This chocolate and raspberry cheesecake is an easy-to-prepare dessert, which does not require cooking. It is perfect for rounding off a dinner with friends. Cheesecake is very popular in American culinary culture and in English-speaking countries. It consists of a cookie base - in this case gluten-free - covered with a sweetened fresh cheese topping. It is really simple to make, and takes only half an hour. However the total time needed is longer since it has to be left to stand in the fridge for at least three hours. One thing that makes this cheesecake particularly easy to prepare is that it does not need cooking, which means you can make it in advance and serve it to your guests after leaving it to cool for long enough for the base and topping to become firm, but remain soft to the bite.

1

To prepare a chocolate and raspberry cheesecake, start from the base. Crumble cookies in a blender, add melted butter, and blend until the mixture is even. Transfer to a 22 cm / 8¾ inch diameter hinge mould and level with the back of a spoon. Put in the fridge while preparing other ingredients.

2

Now prepare topping as follows. Leave gelatine to soak in cold water for the time shown on the pack. Melt dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave and set aside. Meanwhile, mix cheese until creamy with sugar and vanilla seeds using an electric mixer. Heat two tablespoons of cream in a saucepan, squeeze out gelatine well, and dissolve. Add to cheese mixture together with melted chocolate, and beat everything with a whisk or a mixer. Whip cream, and fold it into mixture a little at a time, mixing from bottom to top.

3

At this point, take mould out of the fridge, spread 250 g / 8¾ oz of raspberries on cookie base, and pour on topping. Level out until even, and place in the fridge for at least three hours. Just before serving, turn out and place cheesecake on a serving dish. Decorate with remaining raspberries and chocolate flakes, and sprinkle with powdered sugar to taste.