Cherry Coconut Cheesecake with Chocolate Crackle Base

A heavenly combination of a crunchy chocolate crackle base with a creamy cherry coconut cheesecake filling, topped with chocolate coated cherries is perfect for entertaining.

rating: medium
30 mins, plus 1 hr
prep
15 mins
12

Copha is the Australian brand for Kremelta. These products are identical but in different packaging.

Ingredients

Chocolate Crackle Base

  • 60g (¼ cup) Copha, chopped
  • 60g dark chocolate, chopped
  • 80g (½ cup) icing sugar mixture, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 50g (1 ⅔ cup) Kellogg’s Rice Bubbles
  • 20g (⅓ cup) desiccated coconut

Cheesecake Filling

  • 300g (1 ½ cups) cherries, pitted and halved
  • 60ml (¼ cup) water
  • 160g (1 cup) icing sugar mixture, sifted
  • 500g cream cheese, chopped and softened
  • 270ml can coconut cream
  • 3 teaspoons powdered gelatine

Choc-Cherry Topping

  • 100g dark chocolate, chopped
  • 20g (1 tablespoon) Copha
  • 12 cherries, extra

Method

Chocolate Crackle Base

  1. Grease and line the base and sides of 22cm spring form cake tin.  In a large bowl, combine together the chocolate and Copha. Place bowl over a pot of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Remove from heat.
  2. Place the icing sugar, cocoa powder, rice bubbles and coconut in a large bowl, add the Copha mixture and mix to combine. Press into the base of the tin and put in the fridge to set for 10 minutes.

Cheesecake Filling

  1. Place cherries, sugar, water in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil and cook for 4 minutes, to soften. Remove from the heat and cool slightly for 5 minutes. Using a stick blender, blend until smooth.
  2. Sprinkle over the gelatine and set aside for 5 minutes to dissolve. Mix until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Place cream cheese in large bowl and using hand held beaters, beat for 4 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the coconut cream and beat for 4 minutes, or until light and smooth. Strain the cherry mixture through a sieve and gradually add to the cream cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Pour over the base and put in the fridge to set for 1 hour.

Choc-Cherry Topping

  1. In a medium heatproof bowl, combine together the chocolate and Copha. Place bowl over a pot of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Remove from heat.
  2. Half dip the cherries in the chocolate, place on baking paper and refrigerate for 2 minutes to set.
  3. Remove cheesecake from tin and drizzle with chocolate mixture. Top with cherries to serve.

Tip: If fresh cherries are unavailable, you can substitute with frozen cherries. Simply thaw on baking paper before using.