This post was created as in partnership with Imperial Sugar. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
Be still my cherry chocolate loving heart! This Black Forest Cheesecake is a decadently creamy, dark chocolate cheesecake topped with cherry pie filling, sweetened whipped cream, and chocolate curls.
If you love cheesecake, you should also check out our Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake, Peppermint Bark Cheesecake, and White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake!
This black forest cheesecake beauty is perfect for Christmas, Valentine's Day or any holiday or celebration throughout the year!
My mom and dad were out here visiting when I made this cheesecake. I love making something special like a cheesecake when we have guests or visitors, and since I know my mom loves cheesecake and fruit desserts and my dad loves chocolate, a black forest cheesecake was a win-win!
Ever since I was a little girl I have loved the combination of cherries and chocolate. I used to get boxes of cherry cordials on Christmas morning in my stocking. My traditional birthday cake is a black forest cake. I just can't resist the allure of decadent chocolate and sweet-tart cherries together.
This black forest cheesecake is no exception.
The rich, smooth chocolate cheesecake baked onto a chocolate cookie crust is to-die-for good. And it's a lot easier to make than you might think.
I spent ages being intimidated by cheesecakes. Pie crust? No problem. Macarons? I could do that. But cheesecake made me feel insecure about my baking abilities for some reason!
What if it cracked on top? Do I have to do a water bath? (I've failed miserably at water baths on multiple occasions, ending up with cheesecake with a soggy crust, so I'm always a little gun-shy about that technique.) I've heard overmixing causes problems but how do you get cream cheese smooth otherwise?!
I'm here to tell you that you do NOT have to do a water bath in order to get a perfectly wonderful cheesecake with incredible texture and a smooth, beautiful top that does not crack. And overmixing is not an issue until you start adding the eggs.
Even if you are still worried about your cheesecake cracking, the good news is that at least with a black forest cheesecake you are going to pile gorgeous, ruby red cherry pie filling on top and can cover up any cracks. Trust me, no one will be the wiser.
Reasons Why Cheesecakes Crack
These are the main causes behind cracked cheesecakes that I have found both from research and personal experience.
- Overmixing
- Undermixing
- Overbaking
- Cooling too quickly
How to Prevent Cracks in Cheesecake
- Start with room temperature ingredients. You are going to be beating quite a bit of cream cheese and if it cold, it's going to be very difficult to get it smooth. A lumpy, undermixed cheesecake batter is much more likely to result in cracks on top when baking. The eggs should also be at room temperature so they mix in better.
- Don't overmix the batter once you add the eggs. Definitely beat the cream cheese and sugar as much as needed until the batter is smooth and homogenous, but once you add the eggs, overmixing will add air to the batter, which increases the likelihood of cracks.
- Use a springform pan. If you bake your cheesecake in a regular cake pan, it's going to be next to impossible to get it out to serve without it cracking. Cheesecake is much denser than other types of cake, and a springform pan is perfect for cheesecake because the sides release so that it is easy to remove the cheesecake after it cools completely. I use a 9-inch springform pan for this cheesecake recipe.
- Don't peek while the cheesecake is baking! It's tempting to open the oven door to check on the cheesecake while it bakes, but this can also lead to cracks in your cheesecake, especially if the temperature in your house is cool, as cheesecakes are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature while baking.
- Cool the cheesecake slowly. Once my cheesecake is done, I like to turn off the oven and crack the door for at least 10 minutes and up to 1 hour without removing the cheesecake. This gives time for the just-baked cheesecake to cool slowly and adjust to the temperature of the room rather than shocking it with a dramatic temperature difference.
- Run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan before the cheesecake has cooled off. The cheesecake will end up contracting in on itself a bit as it cools and if the sides are stuck to the pan there is a good chance that it could cause a crack to appear. Just grab a paring knife and swipe it around the inside ring of the springform pan to loosen the cheesecake while it is still hot from the oven. This also makes it easier to release the cheesecake from the pan later on.
- Once the cheesecake is room temperature, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours or overnight.
How Can You Tell if Your Cheesecake is Done?
This is one of the trickiest parts about cooking cheesecake for me. There isn't a simple test like with regular cake where you just insert a toothpick into the center and see if it comes out clean.
The best way to know if your cheesecake is to give it a little shake. The cheesecake is done when the outer edges are firm but about 2 to 3 inches of the center is still wobbly.
Remember, you are going to cool your cheesecake slowly in an already warm oven and the residual temperature of the cheesecake is also going to continue to cook it. And then it will be chilled well before serving which will also firm things up.
And even though I've already mentioned it, it's worth saying again even if your cheesecake DOES crack, you can always top it with fruit and whipped cream and no one will be the wiser!
How to Make Black Forest Cheesecake
The first step is to make your cookie crust. Just pulse a bunch of chocolate sandwich cookies, creme filling and all, in a food processor (affiliate link) (or take the old-fashioned approach and bash them in a plastic bag with a rolling pin (affiliate link)), then mix them with a little sugar and butter and press them into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. I always bake my cookie crusts for 5 minutes, just to set them.
Next, make the cheesecake filling by melting some high-quality chopped bittersweet chocolate. You could use semisweet chocolate, which is slightly sweeter than bittersweet, if you prefer, but I think the darker chocolate flavor of the bittersweet chocolate is a better contrast against the sweet cherries that are going to go on top of the finished cheesecake.
Set the melted chocolate aside to cool slightly while you blend the cream cheese, sugar, and cocoa powder together until smooth. Then add the eggs, one at a time. Remember, this is the point where you want to be careful not to overmix the batter.
Then pour the melted chocolate over the cheesecake batter and use a rubber spatula to stir it in just until combined. Let's pause just a moment to drool over this picture of melted chocolate being poured into the cheesecake batter.
Spread the cheesecake batter over the cooled cookie crust into an even layer, then bake for 50-60 minutes.
You could use a water bath if you really want to, but I honestly think it's an unnecessary step fraught with peril (I have PTSD from past experiences with soggy cheesecakes after a water bath seeped through my carefully wrapped foil layers). If you are confident in your water bath skills and want to use one though, go for it!
Once the cheesecake has baked and had time to cool completely and chill in the fridge, top it with cherry pie filling and pipe sweetened whipped cream around the edges as a border. Garnish with chocolate curls (or chocolate shavings if you prefer) because 1. they are gorgeous, and 2. more chocolate.
Then slice and enjoy!
GET THE RECIPE
I've partnered with Imperial Sugar, a brand I love and use all the time, for this Black Forest Cheesecake recipe. Find the FULL RECIPE AND DETAILS on their site and get to baking!
More Decadent Dessert Recipes You'll Love
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- Chocolate Cream Pie
- S'mores Bars
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
Ok, this is seriously the prettiest cheesecake that I've ever laid my little eyeballs on!! I've never had a 'black forest cheesecake, so clearly I've been missing out. This one looks beyond creamy and so perfect for the holidays! This would disappear so fast 🙂
Thank you, Dawn!
This is calling my name!! Looks SO fantastic!!
Black Forest cake is my mom's favorite birthday treat! Will have to give her this recipe to try!
how soon would you put the topping and cream on top ?? Would this last left over with the cream ?? That is the most beautiful cheesecake I have ever seen !!!!! Thanks for posting
I wouldn't put the cream on top until right before serving. The cream doesn't last well unless you do a stabilized whipped cream.
would the cheesecake freeze well for several weeks without the toppings.
Yes, absolutely! Just thaw overnight in the fridge and then top the next day.
Thank you for sharing! This cheesecake turned out EXACTLY like yours! Our guest were completely “wowed”, everyone loved it! I will keep this recipe close to my heart. Delicious!
I'm so glad!
Do you grease your pan bore adding the crust mixture to it?
No, I do not. As long as it's a springform pan, I've never had trouble with an Oreo crust sticking.
My husband has a Christmas birthday and when I asked what he wanted he requested a black forest cake but enthusiastically agreed to cheesecake when I found this recipe. It turned out wonderful--so delicious and beautiful!
I'm so glad!
Just curious - if there's a concern of over-mixing after adding eggs, why are we adding the chocolate after the eggs? To give it more time to cool? Any reason I shouldn't go ahead and add it before the eggs?
I think you would be fine to add the chocolate before adding the eggs.
Best hack ever, use a turkey bag, roll the sides down and set your springform pan in it and into the water bath. Fool proof.
You’re welcome.
Love it! That's a great idea.
I make a Killer Cheesecake ,I’m going to try this one. I’ll let you know how it turns out. P S. I use a water bath
Please do!
I do not see the recipe. Where can I find it??
Hi! I partnered with Imperial Sugar, a brand I love and use all the time, for this Black Forest Cheesecake recipe. If you scroll to the end, you can find the link for the full recipe and details to their site. https://www.imperialsugar.com/recipes/black-forest-cheesecake?utm_source=House%20of%20Nash%20Eats&utm_medium=Blog%20%2B%20Social&utm_campaign=Black%20Forest%20Cheesecake
I found a great tip on Pinterest for doing a water bath…and no layers of heavy duty aluminum foil…that still lets water seep in! You place your springform pan in a slightly larger pan..I’ve found a small size “ roasting pan” at Dollar Tree. Then place that pan in a 9x13 pan filled with about 2” of very hot water. Works every time.
Hi! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.
I live in Europe and cherry pie filling isn’t easy to find here, so what can I substitute it for so I can achieve the same/very similar taste?
Thanks in advance 😊
Hi Kate! I have a post all about how to make cherry pie filling! I just updated this post with additional links to help out. It just takes tart cherries, sugar, and cornstarch (or cornflour, which is what I think it is called in Europe) and can easily be made on the stovetop!