Heavenly Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients

CRUST
2 cups (about 50) crushed vanilla wafers
1 cup ground toasted almonds
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

FILLING
2 cups (11.5-ounce package) NESTL�® TOLL HOUSE® Milk Chocolate Morsels
1 envelope (.25 ounces) unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup milk
2 pkg (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped

Instructions

1 FOR CRUST:

2 COMBINE crushed cookies, almonds, sugar and butter in medium bowl; mix well.

3 Press firmly onto bottom and 2 inches up side of ungreased 9-inch springform pan.

4 FOR FILLING:

5 MICROWAVE morsels in medium, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; stir.

6 Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth.

7 Sprinkle gelatin over milk in small saucepan; let stand for 1 minute.

8 Warm, stirring constantly, over low heat until gelatin is dissolved; remove from heat.

9 BEAT cream cheese, sour cream and melted chocolate in large mixer bowl until fluffy.

10 Beat in gelatin mixture and almond extract; fold in whipped cream.

11 Pour into crust.

12 Chill for about 3 hours or until firm.

13 Run knife around edge of cheesecake; remove side of springform pan.

14 Garnish as desired.

15 Skill Level: Average