Decadent Triple Chocolate Birthday Cheesecake
This is the kind of birthday cake you don’t just slice… you celebrate. A thick chocolate cookie crust, ultra-creamy chocolate cheesecake, silky ganache on top and fudgy brownie cubes piled in the center. Rich, dense and totally over-the-top, this is a chocolate lover’s dream dessert for any special day.
Ingredients (paragraph style)
For the crust, mix about 250 g crushed chocolate cookies (Oreo-style, without the cream) with 90 g melted butter and 2 tablespoons sugar until it looks like wet sand. For the cheesecake filling, use 700 g cream cheese at room temperature, 180 g sugar, 200 g sour cream, 3 large eggs, 150 g melted dark chocolate (cooled slightly), 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt. For the topping, melt 150 g dark chocolate with 150 ml heavy cream to make ganache, then have about 1 to 2 cups small chocolate brownie cubes ready to decorate the center.
Method (short & clear)
Press the cookie crumb mixture firmly into the base and up the sides of a springform pan, then bake the crust at 170°C / 340°F for about 8–10 minutes until just set. While it cools slightly, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, mix in sour cream, vanilla, cocoa and salt, then blend in the melted chocolate. Add the eggs one at a time on low speed just until combined so the batter stays silky and thick.
Pour the filling over the crust, tap the pan to remove air bubbles and bake at 150°C / 300°F for about 50–60 minutes, until the edges are set and the center still has a gentle wobble. Turn off the oven, leave the door slightly open and let the cheesecake cool inside for about an hour, then chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight until completely firm.
Warm the cream and pour it over the chopped chocolate, let sit a minute and stir until smooth and shiny, then spread the ganache over the cold cheesecake so it forms a glossy pool on top. Pile the brownie cubes in the center like a little mountain, slice thick wedges and serve this birthday cheesecake cold with a big smile and maybe a candle or two.