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Hot Cocoa Cheesecake

Hot Cocoa Cheesecake is a delicious layered cake featuring a layer of cheesecake nestled between two layers of hot cocoa chocolate cake and covered in buttercream frosting and ganache.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 12 Servings
Author Rob

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 Milk Chocolate Cake Mix
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1/2 cup Oil
  • 1 Cup Hot Cocoa - instant mix will work fine, but make it with Milk, not water

For the Cheesecake:

  • 3 8 oz. packages Cream Cheese - softened
  • 1 1/2 cups Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
  • 3 Eggs
  • 2 Tablespoons Sweetened Condensed Milk

Buttercream Frosting:

  • 1 Stick Butter - softened
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese - room temp
  • 1 32 ounce package Powdered Sugar

For the Ganache

  • 1 package Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream - more if needed
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter

Instructions

For the Cake:

  • Pre-heat the Oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8 or 9 inch cake pans with Butter, and Place 2 Tablespoons of the Cake Mix in the pans, and 'FLOUR' the pans with the cake mix.
  • In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the Cake Mix, Eggs, Oil, and Hot Cocoa (Make the Instant Cocoa in the Microwave - make sure to make it with Milk, and not water). Mix the cake mix on Medium high speed for two minutes.  Pour the cake mix into the pans, dividing the Batter evenly between the two pans. 
  • Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove the cake pans to a wire rack, and cool for 10 minutes.  Turn the Cake Pans upside down on the wire rack, remove pans, and cool cakes completely. 

For Cheesecake:

  • Line the bottom of a 7 inch Spring-form pan with Parchment Paper.
  • In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the softened Cream Cheese, Sugar, Heavy Cream, Vanilla, and Eggs.  Mix until all ingredients are blended.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and mix again, just until blended.
  • Place a small dish of water on the bottom rack of the oven, directly under the Spring-form pan..  Pour the Cheesecake batter into the Spring-form pan, and place in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. 
  • Turn the temperature down to 300, and finish baking for another 45 minutes.  Turn off the oven, and leave the Cheesecake in the oven for another 15 minutes.  Remove the Cheesecake from the oven, and place on a wire rack to cool completely. While the Cheesecake is cooling, make the Frosting...

For the Frosting:

  • In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, place the Butter, and Cream Cheese, and mix until smooth and creamy.  Add the Powdered Sugar a little at a time, mixing between additions until all the powdered sugar is added.  Mix until completely smooth.  Then to assemble the cake...
  • On a cake stand, or cake plate, spread a small amount of the Frosting right in the center, and place one of the Cakes, top side down on the Frosting.  Frost the cake with the Frosting, and then place the cooled Cheesecake on top of the first layer of Chocolate cake.
  • Frost the Cheesecake with the Frosting, and then add the other Chocolate Cake on top of the Cheesecake, top side up.  Frost the Cake, top and sides, in a Rustic manner (rustic is not perfect, but iced as smooth as possible) Place the Cake plate/stand in the refrigerator. 

Make the Ganache:

  • In a medium bowl, add the Milk Chocolate Chips, and Heavy Cream.
  • Place in the Microwave, and microwave at 15 second intervals, stopping every 15 seconds to stir the chocolate.  If the Chocolate becomes thick, add a little more Heavy cream, and stir until smooth, and continue until the chocolate is completely melted.  When the chocolate is melted completely, add the Butter, and stir well, until blended, and the chocolate is smooth and shiny.
  • Remove the Cake/Cheesecake from the refrigerator, and pour the Ganache over the top of the Cake/Cheesecake, letting it run down over the edges, and coating the top.  Place the Cake/Cheesecake back in the refrigerator, and leave overnight for best results. 
  • When time to serve, cut in 2 inch pieces, serve, and Enjoy! Serves 12-14.