Chocolate Cocoa Cheesecake Bars

These creamy melt in your mouth chocolate cheesecake bars have a chocolate crust topped with an amazing smooth and yummy cocoa cheesecake and topped with a silky and smooth chocolate ganache and lots of chocolate shavings. This is a recipe that is easy to make with ingredients that are already in your pantry. After I found this recipe I have been loving it since. They wont last long, they are that good. 

Ingredients For The Crust:
• 1 1/4 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (about 40-45 wafers)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
Cheesecake
• 3 ( 8 ounces each)  cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 ( 8 ounce) container  sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup Hershey'sCocoa
• 3 eggs
Ganache
• 1/2 cup Hershey's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream

           Toppings:

           Chocolate Shavings

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 325°F. Line a 13X9" baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine together crumbs, sugar and cocoa. Add in the melted butter; stir until well combined. Press mixture firmly onto bottom of the prepared baking pan, using your fingers.
3. Set the prepared crust aside while making the filling.
4. In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and sugar.
5. With the paddle attachment on, beat on low-medium speed until light and fluffy, do not over mix. 
6. Add sour cream and vanilla; beat just until blended.
7. Stir in the cocoa powder.
8. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. 
9. Pour over the crust.
10. Bake in preheated oven for 38-42 minutes.
11. Turn the oven off, open the door and let the cheesecake cool for few hours in the warm oven.
12. Once the cheesecake is completely cooled, place in the refrigerator and start the ganache.
13. For The Ganache: In a heatproof bowl, add the chocolate chips and heavy cream. Microwave for 1 minute and stir to combine. Stir after 30 seconds. 
14. Pour over the cheesecake. Decorate with chocolate shavings. Store in the refrigerator. 
15. Refrigerate for a couple of hours before cutting into bars.

original recipe from Hershey's Chocolate Cookbook
recipe and photo source:http://roxanashomebaking.com/cocoa-chocolate-cheesecake-bars-recipe/