Mississippi Mud Cheesecake

 

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups finely crushed animal cracker cookies
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 1/4 cup melted butter

Cheesecake:

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Topping:

• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup marshmallow creme
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Prep : 40 m – Cook: 4 h 20 m – Ready In: 10 h
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
Mix together the animal cracker crumbs, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules in a bowl. Pour in the melted butter and mix until evenly moistened. Press into the prepared springform pan and set aside.
To make the filling, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, the cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons instant coffee, and the cornstarch in the bowl of an electric mixer; stir until blended. Add the softened cream cheese and beat until the sugar mixture has been incorporated and no lumps of cream cheese remain. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding the vanilla extract with the last egg. Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans, then pour into the prepared crust.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C) and continue baking 2 hours. Turn off the oven, and let the cheesecake stand in the oven for 2 hours more before opening the door. Remove and cool to room temperature.
Once the cheesecake has cooled, melt the chocolate chips and milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan, and spread the marshmallow cream evenly over the top. Spread or drizzle the chocolate over the marshmallow cream and sprinkle 1/4 cup of chopped pecans overtop. Chill completely before serving.