Double Chocolate Italian Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Crust :

1 cup chocolate graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons sugar

Cheesecake :

32 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

4 tablespoons butter, softened

1 1/3 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 eggs

6 ounces bittersweet (or semi-sweet) chocolate, melted and cooled to just above room temperature

6 ounces white chocolate, melted and cooled to just above room temperature

Glaze :

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter

1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Instructions:

1. Combine crust ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pour mixture into a greased 9-inch springform pan and press flat. Wrap the bottom and outside of the pan with foil. We recommend two layers of extra-wide heavy-duty foil. We also use a rectangular piece of cardboard (4-6 inches long and 2-3 inches wide) placed between the latch (on the outside of the springform) and the foil, to prevent the latch from piercing the foil.

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put softened cream cheese, whipping cream, softened butter,  in a large bowl. Mix at medium-low speed just until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and mix on low speed until blended.

3. Divide cream cheese mixture evenly into two bowls. Add melted bittersweet chocolate to one, stirring to mix. Add melted white chocolate to the other, stirring to mix.

4. Pour white chocolate cheesecake batter into prepared pan, smoothing into a flat layer. Gently spoon bittersweet chocolate in a layer over the white chocolate batter. Place springform pan in a large shallow roaster or broiler pan. Fill pan with an inch of hot water.

5. Bake 60-80 minutes or until edges are puffed and top looks dull and is dry to the touch. Center should move slightly when side of pan is tapped. Turn off oven. Let cheesecake stand in oven for an hour. Cool to room temperature; refrigerate overnight.

6. Make glaze by melting chocolate and butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in corn syrup. Allow glaze to cool slightly .

7. Remove sides from springform pan. Place cheesecake on a wire rack over a baking sheet or countertop.  Pour glaze over top and sides of cheesecake.