Welcome to Nigella

Ingredients

FOR THE BASE

• 125g digestive biscuits
• 60g butter
• 1 tablespoon cocoa

FOR THE FILLING

• 175g dark chocolate, chopped small
• 500g Philadelphia cream cheese
• 150g caster sugar
• 1 tablespoon
• Bird's custard powder
• 3 large eggs
• 3 large egg yolks
• 150ml sour cream (or just use a 142ml pot)
• 1/2 teaspoon cocoa, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water

FOR THE GLAZE (OPTIONAL)

• 75g dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 125ml double cream
• 1 teaspoon golden syrup

Method

1. To make the base, process the biscuits to make rough crumbs and then add the butter and cocoa.
2. Process again until it makes damp,clumping crumbs and then tip them into a 23cm springform tin. Press the biscuit crumbs into the bottom of the tin to make an even base and put into the freezer while you make the filling.
3. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180ºC. Put a kettle on to boil. Melt the chocolate either in a microwave or double boiler, and set aside to cool slightly.
4. Beat the cream cheese to soften it, and then add the sugar and custard powder, beating again to combine. Beat in the whole eggs and then the yolks, and the sour cream. Finally add the cocoa dissolved in hot water and the melted chocolate, and mix to a smooth batter.
5. Take the springform tin out of the freezer and line the outside of the tin with a good layer of clingfilm, and then another layer of strong foil over that. This will protect it from the water bath.
6. Sit the springform tin in a roasting pan and pour in the cheesecake filling. Fill the roasting pan with just-boiled water to come about halfway up the cake tin, and bake in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour. The top of the cheesecake should be set, but the underneath should still have a wobble to it.
7. Peel away the foil and clingfilm wrapping and sit the cheesecake in its tin on a rack to cool. Put in the fridge once it's no longer hot, and leave to set, covered with clingfilm, overnight. Let it lose its chill before unspringing the cheesecake to serve.
8. To make the chocolate glaze, very gently melt the chopped chocolate, cream and syrup. When the chocolate has nearly melted, take off the heat and whisk it to a smooth sauce. Let it cool a little, and then Jackson Pollock it over the chocolate cheesecake on its serving plate. Use the remaining glaze as an accompanying sauce.
9. Additional information - if using another brand of cream cheese make sure it is suitable for vegetarians.