Chocolate-Marbled Almond Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar

• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
• 2 ounces blanched almonds, finely chopped

Directions

1. 1

   heat oven to 325*F.

2. 2

   in large mixer bowl combine sugar and cream cheese. beat at medium speed scraping bowl often until light and fluffy.

3. 3

   continue beating, adding eggs one at a time, until creamy.

4. 4

   add remaining ingredients except chocolate chips and almonds.

5. 5

   continue beating, scraping bowl often until well mixed.

6. 6

   by hand fold in melted chocolate chips to swirl chocolate throughout batter for marble effect.

7. 7

   lightly butter 9" springform pan; press almonds firmly on bottom of pan.

8. 8

   pour batter into prepared pan.

9. 9

   bake for 65 to 75 minutes or until set.

10. 10

    turn off oven; leave cheesecake in oven for 2 hours.

11. 11

    loosen sides of cheesecake from pan by running knife around inside of pan.

12. 12

    cool completely.

13. 13

    cover, refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

14. 14

    store refrigerated.