Banana and Chocolate Cheesecake

I can offer you a delicious recipe for banana and chocolate cheesecake with an Italian twist. For this recipe, we will use mascarpone to make the cream richer and silkier.

Ingredients

• 200 g of dry biscuits (such as Digestive)
• 100 g of melted butter
• 2 ripe bananas
• 250 g of mascarpone cheese
• 300 g of cream cheese (such as Philadelphia)
• 150 g of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 200 g of dark chocolate
• Fresh liquid cream (about 100 ml)

For decoration:

• Banana slices
• Chocolate shavings or chocolate sauce

Preparation

1. Start by crushing the biscuits in a mixer until you get a coarse flour. Mix the crushed biscuits with the melted butter until you have a homogeneous mixture.
2. Press the biscuit mixture into a springform pan, forming a uniform base and let it cool in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
3. In a bowl, blend the ripe bananas until you get a puree.
4. In another bowl, combine the mascarpone, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer to achieve a smooth cream.
5. Melt the dark chocolate with a little liquid cream in a double boiler, stirring until you get a smooth ganache.
6. Add the banana puree and chocolate ganache to the cheese cream and mix gently until you obtain a homogeneous mixture.
7. Pour the filling onto the cooled biscuit base and level the surface with a spatula.
8. Let the cheesecake rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, better if overnight.
9. Before serving, decorate the cheesecake with fresh banana slices and chocolate shavings or pour chocolate sauce around the edge for a more indulgent effect.

Curiosity

The cheesecake is a dessert that has ancient origins, but it found its modern form primarily in New York. The addition of typical Italian ingredients such as mascarpone makes this dessert even creamier and richer, marrying the American tradition with a touch of Italian sweetness.

For a contrast of temperatures and textures, serving the cold cheesecake with a warm chocolate sauce is a true delight. And don’t forget a good Italian coffee to accompany this dessert!