Hey Hey its Cheesecake Day!

I have to admit. I don't really know who Donna Hay is. Apparently she is a well known chef. Though not so well known that I know who she is.

I've seen a cookbook or two of hers at the book store, but only after I started seeing Hay Hay its Donna Day events at some of the blogs I read. I didn't pay too much attention to the events until Peabody won (and from what I saw, a well deserved win it was!)

By winning HHDD #9, Peabody won the right (?) to host the next event, and choose the category. A girl after my own heart (but not waistline), she picked cheesecakes as the theme for HHDD #10.

I can tell you right now - my cheesecake is not winning prizes for the most beautiful one, or for the most picturesque one. It might, however, win for taste, especially if those voting are into chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Oh, and butterscotch.

I looked through a whole bunch of recipes before I picked one to take apart and make. I wanted to make a savory cheesecake but couldn't find anything I thought my family would eat. And I was not up for eating an entire cheesecake myself this week. With this cheesecake I at least had an event to go to that I could bring it to.

Triple Chocolate Surprise Cheesecake

For the crust:
1-1/2 generous cups of crushed oreo cookie crumbs
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules or espresso powder
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, at room temperature (I use Philadelphia)
3 tablespoons natural, unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted if lumpy
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 jar butterscotch topping

Heat the oven to 400°F. In a medium bowl, stir together the cookie crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon (if using) until blended. Drizzle with the melted butter and mix until well blended and the crumbs are evenly moist. Dump the mixture into a 9-inch springform pan and press evenly onto the bottom and about 1 inch up the sides of the pan . Bake for 10 minutes and set on a wire rack to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.

Mix the sour cream, vanilla, and coffee granules in a small bowl. Set aside and stir occasionally until the coffee dissolves.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, cocoa powder, and salt until very smooth and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl and paddle frequently (and with each subsequent addition). Add the sugar and continue beating until well blended and smooth. Scrape the cooled chocolate into the bowl; beat until blended. Beat in the sour cream mixture until well blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until just blended. Pour an even layer of butterscotch sauce over the cooled crust, being sure to go all the way to the edge. Pour the filling over the butterscotch, spread evenly, and smooth the top. Bake at 300°F until the center barely jiggles when nudged, 50 to 60 minutes. The cake will be slightly puffed, with a few little cracks around the edge. Let cool to room temperature on a rack and then refrigerate until well chilled, at least a few hours, or overnight for the best texture and flavor.

Unclasp the pan’s ring, remove it, and run a long, thin metal spatula under the bottom crust. Carefully slide the cake onto a flat serving plate. Run a thin knife under hot water, wipe it dry, and cut the cake into slices, heating and wiping the knife as needed.

Drizzle with left over butterscotch sauce.

Now my cheesecake did not get enough time in the fridge to chill before it was served. Which didn't stop anyone from eating it, going back for seconds and bringing pieces home. It is even better frozen (omg, it is AMAZING frozen!)

So now the only question is - can you win HHDD if you don't really know who Donna Hay is? :-)