Chocolate-Marbled Almond Cheesecake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
2 ounces blanched almonds, finely chopped

Preparation

heat oven to 325*F.
in large mixer bowl combine sugar and cream cheese. beat at medium speed scraping bowl often until light and fluffy.
continue beating, adding eggs one at a time, until creamy.
add remaining ingredients except chocolate chips and almonds.
continue beating, scraping bowl often until well mixed.
by hand fold in melted chocolate chips to swirl chocolate throughout batter for marble effect.
lightly butter 9\" springform pan; press almonds firmly on bottom of pan.
pour batter into prepared pan.
bake for 65 to 75 minutes or until set.
turn off oven; leave cheesecake in oven for 2 hours.
loosen sides of cheesecake from pan by running knife around inside of pan.
cool completely.
cover, refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
store refrigerated.