Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Requested from a dear family friend!  You know who you are!  This is for you!

You will need a 9” diameter with approximately 4” deep -  spring-form pan.  My recipe calls for using this size.   Start by spaying the spring form pan with a non- stick spray coating.

Graham Cracker Crust

1 ½ cups of graham cracker crumbs – I prefer using the cinnamon flavored graham crackers

¼ cup of granulated sugar
5 tablespoons of melted salted butter

Mix the graham crackers well and press the graham cracker mixture firmly on the bottom of the spring form pan.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool while you start on the cheesecake and cookie dough recipe.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

1 cup of salted butter – room temperature

3/4 cup of light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 cups of flour
1 package of semi-sweet chocolate chips (12ounce)

Mix the above ingredients and roll into small balls, approximately ¼ to ½” balls.  Please note, I purposely left out adding an egg.  This is my chocolate cookie recipe which calls for an egg.  I was concerned not knowing exactly if the egg in the cookie dough reached the temperature it should in order that the egg is cooked and no chance for salmonella.  Leaving the egg out worked perfectly.  I used almost the entire cookie dough recipe, except for 1 cup.  So roll away.  If you prefer to use the entire recipe do so.  This is your creation, have fun!

Cheesecake Filling

5 – 8 ounce Philadelphia Cream Cheese – room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar
6 large eggs – room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Beat the cream cheese until well blended in a mixer.  Add the sugar and mix well.  Add the eggs one at a time until all are well incorporated.  Last, add the vanilla.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl in order to make sure the entire cheesecake filling has been mixed well.

Assembling

You will need to make 4 layers of the cheesecake filling and cookie dough balls.  Pour ¼ of the filling first then place the cookie dough balls all around the bottom, keep layering ending with cheesecake filling.

Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 30 minutes, then turn down the oven to 300 degree for 30 minutes, and finish off baking at 250 degrees for another 30 minutes.  You may need to add more time, just depends how your cheesecake has set.  If I could come into your home, I could let you know when you can look and tell your cheesecake is fully baked.  A little jiggly in the center is okay, but if the entire pan is jiggly you need to bake longer.

Sour Cream Topping

Add immediately once you have taken the cheesecake out of the oven.

Mix the following and pour over the top of the cheesecake
3 cups of sour cream
¼ cup sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla

Best results, refrigerate over-night.  And then call your girlfriends/guy friends  over, open a glass of wine and enjoy a slice of this cheesecake.  Guaranteed to have fun!