This Chocolate-Mascarpone Cheesecake is dreamy, decadent and delicious with an Italian twist!
Chocolate-Mascarpone Cheesecake
Tomorrow, Bill is having open heart surgery. It’s “relatively” routine…he has a mitral valve that needs to be repaired. I took this Chocolate-Mascarpone Cheesecake to the hospital when he had his pre-op testing. It was tough for him to give over the reins to the folks he works with day in and out, but they deserved a little treat for taking such good care of us both. Super rich and velvety smooth, this recipe from contributing baker, David Ogonowski, was cheesecake nirvana.
Cheesecake Tips
Room temperature cream cheese, mascarpone and eggs, slow mixing with a paddle attachment and baking in a bain-marie, or water bath, are all steps to ensure an impeccable cheesecake. Once baked and cooled, the bottom is coated with cookie crumbs…instead of the more typical baked crust of butter and crumbs or pastry. I was a little concerned of a possible disastrous outcome from flipping the cake upside down to pat on a half cup of chocolate wafer crumbs onto the bottom. It worked quite well with just a few minute scars from the procedure which were easily camouflaged with berries. The feedback from the cath lab staff was as I expected, especially since it was a less than perfect blogger “sample” dessert which had a slice removed for a photo, then reinserted before delivery. They’re good people.
This recipe has been shared on numerous blogs and can be viewed here.
As you might guess, I’ll be scarce for a while. But I have a few posts scheduled while I’m hanging out with the hubby at the hospital, so please check back. xo
One of my favorite dessert baking smells ever was actually a chocolate cheesecake, yours turned out beautiful! Wishing your hubby a speedy recovery:@)
The best of luck Lizz and hugs to your poor hubby. I hope you are both back on board soon. This cheesecake looks truly impeccable an with a very unusual base
Sending good thoughts your way and wishing for a speedy recovery for Bill. What a gorgeous cake Liz, that was so nice of you to make this for those helping to take care of you.
So this is how it was supposed to look! Beautiful, Liz. The hospital staff must have been in heaven when you presented this to them.
I hope Bill has a quick recovery with as little discomfort as possible.
~Cathy
Wow, your cheesecake is picture perfect. I hope Bill recovers quickly. Any heart procedure is very scary!
Hope he’s recovering comfortably! The staff must have been delighted with this gorgeous cheesecake.
The cheesecake looks wonderful, and it was so thoughtful of you to this for staff. I’m sure it’s delicious! I hope your husband is doing well. My husband had double by pass surgery a few years back, so I know what you must be feeling from personal experience. I hope his recovery goes well for both of you. The good news is that once it’s over, he’ll feel wonderful! My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Beautiful!!! Your 2nd picture looks gorgeous!!! It sounds so creamy…
Wishing Bill a good recovery!!!
As usual, you have another dessert I’m drooling over. So rich and creamy.
My prayers are with you and your husband. I hope his recuperation time is quick and he’ll be back to normal. Or better than normal.
Lizzy, My thoughts and prayers will be with both of you tomorrow! Wishing Bill a speedy recovery!
Your cheesecake looks amazing…I am sure the hospital staff loved that you remembered them with such a wonderful dessert! It was a huge hit with my crew!
Yum. Chocolate and Cheesecake! What can be better?
Sending best wishes to you both and wishing a very quick recovery for Bill!
Oh my goodness, Liz. Sending prayers your way <3 So kind of you to share this gorgeous chocolate and raspberry divinity with the hospital staffers <3 Take good care of you!
Blessings on you and your family –
Oh Liz, I do hope everything goes well and that Bill recovers as quickly as possible. I will be thinking of you over the next few days and wish you and your family all the best. It was very nice of you to bake something for the team, I’m sure they really appreciated it and will take extra, extra good care of Bill.
XOXOXO
Liz,
this is a stunner!!! beautiful and perfect! yum!
My thoughts and prayers are with you both. I hope all went well and that Bill is as good a patient as he is a doctor. Take it easy. We’ll hold down the fort.
Your pictures are always SO beautiful! Great job and wishes for a speedy recovery for your husband!
Lizzy,
I wish you the best of luck with your hubby’s surgery. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Your cheesecake looks delicious. I’m sure the staff was very appreciative.
Annamaria
I hope everything goes well with Bill and wish for a speedy recovery. You are such a good hearted person! Cheesecake looks yum…I am sure the wafer crust would have complimented wonderfully well…
I dear. I do hope the surgery goes well. I know open heart surgery is quite routine these days but still, it’s a worry, isn’t it. I love the combination of mascarpone and chocolate and I love how smooth and creamy this looks. And yes, I always have a few things on-hand to cover up any battle wounds xx
perfect and delicious Lizzy like always:))))
Hope everything goes well tomorrow. Bill and you will both be in my thoughts. This cheesecake looks delicious and would definitely make a hospital stay more pleasant!
This cake really looks wonderful! Velvety and chocolaty.. just perfect 🙂
I hope your husband is recovering well.
I hope Bill’s op goes smoothly and that he has a speedy recovery. The cheesecake is just gorgeous – love, love!
Praying that all goes well tomorrow Liz! Wow, you’ve got a lot on your plate! I know the hospital workers loved this wonderful treat, that was so kind of you to think of them. We’ll keep praying for Bill!
What a luscious and beautiful cheesecake! The simple garnish of fresh raspberries looks terrific.
BEST wishes for a speedy recovery for your hubby!
Angie
I wish I had the talent to make cheesecake!
Decadent and delicious! 🙂 ela
This looks like cheesecake bliss, so perfectly smooth and creamy. Praying that Bill’s operation goes smoothly and that the recovery is easy for you both! 🙂
That looks delicious and definitely makes me miss TWD!
I saw this on google+ and died. It looks way too good 😀
Beyond delicious!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Your cheesecake looks divine. I would be happy to have a slice even if a slice had been removed and reinserted. Hope your husband is better now.
Your cheesecake looks delicious! Praying for you and your hubby. <3
amazing result and beautiful pictures!!! Love the raspberries on top!
You have me drooling over here, your cheesecake looks delicious! I love cheesecake and make it all the time 🙂
Michael 😉
http://michaelswoodcraft.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/strawberry-topped-cheesecake/
Hope all is well, sending positive vibes!
I was so sad to hear that Bill had to have surgery… but I heard that it all went well and I’m so happy. I hope he has a quick recovery… you had a long week my friend. You deserve a couple slices of this beautiful cheesecake too. 🙂
Your cheesecake is gorgeous! I hope all goes well with the surgery and recovery.