Chocolate Irish Cream Cheesecake

Ingredients

CHOCOLATE COOKIE CRUST

• 11 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

CHOCOLATE IRISH CREAM FILLING

• 18 ounces cream cheese
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 5 eggs
• 2/3 cup whipping cream
• 3/4 cup irish cream
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• 1 1/4 teaspoons instant coffee

• 1 (12 ounce) package milk chocolate chips, melted
• sifted powdered sugar

Directions

1. 1

   FOR THE COOKIE CRUST: In a small bowl stir together crushed cookies and melted butter or margarine till well combined. Press crumb mixture evenly onto the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan.

2. 2

   FOR THE FILLING: In a large bowl combine cream cheese and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer till smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in liqueur and vanilla extract. Stir together hot water and instant coffee. Stir into cream cheese mixture. Stir in melted chocolate. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust.

3. 3

   Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Lower the temperature to 200°F and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or till the center no longer looks wet or shiny. Remove the cake from the oven and run a knife around the inside edge of the pan.

4. 4

   Turn the oven off; return the cake to the oven for an additional 2 hours. Chill, uncovered, overnight.

5. 5

   Place a decorative stencil over the top of the cheesecake. Sift powdered sugar over the stencil. Carefully remove stencil. Chill till serving time. Makes 12 to 18 slices.

6. 6

   Cheesecake Extraordinaire.Mary Crownover.