German Chocolate Cheesecake | Life, Love and Sugar

July 26, 2024

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This German Chocolate Cheesecake is completely out of this world! A {smooth}, creamy German chocolate filling is layered with a gooey, wealthy coconut pecan topping that’s additionally added on high. And it’s all set in a traditional Oreo crust. It’s cheesecake heaven.

A slice of German chocolate cheesecake on a plate.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Nice texture. The filling for this cheesecake is so thick and creamy. I used a mix of cream cheese and bitter cream for the very best, velvety-smooth texture.
Enjoyable and completely different. This isn’t your common cheesecake. It’s a enjoyable twist on German Chocolate Cake in cheesecake kind. The mix of flavors and textures will wow these which might be fortunate sufficient to get a chew.
The most effective coconut pecan topping. Wealthy, candy, gooey, and completely loaded with coconut flakes and crunchy, toasted pecans, the topping (and center layer) for this cheesecake is an actual winner. Cautious to not eat all of it with a spoon earlier than it makes it to the cheesecake.

What’s the Distinction Between German Chocolate Cheesecake and Common Chocolate Cheesecake?

When in comparison with my Traditional Chocolate Cheesecake, this German chocolate cheesecake is predicated on the traditional German Chocolate Cake and makes use of melted German chocolate (a sweeter, milder chocolate) as an alternative of semi-sweet chocolate within the filling. It additionally has the identical unimaginable coconut pecan combination layered within the center and unfold excessive as you utilize in German Chocolate Cake. My chocolate cheesecake retains issues easy with a chocolate ganache topping and some swirls of chocolate whipped cream.

Don’t get me incorrect, my traditional chocolate cheesecake is ideal for these of you in search of one thing a bit less complicated. So is that this No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake, should you’re not within the temper to activate the oven.

Ingredient Notes

Right here’s what you’ll have to make this German chocolate cheesecake recipe. Don’t overlook to scroll to the recipe card beneath for exact measurements.

Ingredients for German chocolate cheesecake.

Coconut-Pecan Topping

Egg yolks – These will thicken the topping because it cooks. Make sure you use massive eggs, not medium or further massive.
Evaporated milk – Don’t mistake evaporated milk for sweetened condensed milk. They aren’t the identical factor.
Vanilla extract
Sugar
Unsalted butter – You’ll wish to dice the butter so it melts extra rapidly.
Sweetened shredded coconut
Chopped pecans – Toasting them makes them further tasty. You may toast your pecans within the oven or on the stovetop or purchase pre-toasted nuts.
Chocolate ganache – The ganache is non-obligatory. I like drizzling it excessive of the cake. Make your individual or seize some from the shop.

Crust

Oreo crumbs – You don’t have to take away the filling from the Oreos earlier than processing them into crumbs. Simply use the entire Oreo.
Unsalted butter – Salted butter would additionally work. Whichever you have got readily available.

Filling

Cream cheese – Begin with room-temperature cream cheese. If it’s too chilly, it received’t combine properly with the opposite elements, and also you’ll end up with a lumpy filling. Additionally be sure you use brick-style and full-fat cream cheese. Lowered fats tends to be softer, as does tub-style cream cheesecake.
Sugar
All-purpose flour – You need to use half the quantity of cornstarch, should you’d like a gluten free different.
Pure unsweetened cocoa powder – To ramp up the chocolate taste only a bit extra. Utilizing solely the melted chocolate isn’t fairly sufficient.
Bitter cream – The bitter cream brings some tang to the filling that breaks up the richness of the cream cheese a bit. It additionally provides to the creamy texture.
Vanilla extract
German chocolate – It is a particular mix of chocolate that’s completely different than semi-sweet, milk or darkish chocolate. You may substitute one of many others for it, should you can’t discover it.
Eggs – Permit the eggs to come back to room temperature earlier than making the filling. In the event that they’re too chilly, they received’t combine as simply with the opposite elements, which might result in over-mixing. Make sure you use massive eggs, not medium or further massive.

Overhead image of German chocolate cheesecake on a serving platter.

The best way to Make a German Chocolate Cheesecake

Right here’s a basic overview of easy methods to make German chocolate cheesecake. For extra detailed directions, scroll to the recipe card beneath.

Make the topping

Thicken. Whisk collectively the egg yolks, evaporated milk, and vanilla in a big saucepan. Add the sugar and butter and prepare dinner over medium warmth for 12-Quarter-hour, stirring continually, till thickened. Take away from warmth.
Add the mix-ins. Stir in shredded coconut, pecans, and salt.
Chill. Switch the topping to a bowl and chill within the fridge.

Making the base for coconut pecan topping for German chocolate cheesecake. — Whisk collectively the yolks, evaporated milk, and vanilla and prepare dinner to thicken.

Folding shredded coconut and pecans into the topping for German chocolate cheesecake. — Whisk collectively the yolks, evaporated milk, and vanilla and prepare dinner to thicken.

For the crust

Prep. Preheat oven to 325°F, line the underside of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper, and grease the perimeters.
Press. Mix the Oreos and butter in a bowl and press into the underside and up the perimeters of the pan.
Bake. Bake for 8-10 minutes and let it cool.
Leak-proof the pan. Wrap the outsides of the pan with aluminum foil or use one in all my different strategies.

Mixing together Oreo crumbs and butter. — Combine collectively the butter and Oreo crumbs.

Oreo crust in a springform pan. — Combine collectively the butter and Oreo crumbs.

Make the filling

Regulate temperature. Scale back oven to 300°F.
Make the filling base. Beat collectively the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and cocoa powder on low velocity. Stir within the bitter cream and vanilla.

Beating together cream cheese, sugar, flour, and cocoa powder. — Beat collectively the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and cocoa powder on low velocity.

Stirring sour cream and vanilla into German chocolate cheesecake filling. — Beat collectively the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and cocoa powder on low velocity.

Ending touches. Stir within the melted chocolate (in two elements) adopted by the eggs, separately.

Stirring melted German chocolate into cheesecake filling. — Stir within the melted chocolate in 2 elements.

Mixing eggs into German chocolate cheesecake filling. — Stir within the melted chocolate in 2 elements.

Assemble. Unfold 1 cup of the filling over the crust. Unfold 1 1/2 cups of the coconut pecan topping over that. Then unfold the remaining filling excessive.
Bake. Place the leak-proofed pan in a water bathtub and bake for 1 hour 25-Half-hour.

Spreading a layer of coconut pecan topping over a layer of German chocolate cheesecake filling. — Unfold a layer of coconut pecan topping over a layer of cheesecake filling.

Spreading a layer of German chocolate cheesecake filling over a layer of coconut pecan topping, — Unfold a layer of coconut pecan topping over a layer of cheesecake filling.

Cool progressively. Flip off the oven and let the cheesecake sit in there for Half-hour with the door closed. Crack the oven door and let the cheesecake sit for a further Half-hour.
Chill. Take away the cheesecake from the water bathtub, unwrap, and refrigerate for 5-6 hours or in a single day.
Prime. Switch the chilled cheesecake to a serving plate and unfold the remaining coconut pecan topping excessive. Drizzle with chocolate ganache, if desired.

German chocolate cheesecake on a serving platter.

Suggestions for Success

Room-temperature cream cheese. Permit your cream cheese to come back to room temperature earlier than utilizing it. In any other case, it received’t combine as easily and simply with the opposite elements. This may give you a lumpy filling and can possible trigger you to over-mix (see my subsequent level).
Combine on low velocity and never an excessive amount of. You wish to hold the mixer at a low velocity when making the filling. Mixing at too excessive a velocity (or for too lengthy) introduces extra air into the filling, which might trigger cracks within the high of your cheesecake.
No elements left behind. Make sure you scrape down the perimeters of the bowl regularly as you add and blend elements into the filling. This may assist be sure that every thing makes it into the batter.
Add the chocolate in two elements. When mixing the melted German chocolate into the filling, you wish to achieve this in two elements. This may assist be sure that it’s included evenly into the batter and can assist stop clumping.
Don’t skip the water bathtub. Severely. The water bathtub might seem to be a ache, however it’ll assist be sure that your cheesecake cooks evenly. Plus, the steam it places out into the oven will assist hold cracks from forming on high of the cheesecake. Take a look at my put up on easy methods to bake cheesecake in a water bathtub for extra info.
Don’t over-bake. A cheesecake is a labor of affection and one surefire method to destroy it’s by over-baking, which might trigger cracks. The middle ought to be set, however nonetheless jiggly when the baking time is up. It would proceed to bake and set because it cools and chills. Try my put up on easy methods to inform when your cheesecake is completed baking for extra info.
Cool progressively. It is extremely essential to not simply pull the cheesecake out of the oven when the timer goes off. Flip off the oven and let your masterpiece sit for Half-hour with the door closed after which one other Half-hour with the door cracked. Throughout this time, the cheesecake will proceed to bake and set. This gradual cooling may also assist stop cracks from forming within the high of the cheesecake.

A slice of German chocolate cheesecake on a plate with a fork.

The best way to Retailer

Fridge. Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic cake service or wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap. When you go together with plastic wrap, use toothpicks to prop it away from the topping. Alternatively, prepare slices in a single layer in an hermetic container. You may retailer this cheesecake within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Freezer. Pop the cheesecake within the freezer for a few hours. As soon as it’s firmed up a bit, wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap. In any other case, prepare slices in a single layer in an hermetic container. Both method, you’ll be able to retailer this dessert within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Permit it to thaw within the fridge earlier than serving.

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