3421. BACON-STOUT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

serves twelve 


Crust
4 standard sized graham crackers
1 cup pretzel rods
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted 

Filling
7 oz dark chocolate (60%)
1 cup stout
3 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tablespoon espresso powder
3/4 cup beer-candied bacon, finely chopped 

Topping
2/3 cup hot fudge sauce
1/2 cup beer-candied bacon, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Place one oven rack in the middle position, with one rack below. Preheat oven to 350°F. 

Crust: In a food processor add the graham crackers, sugar and the pretzels and process until it’s the consistency of crumbs. Turn the food processor on, and slowly stream in the butter and process until it resembles wet sand.

Spray the inside of a 9-inch spring form pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the processed crumbs into the spring form pan.

Using the bottom of a heavy, flat bottom glass, press the crust very well into the bottom of the pan until well compacted. 

Filling: In a pot over medium high heat, add the beer and the chocolate, stir until melted and remove from heat. Allow to cool.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the cream cheese and the sugar and mix until smooth.

One at a time, add the eggs, scraping the bottom of the bowl between additions.

Pour the cooled chocolate into the mixer and beat until well combined.

Lift the head of the mixer and add flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and bacon over the batter, stir on low speed until just combined.

Pour the batter into the pan over the crust.

Place the pan in the oven in the middle position. Place a baking dish on the rack below the cheesecake, fill with water.

Bake the cheesecake until the center no longer jiggles when you shake the rack, about 45-50 minutes. This isn’t a situation where a tooth pick inserted in the middle should come out clean, you just need the center to set and it will continue to set as it cools. Remove from oven. 

Topping: For the topping, warm your hot fudge sauce so that it is pourable.

Pour onto the center of the cheesecake carefully, and allow to sit and solidify for 15 minutes. Top the chocolate with the chopped bacon.

In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, and continue whipping on high until stiff peaks form.

Place in piping bag fitted with a decorative tip and pipe border of whipped cream around the edge.


bacon recipe source: Laura Davis, Tide and Thyme, Maryland; on Craft Beer.com