Chocolate Wine dipped strawberries & chocolate cheesecake with pistachio crumble

The game changer here is the Rubis chocolate wine .. but it is optional ! Sitting the strawberries in sugar releases the liquid which often sinks to the base. By steeping then draining your strawberries you’re left with concentrated strawberry flavour and no ‘soggy bottoms’!

for the base:

50g blitzed pistachios

150g digestives crushed

150g shortcake biscuits crushed

150g softened butter

for the soaked strawberries:

400g finely chopped strawberries

1tbs icing sugar

1-2tbs Rubis Chocolate wine

for the filling

100g Creme fraiche

400g cream cheese ( room temperature)

100g icing sugar

300ml double cream

200g melted white chocolate

1tsp vanilla essence

decoration

8-10 strawberries

100g white chocolate

a small handful of pistachios blitzed

pop the strawberries in a bowl add the icing sugar and wine and allow to sit to release liquid.

Place the base ingredients into a bowl add the butter and mix to form crumbs. Pour into a lined 23cm springform tin and using the bottom of a glass, press down firmly to create an even base and set in fridge to chill.

To make the filling mix the Creme Fraiche cream cheese icing sugar and vanilla together til blended, then add the double cream whisking til thickened ( a minute or so ). Now pour in the cooled melted chocolate and gently mix in. Finally drain the strawberries getting rid of as much liquid as possible add them to the filling and fold in with a spatula. Pour into the prepared springform tin, smooth and allow to chill at least 4hrs If not overnight ( if you’re in a rush and it hasn’t quite set pop it in the freezer for a bit )

line a tray with baking paper melt the extra chocolate and taking your strawberries remove most of outer leaves but leave stalks then dip in the chocolate and leave on tray to set. Blitz the extra pistachios. To serve release the cheese cake from the tin. use a knive or spatula to smooth the edges. Decorate with the crushed pistachios and chocolate dipped strawberries ..