Espresso Cheesecake
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Italian
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 10
 

Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                        ***CRUST***
   1 1/2  cups          hazelnuts -- chop/husk/toasted
     1/3  cup           sugar
   3      tablespoons   unsalted butter -- melted
   1      tablespoon    cocoa powder -- unsweetened
                        ***Filling***
   1      cup           fresh brewed espresso
  24      oz            cream cheese -- room temperature
   1 1/3  cups          sugar
   1 1/2  tablespoons   cornstarch
     1/4  teaspoon      salt
   3      large         eggs -- room temp
   3      large         egg yolks -- room temp
     1/3  cup           half and half
     1/4  cup           fresh lemon juice
   1      tablespoon    coffee liqueur
   1 1/2  teaspoons     lemon peel -- grated
     1/2  teaspoon      vanilla extract
                        whipped cream
                        chocolate coffee bean candies -- optional
 

Preparation:

For Crust: Preheat oven to 3250F. Wrap foil around bottom and up outsides of 9" diameter Springform pan. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl until well blended. Press crust into bottom and up sides of prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool on rack. For filling: Boil coffee in heavy small saucepan until reduced to 1/4 cup. Cool completely. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch and salt in large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs and yolks 1 at a time, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of the bowl. Mix in espresso, half and half, lemon juice, liqueur, lemon peel and vanilla. Pour filling into crust. Let stand 15 minutes at room temperature. Preheat oven to 325F. Insert toothpick into any air bubbles that appear on surface of cheesecake. Place cheesecake in large baking pan. Add enough cold water to pan to come 3/4" up sides of cheesecake. Bake until cake edges are set but center still moves slightly when pan is gently shaken, approximately 1-1/2 hours. Remove cheesecake from water bath. Discard foil. Transfer cake to rack and cool. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.) Spoon whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe rosettes of cream around top edge of cheesecake. Top each rosette with coffee bean and serve.