Velvety chocolate, smooth ganache, rich cheesecake, …the perfect dessert for chocolate lovers everywhere!
On the Ingredients
- Dark chocolate has all kinds of proven health benefits dark chocolate. For instance, did you know that chocolate is actually very nutritious? A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70–85% cocoa contains something like 11 grams of fiber, 67% of the RDI for iron, 58% of the RDI for magnesium, 89% of the RDI for copper, 98% of the RDI for manganese. It also has plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. Chocolate is also a powerful antioxidant, filled with organic compounds like polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins. Some studies show chocolate may help improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. There’s also a possibility that it reduces the risk of heart disease. Heck, dark chocolate might even make you smarter because cocoa contains stimulant substances like caffeine and theobromine, which can improve brain function in the short term.
- Yogurt is a fermented milk product made by humans since Neolithic times. It can be eaten by itself or used as an ingredient in many different savory and sweet recipes. There are a few different kinds of yogurt, maybe the best-known sub-category being Greek or strained yogurt, which is thicker. In baking, yogurt with help keep a recipe moist, impart a slight tang, and the acid in it will activate baking soda. Yogurt is high in protein and contains a lot of nutrients. It’s particularly high in calcium, vitamin B12, and riboflavin. It also contains phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. Many yogurt brands also add vitamin D. Unpasteurized yogurt is a probiotic containing live bacteria, which can aid in digestive health. Even many pasteurized yogurts still contain live bacteria (check the label). (Read more the health benefits.)
Chocolate Lover’s Dream Cheesecake
Servings
16
servingsPrep time
30
minutesCooking time
55
minutesResting time
6.5
hoursTotal time
7
hours55
minutesVelvety chocolate, smooth ganache, rich cheesecake, ...the perfect dessert for chocolate lovers everywhere!
Ingredients
- Cheesecake Ingredients
2 2/3 cups cream cheese (room temp)
1/2 plain yogurt (room temp)
1 cup sugar OR 2/3 cup monk fruit sweetener
2 tbsp potato starch OR cornstarch
3 eggs (room temp)
8 oz dark chocolate chips OR Lily’s sugar-free chocolate chips
- Ganache Ingredients
3.5 oz dark chocolate chips OR Lily’s sugar-free chocolate chips
2/3 cup heavy cream
- Decoration Ingredients
2 oz dark chocolate (finely chopped)
2 oz white chocolate (finely chopped)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Mix together the softened cream cheese and yogurt. To achieve a smooth texture, they must be both at room temperature. Mix the sugar (or monkfruit) and potato starch, then combine with the cream cheese mixture. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly in between.
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler until smooth, then mix into the batter, stirring constantly so as not to cook the eggs.
- Lightly grease a 7” springform pan. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 55 minutes or until the center barely jiggles when you gently shake the pan. Turn off the oven but leave the cheesecake in with the door cracked. This step will allow the cheesecake to cool slowly.
- When the cake reaches room temperature, chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Set up a double boiler for the ganache and heat the chocolate chips and heavy cream, stirring frequently. Once the chocolate is melted and you have a smooth, silky sauce, remove it from the heat.
- Pour the ganache over the chilled cheesecake. Use a knife to push the ganache over the top, giving it an even coat and letting it drip down the sides. Let the cake sit for 30 minutes, then chill for another 30 minutes.
- Decorate the top with finely chopped chocolate and white chocolate. Enjoy!
