Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake

Last week we had our Relief Society Enrichment Activity. The theme of the evening was a 'Chocolate Festival'. Everyone who wanted to could bring something to eat, but of course, it had to contain chocolate. I have been concocting this idea for quite some time and, while it didn't turn out quite the way I had anticipated, considering the circumstances it was great. So, as painful as it may be, here's how it went down in pictures.

I decided that Milano cookies would make a good crust. (If you have an outlet store, go there. Buy cheap - you're going to crush them up anyway)

I put the cookies in the food processor until finely chopped. I then added some melted butter. Stir until it looks like all of the crumbs have had a butter bath (no, you do not want it soaking wet, but you want it to stick together once you get it in the pan)

Dump the crumb/butter mixture into a spring form pan (I line the bottom disc in foil so it is less messy and SOOOO much easier to clean) and press down. I have issues with getting things on my hands so I use a plastic bag. Beside, you leave more cookies in the pan and none on your hands.

Bake in the oven until the crust is set (about 10 minutes...I think).

While the crust was baking/cooling I made the cheesecake batter. I melted a white chocolate Lindt bar and added it to the batter.

While the cheesecake baked I made the chocolate mousse. It was turning into a very long night and the pictures started to become fewer and further between.

While everything was baking, cooling and setting, I also decided to melt some more white chocolate and added pink food coloring to make swirls to top the whole thing of with. At this point my wonderful mother came to my rescue at 10:30 pm and helped me with everything.

We made lots and lots of swirls....

Here is the before and after shot of the cheesecakes.

Before.....After.....

I was a little concerned how the mixture of textures would work out, but personally, I loved it (and that, in my mind, is all that matters).

I think I dream in chocolate...