Amaretto and Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Yield > 12
Keys : Alcoholic Chocolate Desserts Italian Italy European Mediterranean
Ingredients :
crust
1 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tbl butter, unsalted
1 1/4 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
1/4 cup nuts, finely chopped
3 tbl sugar, confectioners'
filling-
24 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
4 lrg egg, room temp
1/4 cup amaretto
2 tbl cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
topping-
2 cup sour cream, room temp
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp amaretto
1/2 cup almonds, toasted sliced
Method :
• Make the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375-F. Lightly butter the bottom and side of a 9 x 3" round spring form pan.
• Trim a 9" cardboard cake circle so that it fits snugly within the curved lip of the bottom of the spring form pan.
Cover the top of the cardboard lined spring form bottom with a piece of aluminum foil, leaving a 2" overhang all the way around the edge. Carefully attach the side of the spring form so as not to tear the foil. Wrap the foil overhang halfway up
the side of the spring form pan. Lightly butter the foil covered bottom and side of the spring form pan. In the top of a double boiler over hot, not simmering, water, melt the chocolate chips
with the butter, stirring frequently, until smooth. Remove the top part of the double boiler from the bottom and cool the chocolate mixture until tepid. In a large bowl, stir together the crumbs, nuts and sugar until combined. Add the chocolate mixture and using a fork, stir together the chocolate and
crumbs, until combined. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, making sure that the crust extends 1" up the side of the pan. Set aside. Make the filling: In a large bowl, using a hand held electric mixer set at medium high speed, beat the cream cheese with the sugar for 2 to 3
minutes, or until smooth. One at a time, beat in the eggs, beating well after each addition. Beat in the liqueur, cornstarch and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour the cheesecake filling into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a rubber spatula. Bake the cheesecake for 50 to
60 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean when inserted near the center. Cool for 5 minutes. Do not turn off the oven. Make the topping: In a large bowl, stir together the sour cream, sugar and liqueur until combined and spread it evenly over the surface of the cake. Bake for 5 minutes longer. Cool the cheesecake completely on a wire rack. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Remove the side of the pan and sprinkle the top with the almonds.