It wasn’t easy, but I’ve removed my full-length Ugg Boots that have been firmly entrenched on my feet for the past two months and they’ve been replaced by a rather stylish set of heels. My Dame Edna frock has been donned, hair coiffed and coloured to the most beautiful lilac you’ve ever seen and my face made glamorous by a set of fancy, bejewelled glasses! I look a little something like this…
Dame Edna Everage – “Hello Possums!”
I suspect I’m not the only one going through this (rather absurd) transformation right now… as it’s Fiesta Friday #27 and the wonderful Saucy Gander and I are coming together this week (in fancy dress) to co-host the big party! Yes, Angie, from The Novice Gardener has bravely allowed not one, but TWO Australian girls in to look after her guests and ensure that everyone has a fantastic time.
Now, as you all well know, Australians are generally renowned for their quiet natures and their reluctance to imbibe anything involving alcohol… 😉 However just this once, I’ll partake in a glass (or two) of bubbly with you all and stay up late dancing and chatting until the party-goers get tired and head home!
If you’re a regular at Fiesta Friday, you’ll already know what to do (for the guidelines click here), but for those who’ve not joined the party before, you can easily click on the colourful link just below to add your post (sharing food, photos, experiences… anything at all that has inspired you this week!) Please be sure to link your post to The Novice Gardener (and to Saucy and myself) so that we know when you’ve arrived… then head on over to Fiesta Friday #27 to mix and mingle with all the other friendly folk who have also joined the party!
This really is a great way to gain exposure for your blog and all the hard work that you do. It’s also wonderful how friendships are formed and strengthened with other bloggers through this Fiesta… something truly lovely about getting to know others around the world who share a similar passion for both food and life!
Saucy and I will be around to say hi and to top up your drinks very soon. Cheers, everyone!
This week I’ve decided to bring a little something sweet for dessert… so please grab a plate and a fork and dig in to a slice of my Chocolate on Chocolate Cheesecake. A word of warning – it’s not at all for the faint hearted! 🙂
Layered Chocolate Cheesecake | Gather and Graze
- 250g Plain Chocolate Biscuits (I used Arnotts Chocolate Ripple)
- 100g Finely Chopped Almonds (or nuts of your choice)
- 125g/½ Cup Unsalted Butter (Melted)
- 200g/1 Cup Milk Chocolate (Chopped)
- 200g/1 Cup White Chocolate (Chopped)
- 2 Gelatine Leaves (I used ‘Gold Strength’ which are 2g each)*
- 300ml Heavy Cream
- 500g Cream Cheese (Softened)
- 80g/⅓ Cup Caster Sugar
Grease a 23cm Springform Cake Tin and line the base with parchment paper.
Blitz the chocolate biscuits in a food processor until fine crumbs, then add the chopped nuts and melted butter and stir until the crumbs are well moistened. Tip the mixture into the cake tin and spread evenly to cover the base and half-way up the sides. Set aside in the fridge until required.
Place the gelatine leaves in a bowl with cold water and allow to soften for about 5 minutes.
While the gelatine is softening, place the cream into a small saucepan and heat until it almost reaches the boil. Remove from the heat and stir through the softened gelatine leaves until they have completely dissolved. Set to one side to cool a little.
In two separate small mixing bowls, place the milk chocolate and white chocolate and melt each carefully in the microwave (or over a double-boiler if you prefer – being careful not to allow any water to mix with the chocolate).
In the food processor (or electric mixer) place the softened cream cheese and process/beat until smooth. Add in the sugar and process once again until well combined, before finally adding the cream/gelatine mixture and giving a quick whizz/beat to incorporate.
Stir in half of the cream cheese mixture into the melted milk chocolate and the other half into the melted white chocolate. Stir to combine.
Spread the white chocolate mixture to create an even layer on top of the chocolate biscuit base and place into the freezer for about 10 minutes. Then add the milk chocolate mixture, spreading evenly to create the top layer. Refrigerate the cake for at least 4-6 hours before removing from the tin and serving.
Fresh berries (particularly raspberries) go perfectly with this luxurious chocolate cheesecake
Cooking Notes
- Feel free to use powdered gelatine in place of the gelatine leaves. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of gelatine over ¼ Cup of cold water and then stir into the cream, before adding to the cream cheese mixture.
* Adapted from a cake seen on ‘My Kitchen Rules’
Gather & Graze 
Love the sound of the chocolate cheesecake. Sounds delectable.. What a fun filled Fiesta Friday!
Cheers Jo… very kind of you! 🙂
A nice rich decadent cake. Great to have you as one of the hostesses this week for FF Dame Madge. 😉
Thanks very much! What a huge Fiesta it was this week – so much fun!
Hahaha sounds like a fabulous party!
It certainly was Mary… the party that just keeps on giving! 🙂
ohwowohwowohwowohwowohwowohwowohwowohwow. oh. wow. This looks SO good! And who knew Dame Edna was such a good baker?
Aww, thanks Trixpin – such a lovely comment! 🙂
Who would not love this great cheesecake you have made – thanks for sharing as I am always looking for new desserts to try 🙂
Thanks so very much Aunt Juju – please let me know your thoughts if you give it a go. Cheers, Margot
Haha love the post, What fun you and Saucy hosting together – I just never in a million years pictured you as a Dame Edna look alike 🙂 Love the cheesecake the more chocolatey the better!!
Thanks Karen! Funny… re Dame Edna… my Mum said exactly the same thing! 🙂
How about coming along to the next Fiesta this Friday? Lots of fun and loads of lovely food. It would be great to see you there!
Edna, Edna, Edna (I mean Margo, Margo, Margo)….what fun!
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! 😀 This party still ain’t over! Though I think I need a little nap…
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Cheesecake is my favorite dessert. This one looks so delicious!!
Thanks very much Arl – your comment is much appreciated! 🙂
Now *this* is my kind of cheesecake, Margot. I’ve been looking for a chocolate version and this one certainly fits. I bet it made a fine entry in the recent Fiesta Friday. How could it not?
Thank you John! With your love of chocolate, you may actually like to try the original version that has a layer of dark chocolate cheesecake on the base, before adding the white and milk layers. It looks beautiful, but surprisingly was a little over the top for me… Hope you have a great week! 🙂
So. Much. Chocolate! This looks amazing, thanks for sharing and for hosting such a well dressed party this week 😉
Ahhh, my pleasure Sarah! Thanks so much for your very kind comment. Cheers!
That looks devilishly delicious! Nice addition to FF! 😀
Thanks so much Nell! So excited to come across another Canberra blogger today and to not only admire your Chocolate Bundt cake, but also to read a couple of your local restaurant posts. I’ve been wanting to dine at The Elk and Pea for a while now, but you’ve convinced me that it’s a must do! Cheers 🙂
I’m always the last to know that “it’s a fancy dress party”. Oops under dressed but loving your cheese cake. And I had the perfect blue sequined strapless gown to wear. Next time. Thanks for hosting FF.
If I put a link to the hosts on my site does it notify you or do I need to link it back to you in another way? Be well, Tracey
Oh, it’s not too late Tracey… go and put on that beautiful blue sequined gown and come back to the party! The more sequins and sparkle the better!
I think that if you can link it to this particular post (rather than my blog website in general), it will send a ping-back to let me know that you’ve posted as well.
Thanks so much for making this a fun Fiesta Friday! 🙂
Margot, what a pretty pretty cheesecake. Im sure everyone at the party has their eyes on this one. 🙂
Thank you so much Sadia! The layers weren’t quite as even as I would have liked, as I was a little impatient and didn’t quite allow the white chocolate layer to set enough before pouring on the milk chocolate layer – a shame, but it still tasted wonderful and that’s really what’s important. 🙂
Why Margot, you look simply divine, darling! That color purple: to die for! 😉
That chocolate cheesecake: also to die for and no joking this time! And boo, I’m a dork for missing on Fiesta Friday, specially one that was hosted by you! hugs and kisses and love
So happy to know that you love the outfit too Azita! How can you go wrong with ‘purple on purple on sequins on purple’ – such a winning combination! 😉 You should come along next week to FF – Saucy and I are having so much fun that we just might party on until FF#28! M.xx
Love the Australian girls hosting.. and your “glamour shot!” LOL This cheesecake looks amazing! And I love chocolate ( who doesn’t)? Thanks for hosting FF! Cheers!
It’s been an absolute pleasure to co-host this week with the lovely Saucy! Hasn’t the food been amazing this week? I’ve bookmarked so many recipes that it’s going to take me all year to get through them! Thanks so much for your sweet comment Lisa!
Wow, from one cheesecake lover to another, yours looks fabulous!
Thank you Lily, that’s very kind of you! 🙂
Love the outfit, it definitely adds a pop of color to the entire party…..the cake looks wonderful. Thanks for co-hosting FF!
You’re welcome Loretta – thanks so much for coming along and making it so fun this week!
Thanks for co-hosting this week. Your outfit and cake really add pizzaz to the gathering.
You’re so very welcome Hilda! Thanks so much for the kind comment and for making Fiesta Friday such a fabulous occasion! Cheers, Margot
Haha, wonderful post! I’m sorry I am a little late, but I’m here, with lots of sequins and lots of icing sugar! Because a good fiesta can always do with more sequins and icing sugar, right??
This cheesecake looks marvellous, decadent, and chocolatey, the party crowd is going to love it!
Oh Saucy, I was half-expecting you to make a spectacular entry by busting out of a cake in all your wisteria glory! Though with your gazelle’s horns, you made a fine entry indeed… I can only imagine they’ve all disappeared by now! Great to be here co-hosting with you this week! 🙂
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Can I have a piece, please:) I love chocolate cheesecake!
Absolutely – such beautiful manners! Let me cut you a slice straight away! 🙂
Oh, I remember those early FF parties with you, Saucy and Johnny. Feather boas and magenta onesies! 🙂 Holy cow look at your cake Margot! Your chocolate shavings are gorgeous. I would love a slice of this after dinner this evening…or how about in place of dinner this evening, even better. Have fun at the party!
Oh Seana, those early parties were so fabulous – dressing up was the done thing back then! and I’m completely stunned to read just today that Johnny isn’t going to be blogging anymore – such sad news! Now… let me serve you some cake, with a scattering of raspberries on the side? M 🙂
Ooh you’ve twisted my arm, I’ll take a large slice! I do love a bit of dame edna too!
Lovely – thanks Michelle! (S)he’s an amazing (wo)man – such a classic! 🙂
Cheesecake and bubbly! That’s a heady mix. I’d do both! Although I may need an extra slice of cheesecake and a strong coffee to sober me up. It’s so long since I’ve had a drink chances are half a glass and I’d be slobbering in the corner – elegantly, of course. If that’s possible. 🙂 Enjoy F&F.
I think I need a strong coffee right now too Johnny! Fiesta Friday is utterly huge these days – so many people with so many fabulous dishes – incredible! I just might come and hide with you in the corner to catch my breath, before mixing and mingling a little more! 🙂
Margot, Darling, I have my plate and fork and ready to dig into a slice of your Chocolate on Chocolate Cheesecake! 😛
Thanks Fae – I’ll cut you a slice straight away! 🙂
OK! You’ve got me!! I’ll have a giant piece of that creamy, sweet cheesecake! Oh, and you look completely divine in your sparkles and heels! You are so shiny I can see you from any corner of the room, Margot! Now what’s that about a glass of bubbly to go with my cheesecake? 😉
Well thank you Miss Julianna for your very sweet comment indeed! The heels might need to come off soon, but I’ll continue to sparkle in my gown and glasses so you know where to find me should you need a top-up of bubbly! Enjoy!
So glad for that! I’m in need of a top-up as we speak! 😀
Wow, that is one amazing cheesecake Margot! Love the party outfit 😉 Happy hosting FF, you girls are gonna make it rock 😀
Such a kind comment Naina – thank you so much! Hope you’re having a fab time at FF! 🙂
Yum, chocolate cheesecake! But that hair and frock! Oh my, they grab my attention for sure! Enjoy your weekend and co-hosting.
Thanks Ngan! The Fiesta is in full swing – what a crowd! 🙂
This is only my second Fiesta Friday, and I am wondering why the heck didn’t I get in on the fun earlier. You are definitely ready for the party. I am definitely pinning your cake for a splurge day!
Thank you Julie – so kind of you! So pleased that you’re enjoying Fiesta Friday – it’s certainly a lot of fun and always such friendly faces about to mix and mingle with!
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Margot, wow I love the cheesecake and totally LOVE chocolate cheesecake. It’s perfection. I think we should all don our purple/lilac wigs and dresses for the party, can never wear too many sequins, What fun!! Thanks for hosting, I think this will be a fun party with you and Saucy at the helm.
Thanks so very much Suzanne – we loved this cheesecake, though the photos unfortunately don’t really do it justice (a little washed out/overexposed I think). So happy that you’re all sequinned up and wearing lilac too – what a hoot! I never new hosting FF would be so much fun! Can I shake you another cocktail? 🙂
Oh, Margot – this did make me laugh – what a brilliant co-host post! Loving the purple rinse and the diamante specs… I’m in flapper gear to go with my post….thanks so much for hosting!!
Yay, I love that you’ve dressed up too Selma! Yes, feeling quite the party girl with my wisteria-hued rinse and sparkly glasses! 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying the party and thanks again for bringing along those delicious little strawberry cheesecake bites – gorgeous!
Oh Margot, what a wonderful Chocolate Cheesecake for the Fiesta Friday Party. This looks beautiful. Thanks for co-hosting this week 🙂
Thanks so much Linda! I’m really excited to be co-hosting this week with Saucy… Happy Fiesta Friday to you! 🙂
Thanks for hosting Fiesta Friday! This is going to be quite a party, I’m sure… 🙂 You Aussies are so much fun!
You’re so very welcome MB! Thanks so much for coming along – it’s going to be a fabulous party indeed – let me know if I can shake you up a cocktail or pass across some of the delicious food already starting to arrive? 😉 Enjoy!
I just gained 2kg reading this post, my zip won’t go up! What the hell, I’ll have seconds….
Hmmm, perhaps there’s a good reason I’ve been wearing my elasticised track pants all evening!? Not just because it’s cold! 😉
Reblogged this on Chef Ceaser.
🙂 Cheers, Margot
I love that color and I might grab a new dress and change. 😀
And you have cheesecake?? I’ve been craving for cheesecake for days and it is so wonderful to find it at FF. If you don’t mind, I’ll take some with me. Just don’t tell anyone. 😛
Enjoy co-hosting with the lovely Saucy and have a wonderful weekend. ❤
Oh Jhuls, please do… the more wearing sequined lilac dresses the better! 🙂 Please help yourself to a slice (or two!) of my cake – it’s there to be eaten! Lovely as always to see you at Fiesta Friday! Cheers, Margot