The chocolate flavor in this rich and glossy cheesecake is deepened by the addition of coffee.

Makes 16 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 35 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 35 minutes plus cooling time

EASE OF PREPARATION: Moderate

Crust
4 ounces chocolate wafers (18 wafers)
1 cup Grape-Nuts cereal
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons water

Filling
2 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 tablespoons instant coffee powder
1 tablespoon boiling water
2 16-ounce containers nonfat cottage cheese
1 8-ounce package low-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 large egg whites
1 cup low-fat sour cream
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. To make crust: Place chocolate wafers, Grape-Nuts, cocoa and sugar in a food processor; using an on/off motion, process until you have fine crumbs. Add oil and water; process until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and about 1 1/2 inches up the sides of the prepared pan.
3. To make filling: Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling, water or in a microwave oven at medium (50 percent) power. Let cool slightly.
4. Dissolve instant coffee in the 1 tbsp. boiling water and set aside. Place cottage cheese in a strainer lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth. Gather up the cheesecloth and squeeze out moisture from cottage cheese. Put the pressed cottage-cheese solids in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add cream cheese, sugar, egg, egg whites, sour cream, cocoa, cornstarch, salt, vanilla, the melted chocolate and the dissolved coffee; process until smooth. Pour into the crust-lined pan.
5. Bake until firm around the edge but still shiny and slightly soft in the center, about 1 hour. Run a knife around the pan to loosen edges. Let cool in the pan on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 8 hours or for up to 2 days. Remove sides. To facilitate cutting, dip a sharp knife in hot water and wipe dry before cutting each slice.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 252 calories; 10 g fat (4 g sat, 3 g mono); 27 mg cholesterol; 39 g carbohydrate; 5 g protein; 3 g fiber; 164 mg sodium; 189 mg potassium.


Nutrition bonus: Iron (20% daily value).


2 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.