Sunday 21 June 2015

Nutella Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake


You know, I have so many things in my pantry and kitchen cupboards that I am forever trying to create  space for more stuff. Not only am I a compulsive eater, I am also a compulsive hoarder.

Digging deep into the pantry, I found this.


This was from a Chinese New Year hamper. Upon checking the box, these cherry liqueurs will expire December 2015. We are almost halfway through 2015 and I better do something (besides popping them into my mouth).

Then I found 2 cans of these.


I bought these canned cherries from Bake with Yen some 2 years ago with no idea what I was going to do with them. They will expire July 2015. Yikes!

And in the fridge (which is also perpetually loaded) my whipping cream was also expiring soon. Real soon.


I remember too well with much regret how many baking and cooking ingredients I had to throw away when they expired. An action plan was required to avoid another incidence of wastage.

I also had a packet of 500g cream cheese in the fridge that expires October 2015. That's not too far away. Great. Now I have a valid excuse to bake a chocolate cherry cheesecake.


But I didn't have a recipe. And I was in no mood to google for one. So I decided to go with my memory and instincts. Yeah, auntie is using her pakat hentam-hentam method, which could jolly well end up as an episode of mad baking.


There's also half a bottle of Nutella and it was deployed into this cheesecake to make it a Nutella Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake. 

After more digging, I also found these.


Chocolate digestive biscuits, also from the same Chinese New Year hamper. Half was already used for another Nutella inspired cheesecake.


After a few hours of labor in the kitchen, I made me this elaborate cheesecake. All the trouble just to save some ingredients from being thrown away.


It was tiring hah..hah..I wanted to make ganache to coat the cake before topping it off with the cherries but I gave up. I used melted chocolate instead. I regret that because once chilled, the chocolate became hard and it was not so pleasant biting into it. Ganache would have stayed creamy.


But mission accomplished! I'm quite happy with the outcome and really, I should stop stocking up unnecessarily on baking ingredients. There are a few more things that I need to clear. Haiz....I'll be really busy these next few weekends :(











Nutella Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
Recipe source : Phong Hong

Ingredients :
- 200g chocolate digestive biscuits
- 70 butter, melted.

- 500g cream cheese
- 160g castor sugar
- 3 heaped tablespoons Nutella (sorry I didn't weigh this)
- 3 eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 200ml whipping cream

- 2 cans pitted cherries (439g per can)
- 1 tbsp cornflour, mixed with 2 tbsp water

- 180g chocolate, melted (In future I will use ganache instead)


Method :
1. Generously grease a 9" springform pan and wrap the pan with heavy duty aluminim foil (to avoid water seepage when baking in waterbath). Set aside.
2. Crush the disgestive biscuits and mix with melted butter.
3. Press the digestive biscuit mixture onto the base of the pan and put the pan into the fridge while you make the cheesecake filling.
4. Beat cream cheese and sugar until well mixed. 
5. Add eggs, one by one, beating well after each addition.
6. Add Nutella, vanilla extract and whipping cream and beat until well combined.
7. Pour the mixture into the pan and give the pan a few taps to remove air bubbles.
8. Place the pan into a waterbath and bake at 140C for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until the cheesecake is firm and no longer jiggly.
9. Remove from oven and leave to cool.
10. While the cheesecake is baking, make the cherry topping.
11. Drain cherries and set aside.
12. In a saucepan, bring the syrup to a boil. Simmer until reduced to half.
13. Bring to a boil and add cornflour mixture. Stir until the mixture becomes thick. Take the saucepan off the heat and mix in the cherries. Leave to cool.
14. Once the cheesecake is cool, coat the top with melted chocolate. 
15. Top with the cherry mixture and chill in the fridge overnight.


Photobucket

This post is linked to the event, Little Thumbs Up organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY and hosted by Diana of The Domestic Goddess Wannabe.

44 comments:

  1. See the cheesecake makes me crave for it...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Once you make some space then you will think: "Why my fridge seems so empty? It is pathetic, I better stock up." wahahaha!!! My mom also like that some times, every time I go home, I see that overflowing fridge, and she says need to stock up else no food to cook. @.@

    If you really don't want chocolate cake then stock up on healthy stuff la, maybe next time you can bake fruit cake or yogurt cake or what XD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right, I'll go on a stock up spree again and the whole cycle repeats! Oh no, no healthy stuff, I want stuff that will give me good reasons to bake a chocolate cake!

      Delete
  3. Haha Phong Hong, looks like you've got tonnes of treasure hidden somewhere in your pantry! I am sure I don't have that much but I must admit I did have to throw away expired stuff from both pantry and fridge. Your cheesecake looks yummy !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Veronica, there's more treasure to be found and used! But that's not too bad as it "forces" me to bake some nice things hee..hee...

      Delete
  4. Hi Phong Hong,
    Chocolatey! Plus Nutella and Chocolate cherry liqueur ... This Nutella Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake looks so tempting!
    Guess it's about time for me to do some "spring cleaning" in my kitchen too ... hee ..hee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen, it was a good outcome but not so good for dieting because I ate 3 slices. Ooops!

      Delete
  5. Hummm delicious.

    Kiss,
    Clarinha
    http://receitasetruquesdaclarinha.blogspot.pt/2015/06/pizza-de-linguica-e-pessego.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow..... I love Nutella and look at the cake!! It was so tempting!!

      Delete
    2. Clara : Thank you!

      Chris : This was a good cake and I see you "sesat" due to the lovely Italian lady :D :D :D

      Delete
  6. Good grief!!! From Chinese New Year??? Here, the hampers do not last so long - they always put in stuff about to expire, and nothing nice usually - things I would not want to but at the supermarts, not worth it at all!

    OMG!!! 15 steps! Ummm...no, thank you. LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right, these retailers use their older stocks to pack into hampers. With 4 major festivals, it gives them ample opportunity.

      Delete
  7. Tinned cherries bought 2 years ago !! I wonder why you bought them, coz I think you can buy fresh cherries anytime, anywhere, from any supermarket.. Wah, 2 years, pui-fook you.. Goodies from CNY hamper, that one normal, coz I also have some stuffs from the CNY hamper belum guna punyer, like packet herbal soup, snow jelly and other canned stuff..Wah, your cheesecake is very unique, interesting name too.. Nutella cheese cake, yes, heard before.. Cherry cheesecake, also yes, heard before, but Nutella cherry cheesecake, first time I hear, and looks so nice, fully utilized all your chocolates and tinned cherries and all.. Yummzzz..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Louiz, the canned cherries are quite cheap at RM7.50 per can. Fresh ones I cannot afford lah :) There's more goodies from the hamper and let's see what I will make with them over the next few weekends hee..hee,,,

      Delete
  8. first of all, it's like a while we have not been seeing cakes in this blog, and now you are continuing to awe us all with this sinfully looking nutella chocolate cherry cheesecake!! WOW~~

    all the expiring leftover from the CNY hampers?? haha, that's a good idea you go and dig your fridge upside down to check for such items so that you don't slip them out of mind.. it's not uncommon that we always forget something we have got in the fridge, and by the time we remembers or found them by accident one day, the thing has already gone expired, and we just have to throw it away.. what a waste right??

    but I am curious leh, you still keep the chocolate and digestive biscuit (somemore my favorite chocolate coated type) in the fridge since CNY!! I guess once I unwrap the hamper, within few days, I'd only have the crumbs left, hahaha!! you are still keeping it in the fridge and waiting for it to expires!! I cannot believe that!!!

    okay back to the cheesecake, I must say this is super delectable!! the cake itself as well as the topping, okay let me rephrase, the luxury toppings.. I can imagine the juice from the cherry oozing out and dripping down the cake (if not *pancut* on you face) when you were cutting the cake.. oh my, now I hope the cherry doesn't taste like medicine, then it would be super perfect to go with the chocolates and the cherry liquor..

    I see bits of dark brown and white inside the cake itself, what are those?? can't seem to find anything close from the recipe, looks like some cherries or chocolates and nuts or maybe marshmallows to me.. I'm sure these actually enhanced the texture and taste of the cheese based cake itself.. ooooh~~~

    okay, looking forward to how you would clear all your expiring stuffs in the fridge.. and when the fridge is cleared, I wonder if you will also be busy stocking up new stuffs?? hehehe.. but of course, the best parts will be to see what kind of new creations you will be showing us.. yummy!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ya lah, I thought you all might get bored with all my KT stories. So better give cake so that nobody will run away hah..hah...

      Those thinsg from the hamper, alamak so many going to expire liao. So it is best to make use of them soon and not waste the giver's money, right? The biscuits got leftover because I don't fancy eating biscuits. Or else, sure disappear fast. Don't worry the cherries did not taste like medicine. It was quite nice eaten together with the chocolate and cheesecake.

      You are so observant! Those bits you see in the cake are cherries. I put some into the cake just for the fun of it. For the next few weekends, I am doing stock clearance hee..hee...

      Delete
  9. Hi Phong Hong, wow... this one I like very much. Send some over please. LOL
    It look like to die for kind of dessert.. you are really innovative. 2 thumbs up for you.
    Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.

    Have a nice day, regards.
    Amelia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Amelia! Aiya too bad you are not my neighbor or else I tapau a few slices for you :)

      Delete
  10. Wow...if pakai hentam can get that beautiful result, I can imagine when you don't hentam! :D I, too, buy a lot of canned foods and then leave them in the cupboard and forget all about them until it's too late. :'( I think we need to exercise more control! ;D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. heh..heh.. cheesecakes are quite easy to bake and the decoration is actually quite basic lah. I have told myself time and again not to be so greedy and wasteful. I have refrained from buying more ingredients lately and I should buy only when I want to use it.

      Delete
  11. Fuiyo. That is one sinful cake!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Phong Hong,
    You are one creative baker! I like how you combine all your bits and pieces of ingredients to come up with a wonderful cake!
    I should clear lots of things in my pantry and my fridge too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joyce! Thank you :) As they say, necessity is the mother of invention! There's lots of ingredients to clear and that should keep me "creative" hee..hee...

      Delete
  13. They look so yummy and sweet!! I wanna scream in my heart! I want!

    You are so scary to share your kitchen loots with all their expiry dates looming. You are so sweet toothed and big eater like me. Is that why we never saw your photos?? Muahahahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hah..hah..hah... TM, I cannot show my auntie photos lah!

      Delete
    2. Not fair lah, I showed all my uncle photos since Day 01.

      Delete
  14. Wah lau eh..drooling liao....so nice la

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will not be attempting this recipe coz sure wil kantoi. Me got talent to kantoi good recipe. Lol

      Delete
    2. Mana ada kantoi? Can make bak chang means cheesecake is very kacang liao :D

      Delete
  15. Hi Phong Hong, you are great with cheesecakes. All so unique and lovely even with bits and pieces. How I wish I'm your neighbour, hehehe! I'm sure you will share them with me....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kimmy, the truth is, cheesecakes are very easy to bake! If you are my neighbor I will benefit a lot lah...can eat bak chang and pao some more in exchange for cheesecake hee..hee...

      Delete
  16. So creative! My heart bleed when I throw away those expired baking goods. Now that your fridge is freed up, are you doing anymore shopping?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You bet I will be doing shopping when I feel the fridge or cupboards are too empty hee..hee...

      Delete
  17. Your cake looks so pretty! Must be really delicious too with the cherries, chocolates, nutella and chocolate digestive biscuits not to mention cheese. Really rich. I would like to have a piece. Like I have said before, you can really bake and so can open a bakery.

    Did you share the cake with your friends? I don't think you can finish the whole cake on your own even by your big eater standard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mun! Don't worry, I did not eat the whole cake myself hah..hah... I had 3 slices. Only 3 hee..hee...

      Delete
  18. Hi Phong Hong,

    No waste = delicious Nutella chocolate cherry cheesecake??? This will be exclusively Phong Hong's equation!

    In regardless, it is a fantastic idea that you have made this yummy cake because absolutely nothing has gone waste!!!

    Zoe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Zoe! Yes, nothing goes to waste and I end up with a good cake :)

      Delete
  19. Hi Phong Hong,
    Your cheesecake look like those display in the cafés! Look inviting and pretty!
    Your are brilliant to use up all your excess stock to bake this wonderful cheesecake..:D
    Can send a piece over...oops! Anymore left? :p
    Have a wonderful weekend~
    mui

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, mui mui! Next time I reserve for you :D

      Delete
  20. Phong Hong - that is my favourite chocolate from M&S!!! Oh gosh, it is very clever of you to combine this with cheesecake!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diana! I love that chocolate too hah.hah... I have another box still unopened whoohoo!!

      Delete