Chocolate Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake (Printable)

Creamy cheesecake featuring dark chocolate filling and fresh strawberry swirl atop chocolate crust

# What You Need:

→ Crust

01 - 7 oz chocolate graham crackers or digestive biscuits, crushed
02 - 2.6 oz unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar

→ Cheesecake Filling

04 - 32 oz cream cheese, softened
05 - 7 oz granulated sugar
06 - 3 large eggs
07 - 0.75 cup sour cream
08 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
09 - 4.2 oz dark chocolate, melted and slightly cooled

→ Strawberry Swirl

10 - 7 oz fresh strawberries, hulled
11 - 1.7 oz granulated sugar
12 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
13 - 2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp water

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
02 - Combine crushed chocolate biscuits, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl. Press evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool.
03 - In a small saucepan, combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until berries soften (about 5 minutes). Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Puree until smooth and let cool.
04 - Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Blend in sour cream and vanilla.
05 - Divide the filling in half. To one half, fold in the melted dark chocolate.
06 - Pour the chocolate filling over the crust, spreading evenly. Top with the plain filling.
07 - Drop spoonfuls of the strawberry puree on top and use a skewer or knife to swirl it through the batter.
08 - Place the pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the center is just set and slightly wobbly.
09 - Turn off the oven, leave the door slightly open, and let the cheesecake cool for 1 hour.
10 - Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The chocolate crust brings this incredible depth that you just cant get from regular graham crackers
  • That moment you cut the first slice and see the marble pattern is pure kitchen magic
  • The combination of tangy cream cheese and sweet chocolate strawberry is literally addictive
02 -
  • Cold ingredients are your enemy here—everything needs to be at room temperature or you'll end up with lumps that won't bake out
  • That wobbly center when you pull it from the oven is completely normal and actually means you did it right
  • The crack-the-door cooling technique sounds fussy but it's literally the difference between a gorgeous cake and a cracked mess
03 -
  • Don't open the oven door during baking—every peek lets out heat and can cause that dreaded crack
  • If you do get a crack, don't panic—it's just a vehicle for extra strawberry swirl on top
  • A little pinch of salt in the chocolate layer makes all the flavors pop in a way you can't quite put your finger on

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