Everything you love about Halloween in a decadent cheesecake.
YIELDS
4
TO
5
Ingredients
Cheesecake
2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
750 g cream cheese (3 packages), softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup greek yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, or extract if you can’t find paste
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup whipping cream, whipped to stiff peaks
1 cup chopped-up Halloween chocolates
Chocolate Bark
2 cups dark chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup assorted Halloween chocolates, chopped
Candy eyes, for decoration
Salted Caramel Sauce
Approx. 30 individually wrapped caramels
1/4 cup 35% cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Assemble and Serve
Gooseberries and blackberries, for garnish
Directions
Cheesecake
In a large mixing bowl, toss chocolate wafer crumbs, brown sugar, kosher salt, and melted butter until well combined. Place the mixture into a nine-inch springform pan and press the mixture firmly to the bottom of the pan. Use a one-cup measuring cup or small glass to help pack the mixture tightly into the pan. Place the pan in the fridge to let the crust firm up.
Next, we make the filling. In the bowl of a stand mixture fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl using electric beaters, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, and yogurt until smooth and creamy - about three to four minutes. Add vanilla bean paste, lemon zest, and juice and beat for another 10 to 20 seconds to incorporate. Switching to a silicone spatula, gently fold in the whipped cream, followed by the chopped Halloween candy.
Pour the filling into the cooled crust and cover it with plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge for at least six hours or, ideally, overnight to set.
Chocolate Bark
Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
Place chopped chocolate in a double boiler (a metal or glass mixing bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water) over medium-high heat. Stir chocolate until fully melted and remove from heat. Stir in salt.
Pour melted chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out evenly.
Sprinkle with chopped Halloween chocolates, then place candy eyes wherever there may be some gaps.
Place the baking sheet in the fridge to chill - about 30 minutes. Once chilled and firm, break into pieces and set aside.
Salted Caramel Sauce
Heat caramels and cream in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Stir until melted and fully incorporated, and creamy, about 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in salt. Let cool slightly before assembling.
Assemble and Serve
Stick pieces of the bark into the top of the cheesecake, sprinkle with gooseberries and blackberries and drizzle with caramel sauce. Enjoy!