This is a really quick and simple no-bake cake that’s a perfect, cool, and creamy dessert for hot summer days! This recipe is the perfect example of how getting something wrong can turn out extraordinarily right! When you are developing a recipe, you can make things several times before you get it right. This recipe started out as chocolate cheesecake, but it turned out way too chocolaty to be a cheesecake. There was too much chocolate flavor, and not nearly enough cream cheese. Who would have thought a recipe going wrong could taste so unbelievably good? Here’s how to make it:
Using bittersweet chocolate instead of milk chocolate keeps the torte from being too sweet. The sour cream adds a tangy flavor to the recipe that works really well with the chocolate creaminess of the torte. Using chocolate cookies instead of gram crackers for the base adds a deep chocolate flavor and crunch that brings it all together.
Break up the cookie crumbs and add them to a mixing bowl. Add the melted butter and vanilla extract, mix until well combined and press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside while you prepare the filling. Mix milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, egg yolks, sour cream, vanilla & salt in a food processor (or mixer) until thoroughly blended and the mixture is smooth with no lumps. Add the mixture to a large saucepan and bring to a simmer whisking the whole time. Once the mixture comes to a simmer, add the cream cheese, butter, and chocolate. Whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil and whisk until the mixture becomes thick and creamy. Pour the mixture into the pan with the base and cover with plastic wrap (make sure the plastic wrap is touching the surface to avoid a skin forming). Chill cake for at least 4 hours. Then cover with chocolate curls for decoration. Slice and serve. Enjoy every last bite. Cook’s Tips:
Be sure to heat the mixture slowly to avoid the eggs forming clumps. Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before starting. This is vital for a smooth, lump-free dessert. Don’t rush things. Be sure the torte is fully set before slicing.
Variations:
Try topping with a layer of freshly whipped cream before adding the chocolate curls. Once set, add a layer of sliced strawberries followed by a layer of whipped cream for a whole new dessert. Instead of chocolate curls, add chopped nuts for the topping.
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Update Notes: This post was originally published in July of 2014, but was republished with step by step instructions, new photos, and tips in May of 2018. Erren’s Kitchen is written and produced for informational intentions only. We are not certified nutritionists, and the nutritional information found on this site has not been assessed or authorized by a nutritionist or the FDA. The nutritional information found in our recipes is offered as an estimate and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. The estimated data is provided as a courtesy and calculated through a third-party online nutritional calculator, spoonacular API. Although we do our best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered rough estimates. Many factors, such as brands or products purchased and the nutritional fluctuations that naturally occur in fresh produce, can alter the effectiveness of the nutritional information in any recipe. Furthermore, various online calculators provide different results depending on their particular algorithms and nutrition fact sources. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
