Ingredients:
- 200g Digestive Biscuits (finely crushed)
- 100g Unsalted Butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar (for base)
- 900g Full-Fat Cream Cheese (softened)
- 250g Granulated Sugar (for filling)
- 4 Large Eggs (room temperature)
- 120ml Sour Cream (full fat, room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
- 100g Dark Chocolate (70% Cacao minimum, finely chopped)
- 115g Full-Fat Cream Cheese (for Maqui swirl)
- 50g Powdered Sugar (sifted, for Maqui swirl)
- 2 tablespoons Maqui Berry Powder
- 1-2 tablespoons Whole Milk (for Maqui swirl)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Wrap the outside of the 9-inch springform pan securely with several layers of heavy-duty foil to waterproof it.
- Combine crushed biscuits, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and melted butter. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool completely.
- Place the foil-wrapped pan inside a larger roasting pan. Boil water for the water bath.
- For the Maqui Swirl: Beat the Maqui swirl cream cheese, powdered sugar, and Maqui powder until smooth. Add milk slowly until the mixture is pipeable but thick. Set aside.
- For the Stracciatella Filling: Beat the main cream cheese blocks and 250g sugar until just smooth. Mix in sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating only until the yolk disappears after each addition. Gently fold in the chopped dark chocolate.
- Pour half of the Stracciatella batter over the cooled base. Dollop spoonfuls of the Maqui mixture randomly over the batter, then use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the mixtures together—do not over-swirl.
- Pour the remaining Stracciatella batter on top. Carefully pour the boiling water into the roasting pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
- Bake for 60–75 minutes. The edges should look set, but the center should have a slight jiggle. Turn the oven off, prop the door slightly ajar, and leave the cheesecake inside the cooling oven for 1 hour.
- Remove from the water bath and foil. Cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 6 hours, preferably overnight, before serving.