Double Dark Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake (with Brownie Crust)

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Double Dark Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake–don’t those words just make you start drooling? They should, because this delectable desert ain’t no disappointment-in-disguise. It’s rich but not too sweet. Perfect for a dinner dressed to the nines…and a sweet treat to keep in the fridge for days when you’re just needing a chocolate kick.

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DOUBLE DARK CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH BROWNIE CRUST

Dark chocolate is the ultimate in desserts, in my humble opinion.

The recipe I’m sharing with you is actually one of the very first cheesecake recipes I ever tried.

And I promptly set about experimenting with it. How could I make this amazing dessert even better?

The answer somewhat fell into my lap…or, rather, just spent a little too much time in my oven.

USE FOR OVERCOOKED BROWNIES

Once upon a time, I left some brownies in the oven a little too long. What a shame!

Now, I hate to waste food. (Growing up with a garden compost pile that collected all of our rotten scraps has forever ruined me for simply tossing food in a garbage bin.)

So what did I do? Used the brownies, of course.

While I couldn’t salvage the entire pan of brownies, I was able to carve out the center and, by mixing it with a little melted butter, soften it enough to mold it into brownie truffles.

While this might not be the best way to make brownie truffles (I mean, who wants to have to burn their brownies before making them into something yummy?!), they are delicious.

This little mishap inspired me to use brownies in other creative ways. I used leftover brownies in a cheesecake crust. They became part of layered fruit trifles.

So whenever I have a little brownie-making mishap (overcooked, too dry, crystalized sugar, etc.) now, it’s just an easy excuse to make a cheesecake or a batch of truffles. 😉

Voila! Transformed! Toss brownies no more! #nobrowniewaste

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE CHEESECAKE

How do you make brownie cheesecake even better? By making it double chocolate.

And dark chocolate, no less.

If you had asked me as a child what kind of chocolate I liked, you would have met with a confused smile. Why not all of them?

But these days it’s dark chocolate or nothing for me. I’ve become a chocolate snob.

And maybe that’s an encouragement to you. Because it means that there’s no way I would use my time to put up a chocolate-ish-y recipe on my site.

Nope. It’s gotta be chocolate dark to the max or nada.

SAFARI ANIMAL BIRTHDAY CAKE CHEESECAKE

The first time I created this recipe was for my eldest son’s second birthday.

We were in the middle of an international move, with not a lot to decorate (or even sit on) left in our house. And I wanted his birthday to be something special.

So I tried my hand at creating what I imagined would be the most deliciously chocolatey dark chocolate double chocolate ganache cheesecake ever.

It panned out even better than I dreamed.

And my son has been addicted to chocolate ever since.

(Thanks, Dark Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake.😒)

Of course, a cheesecake needs to dress up for a child’s birthday. So we decided to transform it into an African safari cheesecake.

The chocolate became the mud of a wet savannah after a downpour, and the chocolate brownie truffles were the boulders around the mud pit.

Two of my son’s infatuations (animals and chocolate) had united to form the ultimate chocolate ganache cheesecake.

If we had had a bit more time in our former home before our move, then I likely would have dressed up the house to match our theme. Sadly, it was a no-go.

But maybe not for you. I think this chocolate ganache cheesecake would be the perfect table centerpiece for a safari-themed birthday party.

If you happen to make it just that, please share a photo with me! I’d love to see! Send it my way by tagging @myhome.yourhome.ourhome on Instagram.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE DOUBLE DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE CHEESECAKE WITH BROWNIE CRUST

For the brownie crust and truffles:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 + 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• + extra butter for making the crust and truffles (about 3-4 tsp.)

For the cheesecake:

• 2 lbs. cream cheese (4 packages), room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 4 eggs
• 4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 10 oz. bittersweet/semisweet chocolate (chocolate chips work great!)
• 2 tsp. butter

For the dark chocolate ganache:

• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (chocolate chips work great!)
• 2 tsp. cocoa powder

TOOLS YOU NEED TO MAKE DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE CHEESECAKE WITH BROWNIE CRUST

springform pan

spatula

handheld mixer or KitchenAid mixer (I have also made this by hand, but a mechanical mixer makes the process so much easier!)

8″x8″ baking dish

HOW TO MAKE DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE CHEESECAKE WITH BROWNIE CRUST

For the brownie crust and truffles:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).
2. Grease an 8″x8″ baking pan.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or by hand in a bowl with a spoon), cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until fluffy (about 2 minutes).
4. Add the vanilla, eggs, and salt. Mix just until combined.
5. Mix in the flour and cocoa powder, just until combined.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
7. Set on a wire rack to cool.
8. For the brownie crust: When cooled, crumble the brownies. Melt butter (about 2 tsp) and mix with 1 1/2 cups of the brownie crumbs. Press into the bottom of a cheesecake pan (springform pan). Set aside.
9. For the brownie truffles: Mix together 1 cup brownie crumbs with 2 tsp. melted butter. Roll into small (1/2-inch) balls. Set aside.

For the double dark chocolate ganache cheesecake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).
2. Melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth. (If the chocolate still has lumps, return it to the microwave for 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each time, just until it is smooth.) Set aside to cool.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), mix together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until well combined, though not fluffy.
4. Add in the vanilla extract and cocoa powder and mix.
5. Slowly add in the eggs, one at a time.
6. Stir in the melted chocolate until well combined.
7. Pour into the cheesecake pan (springform pan), over the brownie crust. Bake for 45 minutes, or until done. (You can tell that the cheesecake is done when the center is set and the top looks dry.) Do not overbake.
8. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. When cooled, pour the chocolate ganache on top and spread evenly over the top and sides. Set in the refrigerator for 8 hours (or overnight).

For the dark chocolate ganache:

1. Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over low heat.
2. When hot, remove from the heat and add the bittersweet chocolate.
3. Mix in the cocoa powder.
4. Spread over the cooled cheesecake.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE CHEESECAKE

We love to top chocolate ganache cheesecake with fruit, and you can also serve it with various other dessert-type dishes.

Here are our favorites:

• strawberries
• raspberries
• whipped cream
• ice cream

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE CHEESECAKE

Leftover chocolate ganache cheesecake? Who ever heard of such a thing?!

But if the impossible happens in your home, then just secure your cheesecake in an airtight container (or slip a pan over the top, if it so happens to be on a display plate, like ours often do) and pop it into the fridge.

How long will chocolate ganache cheesecake last?

Good question! Five minutes? Likely. Ten minutes? Maybe.

It all depends on how many people, multiplied by the time of day, divided by how hungry, and divided again by the amount of water you have handy to cleanse thirsty palettes.

In the fridge, however, double dark chocolate ganache cheesecake with brownie crust should keep well for up to a week. It will begin to dry out if not covered properly, however, so make sure to seal it up tight.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Dark chocolate. Dark chocolate. Dark chocolate.

Are you convinced yet?

If you’ve resisted diving into the recipe after reading this far, then I have nothing left. But if you’re just itching to make this recipe, then make sure to share a photo of your Dark Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake and tag @myhome.yourhome.ourhome. I love seeing what you’re up to!

And if you’re looking for more recipes to try, check out these other dessert favorites:

• Brazilian Pudim
• Perfect Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Chocolate-Caramel Pumpkin Lava Muffins
• Caramelized Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
• Better-than-Sunshine Moist Orange Bundt Cake
• Mocha Sugar Cookie Holiday Pie

Til next time, happy baking!