving a glossy, smooth consistency.
  15. Drape the ganache over the chilled cheesecake, letting it cascade elegantly down the sides.
  16. Unmold the cheesecake from the springform pan and transfer to a serving plate for presentation.

Notes

  • Ensure graham crackers are finely ground to create a compact, even crust that holds together perfectly.
  • Use room temperature cream cheese to achieve a smooth, lump-free filling that blends seamlessly.
  • Melt chocolate carefully in short intervals to prevent burning and maintain its rich, silky texture.
  • Prevent cheesecake cracks by cooling slowly in the oven with the door slightly open, allowing gentle temperature reduction.
  • Chill the cheesecake for at least 4 hours to set the texture and develop deeper, more intense chocolate flavors.
  • Allow ganache to cool slightly before pouring to create beautiful drips and a glossy, professional-looking finish.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 485
  • Sugar: 30 g
  • Sodium: 320 mg
  • Fat: 34 g
  • Saturated Fat: 20 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 42 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 7 g
  • Cholesterol: 105 mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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