Berry Cheesecake in Chocolate Crust

A basic cheesecake becomes divine when you add a chocolate cookie crust, orange peel and your favorite berries. MORE + LESS -

cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs

1/4

cup butter or margarine, melted

packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

2/3

cup sugar

1/2

cup sour cream

tablespoon grated orange peel

eggs

1/2

cup sour cream

tablespoons sugar

cups berries

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1

Heat oven to 325ºF. Mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press on bottom and slightly up side of ungreased springform pan, 9x3 inches, to seal bottom.
2

Place cream cheese, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/2 cup sour cream and the orange peel in food processor. Cover and process until smooth. Add eggs. Cover and process until well blended. Spread over crust.
3

Bake about 1 hour 20 minutes or until center is set. Cool on wire rack 15 minutes. Run metal spatula along side of cheesecake to loosen; remove side of pan. Refrigerate uncovered 3 hours; cover and continue refrigerating at least 4 hours.
4

Mix 1/2 cup sour cream and 2 tablespoons sugar; spread over top of cheesecake. Top with berries.

No need to buy chocolate wafers just for this recipe--use what you have on hand. Try graham crackers, chocolate sandwich cookies, gingersnaps or shortbread cookies. Delicious!
Replace 1/4 cup of cookie crumbs with 1/4 cup finely chopped toasted almonds.