Valentine's Day Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients:

280g vanilla wafers, finely crushed
140g ground toasted almonds
100g butter, melted
100g sugar
360g milk chocolate chips
120ml milk
1 envelope unflavoured gelatine (7g powdered gelatine)
480g cream cheese, softened (or you can use my home-made cream cheese recipe to prepare your own)
120ml sour cream
1/2 tsp almond extract
120ml double cream, whipped
whipped cream and chocolate shavings, to garnish

Method:

In a large bowl, combine the vanilla wafer crumbs, almonds, butter and sugar. Mix thoroughly then pat firmly into a 22cm diameter springform pan, covering the base and about 6cm up the sides.

In a bain-marie (double boiler) over gently simmering water melt the chocolate chips and stir until smooth then take off the heat and set aside to cool. Pour the milk into a small pan, sprinkle the gelatine over the top then set aside for 1 minute. Place over low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the gelatine has all dissolved then take off the heat and set aside.

In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, sour cream and melted chocolate then beat until fluffy. Now beat in the gelatine and milk mixture along with the almond extract. Finally fold in he whipped double cream. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan then transfer to the refrigerator and chill until firm (about 3 hours).

When completely set run a knife around the edge of the cake to separate from the pan then remove the rim. Prior to serving garnish with whipped cream and chocolate servings.

Find more St Valentine's Day Recipes Here