White chocolate cheesecake

Babiche Martens

For a seriously impressive dessert, this white chocolate cheesecake does the trick. It is rich, delicious and laden with fruit tossed in a little liquor. Again, this can be made a day or two in advance to make your life simpler on Christmas Day. It needs no explaining, just enjoy your efforts with family and friends.

Ingredients

200 g	Digestive biscuits, wholemeal
80 g	Melted butter
½ tsp	Cinnamon
200 ml	Cream
450 g	White chocolate (Main)
50 ml	Condensed milk
4	Eggs
400 g	Cream cheese (Main)
1 tsp	Vanilla
3 cups	Berries, tossed in 2 Tbsp liquor (optional) (Main)
1 serving	Mint leaves, to garnish

Directions

1. Heat oven to 170C. Line base of a 23cm spring form tin.
2. Into a kitchen processor place biscuits and whizz until they resemble fine breadcrumbs. Add butter and cinnamon and whizz again. Tip into lined tin and press to cover base evenly. Put into oven for 10 minutes then remove and cool. Turn the oven to 150C. Wrap base of tin in two layers of tinfoil; this will prevent water seeping into the tin. Then place tin in a deep baking tray.
3. To make the filling - place cream in a small pot and bring to boil.
4. Add chocolate and stir until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes.
5. Into a kitchen processor place condensed milk, eggs, cream cheese and vanilla. Blitz until smooth. Add chocolate mixture and blend until very well combined. Pour over biscuit base. Pour hot water into baking tray to reach a third of the way up the tin.
6. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave cheesecake inside to cool for an hour. It will set further as it cools.
7. Remove from oven and continue to cool in tin. Refrigerate overnight or for several hours.
8. When ready to serve remove from tin and pile berries on top. Garnish with mint leaves.

tip

Check out Ray McVinnie's video on'How to make chocolate shards'