Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

9 ounces chocolate wafer cookies

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup whipping cream

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

In a food processor, whirl cookies into crumbs; you should have 2 cups. Pour into a 9-inch cheesecake pan with a removable rim; add the butter and mix. Press mixture over the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven until crust looks dry, about 10 minutes.

In a 1- to 2-quart pan, bring 1/4 cup cream to a boil. Remove from heat, add 2 ounces chocolate, and stir until smooth. In a large bowl, with a mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and cocoa until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate mixture and vanilla; beat until blended. Scrape into crust; spread level.

Bake cheesecake in a 325 degree regular or 300 degree convection oven until center jiggles only slightly when pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour. Cool for 1 hour.

In a 1- to 2-quart pan, bring remaining 1/4 cup cream to a boil. Remove from heat, add remaining 4 ounces chocolate, and stir until smooth. Pour over cake and spread level. Cover and chill at least 8 hours or up to 1 day.

Run a knife between cake and pan rim; remove rim. Cut cake into wedges.