Preheat your oven to 325F and line a mini loaf pan (6" x 3" x 2") with foil (leaving the ends long enough to grip on to) and spray with vegetable spray.
GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
.
½ cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon of melted butter
.
Mix well and pat firmly into prepared mini loaf pan, set aside.
.
FILLING.
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (see note)
4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 egg room temperature (slightly beaten)
1 teaspoon flour
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
.
Melt chocolate chips and beat them into the softened cream cheese; add the vanilla and sugar. Whisk in beaten egg and flour until smooth (don't over mix). Pour over the crumb crust.
.
Place the mini loaf pan inside of an 8" or 9" cake pan and add hot water to the bigger pan until it comes half way up the side of the smaller pan. Bake 30 minutes or until set.
.
Cool about 15 minutes, then put in fridge and chill for at least 3 hours (even better on day 2). To serve, grab edges of foil, and lift the cheesecake out of the pan. Fold foil back and cut cheesecake into pieces; serve with sweetened whipped cream.
.
NOTE: Your chocolate cheesecake is only going to be as tasty as the chocolate that you use. I used Ghirardelli chocolate chips and they were excellent.
.
NOTE: After baking for 30 minutes, gently tap the side of the smaller pan with a spoon. You should see just a little jiggle in the batter, but not much.
