Last Updated on July 3, 2022
Are you tired of spending hours making cheesecake toppings? Well, we have the ultimate easy and versatile chocolate glaze for cheesecake recipe.
Our recipe only needs 3 ingredients, all of which you likely have in your baking drawer. And, you can even substitute each with easy alternatives!
What Is A Chocolate Glaze For Cheesecake?
The term “chocolate glaze” is pretty broad. It is used to describe a type of chocolate topping that is thicker than a sauce, but thinner than a ganache. But, at the end of the day when you look at the ingredients used for “chocolate glazes”, they are pretty much a thin ganache.
These toppings are unique in comparison to others mainly because of their creaminess and consistency. While cheesecake is creamy (or at least should be), the thickness of the chocolate glaze will provide a different and more interesting mouthfeel.
The chocolate glaze for cheesecake recipe we will be making today is specifically designed to be versatile. You only need three basic ingredients but can add as many additions as you’d like.
We made it using regular dark chocolate (50%), but you can substitute it with either white or dark chocolate. And, you can even use different percentages of dark chocolate too. If you are feeling extra experimental, try blending chocolate for this chocolate glaze.
And then, of course, you can make the glaze runnier by adding more cream to the recipe. Or make it thicker by adding a little bit less cream to our recipe.
Either way, any alterations that you make are easy and will be perfectly customized to your liking! So, let’s have a look at how to make this incredible chocolate glaze for cheesecake.
What You Will Need To Make Our Delicious Semi-Sweet Chocolate Glaze For Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 6-ounces 50% dark chocolate, chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small saucepan
- Heat-proof mixing bowl
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Pouring jug
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Make a double boiler
Once your ingredients have been measured out, make a double boiler. Fill a saucepan with water up until its halfway point. Then, place the heat-proof bowl over it and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer.
Step 2: Melt the chocolate
Once the water is on a low simmer, add the chopped chocolate to the heated bowl. Melt the chocolate over the low heat and mix it frequently. Remove the bowl from the heat every minute for roughly 20 seconds to cool down. This will help prevent the melting chocolate from overheating, burning, and seizing.
Once the chocolate is almost fully melted, you can move on to add the other ingredients.
Step 3: Add the butter and cream
Once you have added the butter and heavy cream to the almost melted chocolate, you have to give the ingredients a good stir.
As they heat and blend with the chocolate, keep scraping the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is mixed well. Keep mixing until you have a uniform chocolate ganache.
Step 4: Allow the chocolate glaze to cool
This is essential! You can decant the chocolate glaze into a pouring jug. Then, allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. This will prevent the cheesecake from melting (if you are making a no-bake cheesecake). And, it will help the chocolate glaze set quicker and better.
Step 5: Pour the glaze
Once the glaze has cooled slightly inside your pouring jug, place the cheesecake over a wire rack. Then, pour the glaze either over the entire cake or to only coat the top of the cake. Garnish the glaze in whichever way you’d like, if at all.
Then, set the cheesecake back into the fridge so that the chocolate glaze can set completely. Once set, you can transfer the cheesecake to a serving stand or board.
Tips And Tricks
- As we have mentioned, you can use any type of chocolate for this recipe that you like. You can also have a look at what chocolate goes well with the flavor profile of your cheesecake. For example, if you are making an orange cheesecake, then dark chocolate will pair well with it. But, if you are making a nutty almond cheesecake, white chocolate will do better.
- There are thousands of amazing toppings you can add to this chocolate glaze for cheesecake. Chopped nuts and sliced fresh fruit is probably the most common, refreshing, and tasty options. But, you can also get creative and add chocolate decorations like curls, spirals, and bark.
- You can add flavoring extracts to the chocolate glaze for cheesecake to help bring across some additional flavors. Mint extract works well with this recipe and so do citrus flavors.
- You can make this recipe in a microwave to save some time and effort. To do this, combine all of the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl or jug. Then, heat it for 1 minute and stir it. Repeat this step until the mixture starts to melt. Once the chocolate starts melting, only heta it in 20-second intervals while stirring well in between each. Eventually, you will have a completely smooth and creamy chocolate glaze for cheesecake.
- We recommend using this chocolate glaze immediately. However, it is possible to make it in advance. Simply store it inside a heat-proof bowl or container and keep it in the fridge. Once you are ready to use it again, simply reheat it slowly until it is melted and smooth again.
Preparation Times And Servings
Last Look At Our Versatile Chocolate Glaze For Cheesecake
As you can see, you have likely just stumbled across your new go-to chocolate glaze for cheesecake recipe. But, it also goes great with a wide variety of other desserts like ice cream, cake, puddings, and pastries. So, what are you waiting for? Try it and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Easy Decadent 15 Minute Chocolate Glaze For Cheesecake
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small saucepan
- Heat-proof mixing bowl
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Pouring jug
Ingredients
- 6- ounces 50% dark chocolate, chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Make a double boilerOnce your ingredients have been measured out, make a double boiler. Fill a saucepan with water up until its halfway point. Then, place the heat-proof bowl over it and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer.
- Melt the chocolateOnce the water is on a low simmer, add the chopped chocolate to the heated bowl. Melt the chocolate over the low heat and mix it frequently. Remove the bowl from the heat every minute for roughly 20 seconds to cool down. This will help prevent the melting chocolate from overheating, burning, and seizing.Once the chocolate is almost fully melted, you can move on to add the other ingredients.6- ounces 50% dark chocolate, chopped
- Add the butter and creamOnce you have added the butter and heavy cream to the almost melted chocolate, you have to give the ingredients a good stir.As they heat and blend with the chocolate, keep scraping the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is mixed well. Keep mixing until you have a uniform chocolate ganache.2 tablespoons salted butter, 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Allow the chocolate glaze to coolThis is essential! You can decant the chocolate glaze into a pouring jug. Then, allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. This will prevent the cheesecake from melting (if you are making a no-bake cheesecake). And, it will help the chocolate glaze set quicker and better.
- Pour the glazeOnce the glaze has cooled slightly inside your pouring jug, place the cheesecake over a wire rack. Then, pour the glaze either over the entire cake or to only coat the top of the cake. Garnish the glaze in whichever way you'd like, if at all.Then, set the cheesecake back into the fridge so that the chocolate glaze can set completely. Once set, you can transfer the cheesecake to a serving stand or board.
Notes
FAQs
Can you put melted chocolate on top of a cake?
If the chocolate has been slightly cooled, you can pour it over the top of a cake or cheesecake. If you don't want it to run down the sides, make sure to create some type of lip or edge to keep the chocolate glaze inside and on top. Otherwise, place the cake over a wire rack so that the entire cake can be coated.
What does cheesecake go well with?
Cheesecake (especially plainly flavored ones) goes well with almost anything! Chocolate is an easy first choice and is just as versatile in terms of how you can incorporate it. Then, fresh fruit, nuts, biscuits, candies, and sauces all pair well for various reasons. You can have a look on our site for some unique cheesecake topping ideas.
Should I cover my no-bake cheesecake in the fridge?
Even though it is a no-bake cheesecake, you should still wrap it once it is kept inside the fridge. This will prevent the cheesecake from forming a thick layer of fat or from drying out. You can wrap it with plastic or saran wrap, foil, or keep it inside an airtight container.
What's the best way to drizzle chocolate?
We would recommend using a small teaspoon to drizzle melted chocolate over a cake or baked item. This will prevent large dollops from falling and will create a relatively thin stream of chocolate. For thicker lines, you may want to use a piping bag and nozzle.
Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.
