CHOCOLATE COVERED CHEESECAKE CUBES

Who doesn't love cheese cake!? There is nothing like cutting into that perfect piece with your fork and savoring every bite! Cheese cake cubes are the perfect dessert to serve when you are having friends over. They can be prepared a day ahead (even though I do not recommend that, there won't be any left for your guests) and they are easy to handle. There is no cutting, no mess, no nothing, they are ready to serve. Just take them from the container and plate. They are also a great picnic dessert because, once again, they are ready to serve. Which leaves you more time to spend with your friends and takes one thing off the "to do list" on the day of the event!

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHEESECAKE CUBES

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHEESECAKE CUBES (12 servings)

Ingredients for cake:

5 eggs, divided

5 tbsp granulated sugar

5 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp water

pinch of salt

Directions:

Beat egg whites with the pinch of salt into egg white fluff. Set aside.

With an electric mixer beat egg yolks, sugar, and water well. With a spatula, gently add the egg white fluff. Mix until just combined. Carefully add flour. Do not over mix.

Transfer cake batter into 13x9 inch floured baking pan and bake in 350*F preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Pull the cake out of the oven and let it cool completely.

While cake is cooling down, start preparing the cream.

Ingredients for cream:

2 8 oz. packs of Neufchatel cream cheese, softened

4 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tbsp lemon juice

pinch of salt

Directions:

In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Mix well with an electric mixer, until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Pour the cream over the cake, put the baking pan into 325*F preheated oven, and bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until you are able to insert a knife into the cheese cake and it comes out clean.

Let the cake completely cool down! In the meantime it’s time to prepare the ganache.

SIMPLE GANACHE

Ingredients for ganache:

4 oz. semi sweet chocolate, chopped

1/3 + 1/8 cup heavy cream

1/2 tbsp corn syrup

Directions:

Bring heavy cream to a boil, add corn syrup, stir to combine, and pour it over the chopped chocolate. Whisk until smooth.

Trim off the edges, about 1.2 inch, and divide the rest of the cake into 12 equally large cubes.

With the help of a small spatula or a spoon, cover the cheese cake cubes with chocolate ganache.

Allow to cool slightly before coating the cheesecake cubes.

Let the cubes cool down in the fridge for at least one hour before serving or overnight.

Enjoy with a cup of good java!