Chocolate Guinness Cheesecake with Chocolate Whiskey Ganache

This cheesecake is rich, decadent, and slightly boozy thanks to the addition of Guinness and whiskey. The perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

I am not even the least bit Irish.  I didn’t wear green today. I will not be drinking a Guinness once I get home from work.

Thank goodness for this cheesecake, because otherwise I’d be failing pretty hard at St. Patrick’s Day.Even though I’m sharing this recipe in honor of the holiday, this cheesecake would be a winner no matter what time of year you made it.

After some investigation, it turns out I make cheesecake more frequently than I originally thought.  I’ve done:

1. Peanut butter cheesecake with chocolate ganache;
2. S’more cheesecake;
3. Pumpkin cheesecake with bourbon chocolate sauce;
4. This pumpkin cake/cheesecake/gingersnap crust concoction;
5. And lastly, a chocolate raspberry stout cheesecake (on which today’s cheesecake is based!)

You’ll need:

For the crust –

• 12 chocolate graham crackers
• 5 tbs butter, melted

For the cheesecake –

• 12 oz. dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 24 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup Guinness or other stout beer

For the ganache –

• 8 oz. dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 3 tbs butter, room temperature
• 1 tbs whiskey

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9-inch round spring form pan with butter and set it aside.

In a blender or food processor, grind the graham crackers into fine crumbs.  Add the melted butter and pulse until the mixture resembles damp sand.  Press the graham cracker crumbs and butter mixture into the bottom of the greased pan in an even layer.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove the pan and allow it to cool completely before adding the cheesecake batter.

While the crust par-bakes, melt the chocolate in a double boiler (or in the microwave in 30-second intervals) until smooth.  Set this aside and allow the chocolate to cool slightly

Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the room temperature cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, or about 5 minutes.  Add the sugar, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, melted chocolate, and Guinness.  Mix until everything is well combined.  Scrape down the bowl, making sure to get the bottom, and mix again for a few more minutes.

Pour the cheesecake batter over the crust.  Smooth the top with a spatula. Place the cheesecake in the oven. I’d also highly recommend filling a 9×13-inch oven safe baking dish halfway with water, and putting that on another baking rack in teh oven.  The moisture from this other pan will help to keep the cheesecake from cracking.

Bake for 60 minutes. After that time, turn off the oven, crack the door slightly, and allow the cheesecake to rest in the oven for another 60 minutes.  After that, remove it to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely.  Cover and stash in the fridge overnight.

Once the cheesecake has fully cooled, you can make the ganache and pour it on top. To make the ganache: add the chopped chocolate and heavy cream to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments until the chocolate has melted completely into the cream. Whisk to combine.

Add the room temperature butter and the whiskey.  Again, whisk to combine.  Let the ganache cool for a bit, until it has thickened slightly.  Pour it on top of the cheesecake.