Mint Chocolate Cheesecake

Mint chocolate cheesecake is a delicious variation on the classic cheesecake. Here is the recipe to prepare an Italian-style mint chocolate cheesecake with a touch of ricotta, which will give it a more delicate flavor and a creamy texture.

Ingredients

• 250 g of chocolate cookies
• 100 g of melted butter
• 500 g of spreadable cheese (like Philadelphia)
• 250 g of ricotta
• 100 g of icing sugar
• 200 g of dark chocolate
• 150 ml of fresh cream
• 4 sheets of gelatin (or agar-agar if you prefer a vegetable version)
• 1 bunch of fresh mint or natural mint extract
• Chocolate shavings or fresh mint for decoration

Preparation

1. Begin by crushing the chocolate cookies until you get a sandy texture. Mix the crushed cookies with the melted butter and press the mixture into a springform pan to form the base. Place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
2. Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water for about 10 minutes.
3. Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, being careful not to burn it. Let it cool.
4. In a bowl, combine the spreadable cheese, ricotta, and icing sugar, mixing until you have a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
5. Rinse and dry the fresh mint, then chop it finely (if using the bunch) or add the mint extract, according to your taste, to the cheese and ricotta cream. Mix well.
6. Heat the cream in a saucepan until it almost boils, then remove from the heat and dissolve the well-squeezed gelatin inside, stirring until completely absorbed.
7. Pour the cream with the gelatin into the cheese and mint cream, then add the lukewarm melted chocolate. Gently mix until the mixture is uniform.
8. Pour the filling over the cookie base in the pan and level the surface with a spatula.
9. Put the cheesecake in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, better if overnight.
10. Before serving, decorate with chocolate shavings or fresh mint leaves.

You can serve this cheesecake with a dollop of whipped cream or with a chocolate sauce for an even more intense taste.

Curiosity

Although cheesecake has Anglo-Saxon origins, this interpretation with mint and chocolate is a fusion between the fresh flavors and the strong taste of chocolate much loved in Italy, especially as a summer dessert. Ricotta, a typical ingredient in Italian pastry, makes the cheesecake lighter and less sweet than the American version.