Baileys Cheesecake

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 20 javas chip flavored creme chocolate sandwich cookies , such as Oreo
• 2 tablespoons butter , melted

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) with rack in lower third position. Lightly grease an 8-inch springform pan with cooking spray and line with parchment on the bottom.

2. 2

   Process cookies in a food processor until ground into small crumbs, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in melted butter and process for another 30 seconds.

3. 3

   Press evenly into bottom and about 1 inch up sides of prepared pan.

4. 4

   Bake in the preheated oven until firm and fragrant, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly while making the filling, about 10 minutes.

5. 5

   Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

6. 6

   Once crust is cooled, wrap bottom of pan with 2 layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent water from seeping into pan.

7. 7

   To make the cheesecake filling: Add cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add sour cream, and beat on medium-low speed until fully combined, scraping down sides of bowl halfway through, about 2 minutes.

8. 8

   Beat in sugar, espresso powder, vanilla, and salt, until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through, about 1 minute. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed just until combined after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula, 1 to 2 minutes.

9. 9

   Add Baileys and beat on low speed until just combined, about 45 seconds.

10. 10

    Pour filling onto cooled crust. Place springform pan into a larger roasting pan and place in preheated oven. Pour 1 1/2 cups of water in roasting pan and bake until the cheesecake is almost set (the center 2 inches should jiggle slightly) and edges have pulled away slightly from pan, 50 to 60 minutes.

11. 11

    Turn off oven and leave door cracked open about 7 to 8 inches; let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully lift cheesecake from water bath. Cover and chill at least 3 hours or overnight.

12. 12

    To make the ganache: Heat cream and Baileys in a small saucepan over medium heat until warm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in espresso powder until fully combined. Add chocolate chips and let stand 1 minute; stir until smooth.

13. 13

    Remove cheesecake from pan and place on a cake plate. Pour ganache evenly over chilled cheesecake, spreading slightly over edges with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until ganache is firm, about 30 minutes.