Raspberry chocolate cheesecake

It's been an exceptionally beautiful autumn in Rotterdam so far. I spent part of last Sunday on a terrace in a park nearby and today is one of those days when I think I should actually do the same. It's too fine a day to sit inside writing a blogpost. So, I will keep it short.

Before I go I will share a delicious cheesecake recipe with you. The bake really is part brownie with a cheesecake topping and raspberries. Heavy, yes, but mouth watering. The cheesecake raspberry topping gives the bake the extra twist that makes it special.

What you need is:

* 200 gr. good quality dark chocolate
* 200 gr. butter, softened
* 400 gr caster sugar
* 5 eggs
* 110 gr. flour
* 400 gr. cream cheese
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 140 gr raspberries

a rectangular cake tin 20 x 30 cm, covered in baking parchment

Preheat the oven to 170°C. Grease the tin. 

Place the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water until melted. Set aside to cool slightly. Cream the butter and 250g of the caster sugar until pale, then add 3 of the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the melted chocolate, then fold in the flour. Spread three-quarters of the mixture into the lined tin.

In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, remaining sugar and eggs and the vanilla extract until smooth. Spread over the chocolate base. Spoon the remaining chocolate mixture over the cream cheese layer and use a fork to swirl the chocolate. Push the raspberries into the top and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

Leave to cool. Cut into squares before serving.

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The brownies are a perfect autumn bake. I used some of my latest vintage finds for the photo shoot: a brown coffee pot and matching sugar bowl from the 1970s, two coffee cups from the same period, an elegant teacup with red and golden details from the fifties and a set of green glass tea plates from the 1930s. The last set being a favourite! Love the colour of the glass, the pattern.....I think it was waiting in the thrift shop for me to be found.

Did you find anything special lately?

Next week my giveaway of the book Besondere Frauen und ihre Gaerten by Gallwey publishers will be online. If you are interested, stay tuned.

Have a lovely week!

Madelief x