This one’s got about as much chocolate as we can force into a cheesecake: ground in the crust, melted into the batter, and even shaved on top. We wouldn’t want to shortchange any chocolate lovers! Note that the recipe calls for low-fat or fat-free Greek yogurt. Full-fat proved far too rich, almost unctuous.
12 tablespoons (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus additional for the sheet pan
One 14.4-ounce box chocolate graham crackers, ground into crumbs in a food processor (about 4 cups)
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons whole or 2% milk
1½ pounds full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1¼ cups granulated white sugar
1 cup plain low-fat or fat-free Greek yogurt
5 large eggs, at room temperature
12 ounces chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate or bittersweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled to room temperature
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 pound mini chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
One 4-ounce bar or chunk semisweet chocolate, for topping
1. Position the rack in the center of the oven. Heat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter the inside of a 13 × 18-inch lipped sheet pan.
2. Mix the chocolate graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, confectioners’ sugar, and milk in a large bowl until uniform and moistened. Pour and spread this mixture into the prepared pan, then use clean, dry fingers to press it into an even crust across the bottom and up the sides of the prepared sheet pan.
3. Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and white sugar in a large bowl at medium speed until light and smooth, about 3 minutes.
4. Beat in the yogurt until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the melted chocolate and cocoa powder until evenly distributed. Scrape down and remove the beaters or paddle.
5. Using a silicone spatula, fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Pour and spread this mixture into the prepared crust.
6. Bake until puffed and set with the barest jiggle at its center when tapped, about 35 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack to room temperature, about 3 hours. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to 2 days.
7. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the cheesecake. To make chocolate curls, run a vegetable peeler down the long side of the chocolate bar or across a flat surface of the chunk, letting the resulting curl fall onto the cheesecake below. Soldier on until the cake is evenly covered with the curls.
TESTER NOTES
You may not use all of the chocolate to make the curls. You need a large enough block so you can hold it steady.
