This is a classic chocolate cheesecake recipe that you’ll use over and over! The cheesecake batter has 5 ingredients and turns out to be so creamy and chocolate-y! Plus, you can do an oreo crust or graham cracker crust for this chocolate cheesecake.

It’s time for another classic cheesecake flavor!

How to Make Oreo Crust for Cheesecake

2 INGREDIENT OREO CRUST

• oreo crumbs: Blend the whole cookie in a blender until you have oreo crumbs! 2 cups of oreo crumbs is about half the oreo package. You could also use chocolate graham crackers
• butter: this most crucial ingredient in binding the crust togetherMix all the crust ingredients together and then firmly press the crust into the bottom and up the sides of a springform pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or bottom of a glass cup to help pack the crust.

How to Make Chocolate Cheesecake

Our chocolate cheesecake recipe only calls for 5 ingredients!

• cream cheese: use three 8 oz packages. Be sure to use full fat, not low fat, cream cheese for best results.
• sugar: helps to balance the tanginess of the cream cheese.
• semi-sweet chocolate baking bar: obviously needed for chocolate cheesecake!
• heavy cream: makes the cheesecake smooth and rich!
• eggs: eggs are the last ingredient that get mixed into the cheesecake batter. Be sure to mix them in, one at a time, just until the yolk breaks. Over beating the eggs is the number one cause of air bubbles and cracking.

How to Make the Perfect Chocolate Cheesecake

Every single cheesecake recipe I have on my site, I include two critical tips. Here are the 2 most important details to follow when making cheesecake..

1. Don’t be afraid of the water bath
2.Don’t rush the cooling process

Keep reading below for details on each tip!

How to Make a Cheesecake Water Bath

I know it sounds weird, putting your cheesecake in a water bath, but it’s the secret to creating moist, perfectly baked cheesecake. It’s really not scary.

The basics of a water bath: Place a springform pan inside a large cake or roasting pan, fill the roasting pan with about 1 inch of water and place in the oven.

How to Prevent your Cheesecake Water Bath from Leaking

This is the best trick ever to prevent your cheesecake water bath from leaking and ruining your cheesecake.

Place the springform pan inside a large oven safe turkey bag or slow cooker liner bag and roll down the top of the bag so it doesn’t cover the cheesecake. If you have a lot of excess bag space, twist one side tight and knot it so the bag is tight around the pan. Place the springform pan that’s inside the bag in the large roasting pan and fill with water.

The water bath will not leak into your cheesecake!

How to Cool Cheesecake

Remember, don’t rush the cooling process.

Once the cheesecake is done baking turn the oven off and gently remove the springform pan from the water bath and oven safe bag. Place the cheesecake on a baking sheet and return to the oven (oven is off) with the oven door cracked.

A slow cooling process will help prevent the cheesecake from cracking. Don’t forget to refrigerate your cheesecake over night before serving.

Tips for Chocolate Cheesecake without Sour Cream

• Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature before beating it. Room temperature cream cheese is easier to whip.
• The eggs are the last ingredient that get mixed into the cheesecake batter. Be sure to mix them in, one at a time, just until the yolk breaks. Over beating the eggs is the number one cause of air bubbles and cracking.
• Using a different size springform pan will alter the baking time. I used a 8 inch springform pan.
• Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven (with the door cracked) for 1 hour.

What to put on Chocolate Cheesecake

• fruit
• chocolate ganache (follow the ganache recipe from our espresso cheesecake)
• caramel sauce
• strawberry sauce
• chocolate whipped cream
• coffee whipped cream
• crushed candy pieces (like peanut butter cups, M&Ms, snickers, etc)
• easy chocolate shavings / curls

How to make easy chocolate shavings at home

The easiest way to make chocolate shavings is to take a Hershey’s bar and use a vegetable peeler to make shavings and curls. Transfer the shavings to the cheesecake using a spoon, that way the heat from your fingers won’t melt the tiny chocolate pieces!

How to Freeze a Whole Cheesecake

1. Cool the cheesecake completely before freezing. You can allow it to cool on the counter or you can place it in the fridge over night to chill before freezing.
2. Use a knife to remove the outer springform ring. Use the knife to gently remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the pan. Place the cheesecake on a round cardboard circle that’s been covered in aluminum foil. Make sure the cardboard circle is the same size as the cheesecake.
3. Wrap the entire cheesecake (without any toppings) well in plastic wrap. Then wrap the cheesecake in aluminum foil for extra protection. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the cheesecake in the fridge overnight. Add toppings before serving.

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CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

This is a classic chocolate cheesecake recipe that you’ll use over and over! The cheesecake batter has 5 ingredients and turns out to be so creamy and chocolate-y! Plus, you can do an oreo crust or graham cracker crust for this chocolate cheesecake.

Ingredients

CRUST

•  2 cups oreo crumbs (or chocolate graham crackers or graham crackers)
•  4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

CHEESECAKE

•  3 packages cream cheese at room temperature, 8 oz each, I like to use full fat
•  3/4 cup sugar
•  2 packages semi sweet chocolate baking bar, melted (4 oz each for a total of 8 oz)
•  1/2 cup heavy cream
•  4 eggs
•  One oven safe turkey bag

TOPPINGS

•  whipped cream
•  chocolate shavings

Instructions

CRUST

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F.
2. Pulse the whole oreos (or chocolate graham crackers) in a blender or food processor until they are very fine. Measure out 2 cups of crumbs.
3. In a small bowl, combine the crumbs with the melted butter, mix well until incorporated.
4. Add the crumbs to a 8 or 9 inch springform pan, distribute them evenly, using a cup or the bottom of something flat to press the crumbs into the pan. If desired, you can have the crumbs go up the sides of the pan a bit.
5. Place the pan in the oven, pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes.
6. Remove the pan from the oven, and allow it to cool to room temperature before adding the cheesecake mixture. To speed this up, you can put the springform pan in the fridge.
7. Turn the oven down to 325º F.

CHEESECAKE

1. Place the round springform pan inside an oven safe bag ( like one that you'd cook a turkey in for thanksgiving) and roll the top of the bag down so it doesn't cover the cheesecake. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the 3 packages of cream cheese until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the sugar, beat again.
3. Add in the melted (but cooled) chocolate and heavy cream, beat again.
4. Add in the eggs, ONE at a time, beating just until the egg yolk breaks, then add in the next, etc. Beat the mixture for 1 additional minute. Do not over beat, this is why I recommend only 1 minute. Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the cooled crust.
5. Place the springform pan in a 9x13 inch pan or larger roasting pan. Carefully fill the roasting pan with about 1 inch of water.
6. Place the water bath with the cheesecake inside in the oven and bake at 325º F for 60-70 minutes *see note. The cheesecake is done when the center wobbles a little when you jiggle the pan. The edges of the cheesecake should look firmer than the center.
7. Once the cheesecake is done baking, turn the oven off and gently remove the springform pan from the water bath and oven safe bag. Place the cheesecake on a baking sheet and return to the oven (oven is off) with the oven door cracked. Allow the cheesecake to cool to room temperature inside the oven before removing - this could be 60-90 minutes.
8. Once cooled to room temperature, remove the cheesecake from the oven. Loosely cover the cheesecake with foil and place in the fridge overnight.
9. Before serving, carefully unmold the cheesecake from the pan. Use a small spatula to assist any parts that are sticking to the pan. Allow the pan to do most of the work, some of the cheesecake may stick to the pan, but the cheesecake should naturally separate from the pan.
10. Add your desired toppings, cut and serve. Store leftovers in an air tight container the fridge from up to 5 days.

Notes

• 8 inch cheesecake baking time: 65-75 minutes
• 9 inch cheesecake baking time: 60-70 minutes