Luscious Black Forest Cheesecake

Desserts

A friend gave me this recipe and it's quickly become popular at our house. I enjoy making it when we entertain. My husband and I are dairy farmers and have three pre-school age children. I enjoy trying new recipes as well as yardwork and crafts.

Average Rating: 3.5

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 40 min. + chilling
YIELD: 12-16 servings.

1-1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 cup cold water
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon brandy extract or vanilla extract
1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
Maraschino cherries and additional whipped cream and melted chocolate for garnish, optional

1. Combine crumbs and butter; press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan. Chill for 15 minutes.
2. In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Combine 1/3 cup gelatin mixture with pie filling and almond extract; pour into crust and chill until set.
3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate, brandy extract and remaining gelatin mixture. Fold in whipped cream; spread over cherry layer. Chill at least 3 hours.
4. Remove from pan. Garnish with the whipped cream, cherries and chocolate if desired.