Black Forest Cheesecake

Source: Taste of Home

Easter 2014

Ingredients

  • 1-1/4 c. chocolate wafer crumbs
  • 1/4 c. butter, melted
  • 2 env. unflavored gelatin
  • 1 c. cold water
  • 1 can (21 oz.) lite cherry pie filing
  • 1/2 t. almond extract
  • 2 pkgs. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 c sugar
  • 2 oz. dark chocolate, melted and cooled
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • 1 c. heavy whipping cream (extra for garnish, if desired)
  • Hershey's dark chocolate ice cream topping

Instructions

Combine crumbs and butter; press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch spring form pan. Chill 15 minutes.

In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minutes. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved.

Combine 1/3 cup gelatin mixture with pie filling and almond extract; pour into crust and chill until set.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate, vanilla extract and remaining gelatin mixture.

Fold in whipped cream; spread over cherry layer. Chill at least 3 hours or over night

Remove sides of pan. Slice into serving size pieces. Garnish by drizzling each slice with a thin line of chocolate syrup diagonally across each slice. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and serve.

NOTE: Serves 12-16. You could substitute an 8 oz. container of low-fat Cool Whip for the whipped cream to cut down on fat and calories.