Chocolate swirl cheesecake is a decadent dessert made from cream cheese, sugar, and chocolate. This sweet treat is an alternative to traditional cheesecake, and features a distinctive marbled surface made from swirls of chocolate and cream cheese. Chocolate swirl cheesecake can be found in many restaurants and bakeries, though many prefer to make this dish at home to save money and maximize freshness. This dessert can be made using many recipes to modify flavor, appearance, and nutritional content.
To make chocolate swirl cheesecake, many cooks start with a pre-made pie crust from the grocery store. The crust on this dessert can be made from chocolate or vanilla cookies, though graham cracker crusts are the most common. Others make their own pie shell using cookie crumbs mixed with butter and sugar. The crust is baked for several minutes until it hardens before it is filled with the cheesecake mixture.
The major ingredients in chocolate swirl cheesecake are the same ones that are used in standard cheesecake recipes. They include cream cheese, eggs, and sugar, which are blended together to form a sweet and creamy mixture. This mixture is blended into the pie crust, then topped with dollops of melted chocolate. Depending on the desired flavor, different recipes may include milk or dark chocolate, or even powdered cocoa. Once the cheesecake has been topped with drops of chocolate, a knife or other pointed object must be drawn across the surface to swirl the ingredients together and create the unique marbled surface of chocolate swirl cheesecake.
Chocolate swirl cheesecake comes in standard round cake or pie pans. Some restaurants serve a deep-dish version of this dessert, which can be shared by two or more people. Small, single servings are also available in some bakeries or grocery stores. Numerous recipes also instruct users on how to make chocolate cheesecake bars, which resemble brownies and are made in a square or rectangular pan. This dessert may be topped with whipped cream or fresh fruit.
For added flavor, chefs may choose a more specialized version of this recipe. For example, some chocolate swirl cheesecake recipes call for the addition of fruit, including raspberries or bananas. Others incorporate peanut butter to create a chocolate peanut butter swirl. To cut calories and fat, users may swap sugar for no-calorie sweeteners, or replace regular cream cheese with light or low-fat versions. In general, however, cheesecake is considered a rich, decadent dessert that should be consumed in moderation.
