Chocolate Espresso Swirl Cheesecake

Chocolate Espresso Swirl Cheesecake

For crust:

1-1/2 C. chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs (see note)

1/4 C. unsalted butter, melted

For filling:

2 lbs. (four 8-oz. packages) cream cheese, softened

1-1/2 C. granulated sugar

1/2 C. sour cream

4 eggs

1 T. instant coffee powder

1 T. hot water

1 t. vanilla

3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Grease the sides of a 9-inch spring form pan, or leave a 9-inch cheesecake pan (a straight-sided pan with a drop-out bottom) ungreased.

Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the cookie crumbs and butter. Press into the bottom of the pan and freeze.

Center a rack in the oven, and preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer set on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. (Use a paddle attachment, if you have one.) Add sour cream. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. In a small bowl, dissolve the instant coffee in the hot water. While the mixer is running, pour the coffee in a steady stream into the batter. Add vanilla. Stir 1 cup of the batter into the melted chocolate, and set aside. Pour remaining batter over the frozen crust.

Using a spoon, drop the melted chocolate-batter mixture on top of the plain batter in 6 large puddles. Using spiral motions, drag a small knife through the puddles to create a marbling effect.

Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the top is light brown and center has a slight jiggle to it. Cool on rack for 2 hours. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours before decorating or serving.

Note: Place about 15 chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor and pulse until the mixture is the consistency of wet sand. No need to remove the white filling — it will pulverize.

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Recipe from “125 Best Cheesecake Recipes,”