"Almond Joy" Cheesecake

Ingredients

• Crust:
• 1 1/4 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• Filling:
• 2 8-oz. packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned cream of coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Topping (optional):
• 1/2 cup canned cream of coconut
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• Toasted coconut
• Sliced almonds

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Make crust: In a bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, almonds and salt with a flexible spatula. Stir in melted butter until dry ingredients are lightly moistened. Press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Wrap outside of pan tightly with two layers of aluminum foil. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Leave foil on.
2. 2. Make filling: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and sugar until well combined and light, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl and beat again until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down bowl again. Beat in vanilla, cream of coconut and salt. (Pour remaining cream of coconut into a small bowl, cover it with plastic and refrigerate to use later in topping.) Pour filling onto crust. Transfer springform pan to a roasting pan; fill roasting pan with hot tap water until it reaches 1 inch up sides of springform pan.
3. 3. Bake for 1 hour, until filling is set but still a bit jiggly in center (it will firm up as it cools). Take springform pan out of roasting pan and remove foil. Let cake cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.
4. 4. Lightly cover cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 6 hours.
5. 5. Make topping: Pour cream of coconut and heavy cream into a saucepan and warm over medium-low heat until mixture is just simmering. In a bowl, pour mixture over chocolate and whisk until melted and mixture is smooth. Let it cool. Pour 1/2 cup to 1 cup topping over cheesecake, spreading with an offset spatula. Garnish with toasted coconut and sliced almonds, if desired. Chill until chocolate mixture has set, about 10 minutes. Run a sharp paring knife around inside of pan; release sides. Slice and serve.