The Southern Belles' Midwest Invasion: Tres

What meal would be complete without dessert?  I've never made cheesecake before, and I have to admit I was a little intimidated with the water bath and whatnot.  You know what?  It turned out pretty darn good!

Chocolate Chunk Nutella Cheesecake
Source: adapted from La Fuji Mama

Crust:


Ingredients:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup ground almonds
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, softened to room temperature
1/3 cup cocoa

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In small mixing bowl, beat together ingredients until dough forms.  Press into springform pan.  Bake 12 minutes and cool completely.

Filling:

Ingredients:

3 8 oz. sticks of cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Nutella
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Begin to boil a large pot of water.

Combine cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl and beat until smooth.  Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next.  Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula between each egg.

Add heavy cream, vanilla, lemon juice, and Nutella and blend until smooth and creamy.  Stir in the chocolate chunks.

Pour batter into prepared crust and tap the pan on the counter a few times to bring air bubbles to the surface.  Place pan into a larger pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan until halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan.  If cheesecake is not airtight, cover the bottom securely with foil before adding the water!

Bake 45 minutes, until it is almost done.  Look for the cake to hold together but not have a lot of jiggle to it!  Turn the heat off, with the cake in the oven, and let cool for about an hour.  Chill in the fridge for several hours (at least 4).

Well, there you have it!  What are your favorite dishes to make for dinner parties?