Step 1

Pull out all ingredients (and fully unwrap cream cheese), and allow them to sit out at room temperature while you make the crust.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Step 3

Crush the cookies in a plastic bag (no need to remove the filling), then place cookie crumbs in a small bowl.

Step 4

Melt the butter in a small bowl, then pour butter into bowl of cookie crumbs and stir until evenly moist.

Step 5

Divide mixture between the two cheesecake pans (if using two 4" pans) and press crumbs firmly into the bottom of the pans.  I generally use the bottom of a round spice bottle to tap down the crumbs into a nice even layer.

Step 6

Bake crust in preheated oven for 8 minutes.

Step 7

Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. for baking the cheesecake.

Step 8

In a small bowl, heat the chocolate chips in the microwave (at 50% power) until almost melted.  Stir until fully melted and smooth, then set aside.

Step 9

In the bowl of an electric mixer (using the paddle attachment), blend (room temperature) cream cheese until fully smooth.

Step 10

Add sugar and salt and blend.  Add sour cream and vanilla and continue to blend.

Step 11

Add melted (and cooled) chocolate and blend to combine.

Step 12

Crack the egg into a small bowl and beat with a fork, then add egg to the cheesecake mixture and blend on low speed until just combined.

Step 13

Do not beat the mixture too much after the egg is added or you will incorporate too much air - causing it to later puff up and deflate.

Step 14

Pour filling into baked crusts.

Step 15

Prepare a water bath for the cheesecakes (as pictured) by wrapping the outside of the cheesecake pans with foil, then set in a baking pan (such as a 9"x9" pan).  Pour hot water into the larger pan until the water comes to about halfway up the outsides of the cheesecake pans.

Step 16

Bake at 300°F for about 45 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is just slightly jiggly but not wet.

Step 17

Turn off oven and crack the oven door, but leave cheesecakes inside oven for an additional 5-10 minutes.

Step 18

Remove cheesecakes from oven and continue to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Step 19

Once cooled to room temperature, cover cheesecakes and move to the fridge.  Chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Step 20

Once the cheesecake is fully chilled, prepare chocolate topping.

Step 21

Add chocolate chips to a small bowl and set aside.

Step 22

Heat heavy cream until hot (but do not boil), and pour hot cream over chocolate chips.  Allow to sit 1 minute, then stir until the chocolate chips are melted and cream and chocolate is fully combined.

Step 23

While the chocolate cools slightly, remove cheesecake from fridge and carefully remove outer ring of springform pan.  For best results, before loosening the lock on the outer ring, heat a small off-set spatula with hot water, then dry off and run the spatula along the inside ring of the pan to loosen cheesecake.  Then unlock the outer ring and remove.  If desired, remove cheesecake from the base as well and place on a plate.

Step 24

Spoon chocolate topping onto the center of each cheesecake, spreading to almost the edge, as desired.

Step 25

Return cheesecakes to the fridge and chill at least 30 minutes to allow the topping to firm up.

Step 26

Remove cheesecakes from the fridge just before serving.  Slice with a sharp knife that has been run under hot water and then dried off.

Step 27

Enjoy!