Last Friday was my cousin Kaman’s birthday. Her very first one away from home. Her very first one with our family. She told me chocolate cheesecake was her favourite when I asked about it a month ago because I knew her birthday was coming. The day before her birthday she wasn’t sure if I remembered and asked me, “Hmmm…I was wondering what cake are you going to make tomorrow?” And that’s all 17-year-olds concern – Do I get a cake? Or do I get a new phone for my birthday?

Of course I remembered. Here we had a family dinner and this decadent, rich and very chocolatey cheesecake on a summer evening for Kaman’s birthday. May not be a typical celebration for a teenage girl, but definitely a fresh and memorable one.

Ingredients (8-inch cake):
Crust
2 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumb
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Filling
2 packs 8-ounce cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, separated, room temperature
4 ounces dark chocolate, melted
Topping
1 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup chocolate curls
1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven at 350F. Grease an 8-inch spring form pan.
Make the crust by mixing all the crust ingredients together in a food processor or with a fork.
Press the mixture onto the bottom of the spring form pan. Bake crust for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Turn down oven temperature to 300F.
To prepare filling, beat the cream cheese, sour cream and sugar on medium speed until smooth in a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Then add egg yolks and chocolate, mix for 2 minutes or until well blended.
In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff. Gently fold in the cream cheese mixture.
Pour the filling over the cooled crust. Tap the pan on counter a few times to release all the air in the batter. Bake for an hour, or until the edge of the cheesecake is puffed but the center is still wobbly and wet looking.
Turn off the oven with the door slightly opened, let the cheesecake sit in the oven to cool completely, at least an hour.
Chill for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
Garnish with raspberries and chocolate curls. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top before serving.