Chocolate Wrapped Banana Cheesecake
- 12 cup butter, at room temperature
- 14 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 large ripe banana, mashed
- 1 cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts, finely chopped
- 3 large ripe bananas
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 32 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 14 cup granulated sugar
- 1 lb mascarpone cheese
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 24 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 3 medium bananas
- 14 cup butter
- 14 cup packed light brown sugar
- Make the graham cracker crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Beat butter and sugar in mixing bowl until light and fluffy, using electric mixer at medium-high speed.
- Add graham cracker crumbs and mix well.
- Add mashed banana and peanuts and mix well.
- Press mixture into bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and set.
- Cool in pan on wire rack.
- Make the banana cheesecake filling: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
- Peel bananas and place in food processor bowl.
- Cover and process until bananas are pureed.
- Remove banana puree and place in bowl.
- Stir in lemon juice and set aside.
- Beat cream cheese in mixing bowl until smooth, using electric mixer at medium speed.
- Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
- Add mascarpone cheese and beat 1 minute.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add vanilla and banana puree and blend well.
- Pour over crust.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until filling still looks jiggly and under-baked.
- Cool in pan on wire rack.
- Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
- Cheesecake will set and be firm to the touch.
- Assemble the cheesecake: Cut a piece of parchment paper or food-grade acetate to fit around the side of cheesecake.
- Loosen cheesecake using a small knife.
- Remove side of springform pan.
- Place chocolate in small bowl over a pot of simmering water.
- Stir until chocolate is just melted.
- Stir until smooth and let cool.
- Spread 2/3 of the cooled chocolate evenly on strip of parchment paper.
- Allow chocolate to set up partially so that it is no longer wet to the touch, but is still malleable.
- Press chocolate-covered strip directly onto side of cheesecake.
- Refrigerate cheesecake until chocolate is set.
- Peel off parchment paper.
- Slice bananas on the diagonal.
- Place butter and brown sugar into skillet.
- Cook until mixture comes to a boil and is smooth, stirring constantly.
- Add bananas and heat until bananas are caramelized.
- Remove banana slices from mixture, one at a time, and place on plate.
- Arrange bananas on top of cheesecake in concentric circles.
- Reheat remaining 1/3 of the chocolate until just melted.
- Either with a disposable pastry bag or using a cup with a spout or simply using the tines of a fork, make lines of chocolate all over the top of the cake.
- Serve immediately.
butter, brown sugar, graham cracker crumbs, banana, peanuts, bananas, lemon juice, cream cheese, sugar, mascarpone cheese, eggs, vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, bananas, butter, brown sugar
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-wrapped-banana-cheesecake-69628 (may not work)