Description
This indulgent dessert layers creamy cheesecake between rich chocolate cakes and pours on a silky ganache for the ultimate celebration treat.
Ingredients
Component Ingredients
Cheesecake Center (8-inch) 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar • ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream • 1 large egg • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Cake Layers (two 9-inch rounds) 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour • 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar • ¾ cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder • 2 tsp baking powder • 1 ½ tsp baking soda • 1 tsp fine sea salt • 2 large eggs, room-temp • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk, room-temp • 1 cup (240 ml) hot coffee or hot water • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache 12 oz (340 g) semisweet/dark chocolate, finely chopped • 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream • 2 Tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter
Instructions
Cheesecake Layer
Heat oven 325 °F / 165 °C. Line an 8-inch springform pan with parchment (bottom + sides).
Beat cream cheese & sugar smooth. Mix in sour cream, egg, vanilla. Pour into pan; bake 30–35 min until just set. Cool, then chill ≥ 2 h (or overnight).
Chocolate Cakes
Raise oven to 350 °F / 175 °C. Grease & parchment two 9-inch pans.
Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt. In another bowl whisk eggs, buttermilk, hot coffee, oil, vanilla. Combine wet + dry until smooth (batter is thin).
Divide between pans; bake 28–32 min. Cool 10 min; turn out to cool completely.
Ganache
Heat cream to a simmer. Pour over chopped chocolate & butter; stand 1 min. Stir from center until glossy. Cool to pourable-thick (coats spoon like warm honey).
Assemble
Level cake tops if needed. Place one cake on stand; spread 1 Tbsp ganache as “glue”. Unmold chilled cheesecake, peel parchment, center on cake. Top with second cake layer. Chill 15 min.
Glaze
Pour ganache over center; nudge to edges so it cascades down sides. Chill 30 min to set before slicing.
Notes
Mocha: Add 1 tsp espresso powder to cake & ganache.
Raspberry: Spread ½ cup seedless raspberry jam atop cheesecake before capping with cake.
Milk-chocolate glaze: Swap half the dark chocolate for milk.
Gluten-free: Use 1:1 GF baking blend.
- Prep Time: 40 min
- Cook Time: ≈ 2 h 15 min
- Category: Celebration Cake / Layer Cake
- Method: Baked Cheesecake + Cocoa Cake + Ganache Pour
- Cuisine: American Bakery-Style
