Frozen Chocolate Cheesecake

Photo: flickr user tonydolor

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs

cup butter, melted

8 ounces cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup sugar, divided

6 ounces semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

2 eggs, separated

1 cup whipping cream, whipped

3/4 cup chopped nuts (opt.)

Preparation

CRUST: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix cookie crumbs and melted butter together. Press into an 8" or 9" springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool about 1 hour.

CHEESECAKE: Beat together cream cheese, vanilla and 1/4 cup sugar until well blended. Melt chocolate chips over low heat in heavy saucepan. Stir 2 beaten egg yolks and chocolate into the cream cheese mixture. Mix until well blended. Next beat 2 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar. Beat until stiff. Fold into cream cheese mixture.