Ingredients

Serves 8 to 12

　　

For crust

1/2 cup whole blanched almonds

　　eight 5- by 2 1/2-inch graham crackers

　　3 tablespoons sugar

　　1/3 cup (5 1/3 tablespoons) unsalted butter

　　

For filling

1/3 cup packed pure almond paste

　　3/4 cup sugar

　　three 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened

　　1 teaspoon vanilla

　　5 large eggs

　　

For topping

5 ounces semisweet chocolate

　　1/2 cup heavy cream

　　

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter a 9 1/2-inch springform pan.

　　

Make crust:

Step 2

In a shallow baking pan toast almonds in middle of oven until golden, about 10 minutes. Remove almonds from oven but leave oven on. Cool almonds completely. In a food processor pulse nuts until finely chopped and transfer to a bowl. Break graham crackers into food processor and finely grind. Stir 1 cup cracker crumbs and sugar into almonds. Melt butter and add to crumb mixture, stirring with a fork until combined well. Press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom and 1 inch up side of springform pan.

　　

Make filling:

Step 3

In a food processor grind together almond paste and sugar until combined well. Add cream cheese and vanilla and blend well. Add eggs 1 at a time, pulsing until just combined after each addition.

　　

Step 4

Pour filling into crust and bake in middle of oven 50 minutes. Turn off oven and let cheesecake stand in oven 10 minutes. (Cake will not be set in center but will set as it cools. Don't worry if cheesecake cracks; chocolate topping will cover it.) Cool cheesecake in pan on a rack 1 hour.

　　

Step 5

Run a thin knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake but do not remove side of pan. Chill cake, uncovered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.

　　

Make topping:

Step 6

Finely chop chocolate. In a small saucepan bring cream just to a simmer and remove pan from heat. Add chocolate and stir until smooth.

　　

Step 7

Carefully pour topping onto cake and spread it up to but not over edge. Chill cake, covered, until chocolate is set, at least 2 hours, and up to 1 day.

　　

Step 8

Just before serving, remove side of pan.