BLACK FOREST CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

Ingredients:

A) Crust:
12 Oreos
1 1/2 tablespoon salted butter- melted

B) Cheesecake:
4.5 oz (3/4 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
2/3 cup caster sugar
2 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
12 oz. cream cheese, softened well 
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sour cream

C) Topping:
1 can cherry pie filling
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
2 1/2 tablespoon sugar
Finely chopped or shaved chocolate, for garnish (optional)


Method:

For the crust:
-Preheat oven to 160 Celsius. In a mixing bowl, using a fork, blend together crushed Oreos and butter. Divide mixture evenly among paper cups. Press crumbs into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool while preparing filling.

For the cheesecake filling:
-In a mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, cocoa and salt until no clumps of cocoa remain. 
- Add cream cheese to a mixing bowl and pour sugar mixture over cream cheese, then using an electric hand mixer set on low speed, whip mixture just until smooth. Mix in eggs one at a time, blending just until combined after each addition and adding in vanilla with second egg. 
- Pour in melted chocolate and mix just until combined, then add heavy cream and sour cream and mix just until combined. Forcefully tap bowl against countertop, about 30 times, to release some of the air bubbles. 
-Divide mixture among muffin cups (over crust layer), adding about a slightly heaping 1/4 cup to each. Bake for 17 - 20 minutes until centers only jiggle slightly. Remove from oven and allow to cool at room temperature 1 hour, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours.

For the topping:
-In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form then add tablespoon sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. Pipe or spread the heavy cream into an even layer over cupcakes then pipe a rim around edge over that layer and create a small well into the center. 
-Spoon a heaping tablespoon (about 2 tablespoon) Cherry pie filling into the center of each. Sprinkle some chopped chocolate on top.

Lya Uzir Creative Living