Ingredients:

  • 24 Oreo cookies, finely crushed (approx. 260g)
  • 5 tbsp Unsalted butter, melted (70g)
  • 1/4 tsp Sea salt
  • 32 oz Full-fat block cream cheese, softened (900g)
  • 1.25 cups Granulated sugar (250g)
  • 1/4 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (25g)
  • 4 Large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup Full-fat sour cream (240g)
  • 1 tbsp Liquid red food coloring
  • 1 tsp Distilled white vinegar
  • 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Pulse the 24 Oreo cookies in a food processor until they resemble fine sand, then stir in 70g melted butter and salt until the mixture looks like wet beach sand.
  2. Press the crumbs into the bottom of a greased 9 inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes until the chocolate aroma is deep and toasted, then let it cool completely.
  3. Wrap the bottom and sides of the cooled pan in three layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. Note: This prevents the water from the Bain Marie from seeping into your crust.
  4. In a stand mixer, beat 900g cream cheese, 250g sugar, and 25g cocoa powder on low speed until the mixture is completely smooth and looks like a thick chocolate paste.
  5. Add the 4 eggs one at a time, mixing just until the yellow disappears before adding the next one.
  6. Fold in 240g sour cream, 1 tbsp red coloring, 1 tsp vinegar, and 1 tsp vanilla until the batter is a uniform, vibrant crimson color.
  7. Pour the filling over the Oreo base. Place the springform pan into a roasting pan and pour hot water into the roasting pan until it reaches halfway up the foil wrapped sides.
  8. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes until the edges are firm but the center still wobbles slightly like Jell O.
  9. Turn off the oven and crack the door. Let the cake sit inside for 1 hour to allow the internal temperature to drop slowly and prevent cracking.
  10. Remove from the water bath, discard the foil, and refrigerate for 8 hours. Before serving, whip 240ml heavy cream with 115g cream cheese and 60g powdered sugar until stiff, velvety peaks form, then pipe onto the cake.