Prize Winning Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Crust
1 1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs (about 18 wafers)
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter or 3 tablespoons margarine
Filling
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (4 ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup whipping cream
3 medium eggs
1 (19 ounce) can cherry pie filling
2 tablespoons chocolate cherry flavored liqueur (optional)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 ounce grated semisweet chocolate

Preparation

Combine chocolate wafer crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and melted butter. Press into bottom of 9 inch spring form pan. Bake in moderate oven, 350 degrees, for 10 minutes. Cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
Have cream cheese at room temperature. Beat in large mixing bowl at medium speed until creamy. Gradually beat in the one cup of sugar and cocoa. Add vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat until smooth. Pour over chocolate crust. Bake in slow oven, 300 degrees, about one hour until center of cake is firm. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.
Combine cherry pie filling with liqueur, if being used. Pour over cooled cheesecake.
Add the two tablespoons sugar and vanilla to whipping cream in bowl. Whip until stiff. Spoon onto cake, covering evenly. Chill several hours before serving.
Decorate with grated chocolate. Makes 10 to 12 servings. This cheesecake freezes well.