Black forest frozen cheesecake

“This is a great make-ahead dessert that will definitely impress your guests! ”

BISCUIT BASE

75 g unsalted butter , plus extra for greasing


300 g dark chocolate biscuits

FILLING

2 x 425 g tins of dark cherries in syrup

2 clementines

350 g caster sugar

6 large free-range eggs

400 ml double cream

560 g Philadelphia plain cream cheese

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

TOPPING

200 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids) , plus extra for serving

1 dash of double cream

50 g unsalted butter

1 clementine

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Grease the sides and line the base of a deep 23cm loose-bottomed __cake tin.
2. To make the biscuit base, melt the butter in a pan over a low heat. Blitz the biscuits in a food processor until they resemble fine crumbs, then add to the melted butter.
3. Mix well to coat the crumbs, then tip into the prepared __cake tin, spreading it out evenly.
4. Place in the hot oven for 10 minutes, or until darker in colour, then remove and leave to cool.
5. Meanwhile, to make the filling, add the tinned cherries and their syrup, the clementine zest and juice and 150g of sugar to a pan over a medium heat.
6. Cook for around 20 minutes, or until reduced to a syrupy consistency. Leave to cool and set aside.
7. Separate the egg yolks and whites into 2 separate bowls. Add the remaining 200g of sugar to the yolks, then use an electric whisk to beat for 5 to 7 minutes, or until pale and fluffy.
8. Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
9. Place the cream, cream cheese and vanilla extract into a third bowl and beat into soft peaks.
10. Fold the egg yolk mixture into the cream cheese mixture and gently fold through the egg whites. Spoon the mixture onto the biscuit base, then gently swirl through the cherry syrup.
11. Place the cheesecake in the freezer to set overnight.
12. When you’re nearly ready to serve, make the chocolate glaze topping. Place a medium heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, then add the dark chocolate, cream and butter. Allow to melt, stirring occasionally.
13. Remove the cheesecake from the tin and place on a cake stand.
14. Pour over the chocolate glaze, then decorate with some gratings of dark chocolate and clementine zest. Serve with a gold leaf and sparklers to make it extra special.