Chocolate Cheesecake with Salted Caramel

Here is the recipe for a delicious Chocolate Cheesecake with Salted Caramel, with an Italian twist. We will prepare a classic biscuit base, a chocolate-flavored cheesecake cream, and complete it with salted caramel that will add an enveloping note of contrast.

Ingredients

For the base:

• 200 g of dry biscuits (like Digestive)
• 100 g of melted butter
• 1 pinch of salt

For the chocolate cream:

• 500 g of creamy cheese (like Philadelphia)
• 120 g of powdered sugar
• 200 g of dark chocolate
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

For the salted caramel:

• 100 g of sugar
• 60 ml of fresh cream
• 30 g of butter
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt (or salt flakes)

Preparation

1. Start by finely chopping the dry biscuits until you get a flour-like consistency. Mix the ground biscuits with the melted butter and a pinch of salt until you have a homogeneous mixture. Press the mixture onto the bottom of a previously buttered springform pan and refrigerate to firm up for about 30 minutes.
2. For the cream, melt the chocolate in a double boiler and let it cool slightly. Meanwhile, whip the creamy cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until you have a light and fluffy mixture. Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Finally, add the melted chocolate and mix to obtain a homogeneous mixture.
3. Pour the chocolate cream over the biscuit base and bake in a preheated oven at 160 °C for about 1 hour or until the surface looks set but still slightly wobbly in the center.
4. While the cheesecake is baking, prepare the salted caramel. In a saucepan, dissolve the sugar over medium heat until you get an amber caramel. Add the butter and mix. Be careful as it will spatter. Gradually pour in the warm cream, continuing to stir (watch out for splashes, the mixture may boil vigorously). Add the salt and mix until you get a smooth caramel.
5. Once the cheesecake is cooked, let it cool completely and then refrigerate for at least 4 hours (overnight is better).
6. When ready to serve, pour the salted caramel over the cheesecake and spread it evenly.

If you like, you can further decorate with chocolate shavings or a pinch of sea salt for an additional contrast of flavors.

Curiosity

Salted caramel is a preparation that originates from French tradition, particularly in Brittany, where the use of salted butter is very common. The addition of salt enhances the sweet flavor of caramel, creating a delicious contrast that has become popular in many sweet preparations.