Ingredients
1 1/2
cups finely crushed creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (about 15 cookies)
1/4
cup butter, melted
4
packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 1/4
cups sugar
4
eggs
1/2
cup whipping cream
1
teaspoon almond extract
1
bag (16 oz) frozen dark sweet cherries, thawed, drained and patted dry (3 cups)
1/2
cup dark chocolate chips
1/4
cup whipping cream
3
tablespoons corn syrup
Preparation
Heat oven to 325°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with heavy-duty foil to prevent leaking. Spray inside bottom and side of pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press in bottom of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Cool crust 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until blended. Beat in 1/2 cup whipping cream and the almond extract. Pour 4 cups filling over crust. Spoon cherries over filling. Top with remaining filling, covering cherries.
Bake at 300°F 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until edge of cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from edge of pan but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly. Turn oven off; open door 4 inches. Let cheesecake remain in oven 30 minutes. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
In small microwavable bowl, microwave ganache ingredients on High 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring once, until smooth. Spread over cheesecake. Chill 30 minutes. To serve, run small metal spatula around edge of pan; carefully remove foil and side of pan. Cover; refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.
