Kuhlua Cheesecake

So begins birthday season in our house. Bear with a little history here. Some years ago, not being a huge fan of cake, I requested a cheesecake for my birthday cake. Phil came through with flying colors. Yes, he made it himself! This started something: a tradition of cheesecake birthday cakes. 


This year, Nathan requested a Kuhlua Cheesecake. In scouring recipe sites for a place to start, all I found were chocolate laden recipes with a teeny bit of Kuhlua. What's up with that? I wanted the cheesecake filling to taste like the drink. There is no chocolate in a Kuhlua and Cream drink. I finally stumble on a Cappuccino Cheesecake recipe at Better Homes and Gardens. To get that Kuhlua and Cream taste it seems this needs less tweaking than some of the others. 

My version trades out half the espresso, because I didn't want it to taste like coffee. Adds in Kuhlua. I saved out cookies from the crust, as it seems too thick. I think I could make half as much and be ok. Same with the ganache - saved out half, but still have a lot left over. Everyone agreed the flavor of the cream cheese filling was just perfect.


Layers of the cake:

• Chocolate Graham cracker crust
• Chocolate Ganache
• Cream Cheese filling
• Frosting of cream cheese, sour cream sugar and a hint of vanilla
• drizzled with extra chocolate ganache.