Sweet tart cherries and tangy goat cheese make this black pepper and black cherry marble cheesecake extra decadent.
black pepper and black cherry marble cheesecake

Listening to the.boy call customer service lines is pretty much a Life Highlight.

I really wish you all could hear it. Mostly it goes something like:

“Speak to a person.

SPEAK TO A PERSON.

SPPPEEAAAKKK TOOOO AAA PPEEERRRSSOOOOONNN.”

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And then he hisses/moans/pulls out all his hair/throws something across the room.

He’s really such a zen guy, this husband of mine.

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He’s been doing a lot of this because we have a lot of honeymoon-related things to take care of that require conversing with robots…like making sure our cell phones will still work and calling restaurants to make reservations and figuring out how to procure an International Driver’s License.

And I hate making phone calls. So he does all the dirty work while I provide moral support…by sitting on the couch making fun of him.

Our relationship is so equal.

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Annnyyywaaayyy…that has nothing to do with this cheesecake. Just a little comedic interlude before we get to the good stuff.

I actually made this for Mother’s Day, which now feels like it was AGES ago, but it would also be great for Father’s Day or even the 4th of July.

Basically, it’s a show-stopper – a totally decadent cheesecake with a ribbon of chocolate and tart juicy cherries scattered through every bite. But it also has some surprises up its sleeves…like the fact that it’s made with goat cheese instead of cream cheese and packs just enough black pepper heat to make you go OH.ย I find these to be totally endearing qualities because they cut the richness just enough that you don’t feel sick after eating a few bites, as is the case with most cheesecakes. Also, they make life/eating more adventurous and fun. And I kind of love that.

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Black Pepper and Black Cherry Marble Cheesecake
 
Sweet tart cherries and tangy goat cheese make this black pepper and black cherry marble cheesecake extra decadent.
Yield: 1 10-inch cheesecake
Ingredients
For the crust
  • 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup Dutch process cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp salt
For the filling
  • 1 lb fresh cherries
  • 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 2 lb chevre
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper, finely ground
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp kirsch
  • ½ tsp almond extract
For the assembly
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup confectioner's sugar
Instructions
  1. To make the crust, heat oven to 325F. Spray a 10-inch springform pan with baking spray.
  2. In a double boiler, combine the chocolate and butter and heat over simmering water until the chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the egg, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt and whisk until combined. Continue to mix and scrape the sides until the cocoa powder is mixed into the batter.
  4. With the mixer on low, pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture. Mix until the batter is smooth.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool while you prepare the rest of the batter.
  6. For the filling, pit half of the cherries and place them in a large bowl.
  7. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and place over a double boiler, stirring constantly until the chocolate is just melted. Turn off the heat.
  8. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the chevre, sugar, salt, and pepper and beat until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, until just combined. Stir in the cornstarch.
  9. Transfer one third of the batter to a separate bowl and stir in the melted chocolate. To the rest of the batter, add the kirsch and almond extract.
  10. Pour the kirsch batter onto the prepared crust. Transfer the chocolate batter to a pastry bag fitted with a large tip. Insert the pastry tip halfway into the kirsch batter and pipe dollops of chocolate batter all along the outside of the cake. Pipe a few onto the middle of the cake. Using a skewer or toothpick, swirl the batters to create a marble effect. Push the pitted cherries into the batter using the same skewer.
  11. Bake for 1 to 1½ hours, or until the middle of the cheesecake is almost set. Turn the oven off and, sticking a spoon in the door, allow the cake to rest in the cooling oven for 20 minutes. Cool completely in the refrigerator.
  12. To assemble, whip together the heavy cream and confectioner's sugar until stiff peaks form. Swirl the whipped cream on top of the cheesecake. Top with the remaining cherries. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 slice

Recipes to get you excited for cherry season!

cherry chocolate chip cake

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cake

ultimate cherry pie

Ultimate Cherry Pie

cherry cornmeal upside down cake

Cherry Cornmeal Upside Down Cake

From Around the Web:

Almond Cupcakes with Fresh Cherry Frosting from Taste and Tell

Crispy Coconut French Toast with Sour Cherries from Flourishing Foodie

Oatmeal Cookies with Whiskey-Soaked Cherries from Healthy Delicious

Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes with Chocolate Covered Cherries from Year-Round Giving

Cherry Chip Cupcakes with Bourbon Vanilla Frosting from Baking A Moment

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52 Responses to Black Pepper and Black Cherry Marble Cheesecake

  1. Kelster says:

    Love the addition of black pepper! Friend just suggested some for a dessert I’m attempting this weekend.

  2. debbie says:

    A gorgeous cheesecake! I don’t eat cheesecake often but I would love to try this one since it’s different. I hate making calls to companies and then have to go through all different menus and options before I get a live person. Ugh!

  3. This looks incredibly beautiful and delicious. I really love the add of black pepper. A great one, Joanne.

  4. You know what’s cray? Yesterday I told the hubs “I’m making no-cheese cheesecake” and he was like “goat cheese cheesecake?” And hen he was all, I wonder if that would be good?!
    Then you posted it THE NEXT DAY. Mind reader.
    P.s I NEED This in my face. Pinned!

  5. “2lb chevre” – good lord those words make me salivate. I might have to make a little 1/2lb version just for me!

  6. Wait. Cheesecake made with GOAT CHEESE? My world just rocked. In the best way.

  7. It’s so frustrating when you have a hard time reaching an actual person on the phone!!!!!
    This cheesecake?
    Wow.

  8. Ain’t no sharing with this one!

  9. Heather says:

    This looks and sounds amazing!! I’m normally not a fan of goat cheese (I know, I know), but this might convert me.

    Also… I feel for your husband. There is nothing worse than trying to speak to robots. That’s also how I feel using voice to text and bluetooth in my car. Ha ha.

  10. This cheesecake looks divine – love the black pepper and cherry. Delicious!

  11. Pam says:

    Love it, Joanne! A cheesecake with black pepper! Cheesecake and cherry got my attention! Those calls are a pain to make. We had one yesterday with the Chicago Tribune. It’s nearly impossible to talk to a live person, and even more to have someone settle your issue!

  12. This is one stunning cheesecake. Love, love, love!

  13. CakePants says:

    What a decadent dessert!! I wouldn’t have thought to use either black pepper or goat cheese in a cheesecake – how creative! And ugh…automated customer service lines. I’m pretty sure my neighbors now know my birthdate and various ID numbers, after having heard me repeatedly enunciating the crap out of them in loud, angry tones. Le sigh.

  14. This is the most amazing idea ever. Goat cheese and cherries go so well together, and now they’re hanging out in a cheesecake!!

  15. LOL! I do the same thing, but I yell “REPRESENTATIVE!!!!” Clearly I need to eat this cheesecake and chill out (PS. You can use your regular driver’s license. I know you know this. Just backing you up xo!)

  16. This is one stunner of a cheesecake! All that swirl-y, marble-y goodness is literally making me weak in the knees. How badly do want a slice right now?? Not nearly as much as I want the whole dang thing. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  17. Hahahaha. I totally feel him. I miss the days when speaking to a human was, ya know, the only option. At the same time, I loathe the phone and praise the day texting was invented. This cheesecake FTW. Seriously.

  18. Cherrie. I love them especially in cheesecake.

  19. Kelly says:

    Haha I do the same thing with my husband too – it’s more fun sitting on the sidelines then making those stressful calls ๐Ÿ™‚ This cheesecake however would take front and center row! It’s stunning! Love the goat cheese!

  20. Show stopper is RIGHT! Wahw. And good for the.boy, taking on the stress for the both of you. He’s a keeper, he is.

  21. Zainab says:

    Stunning cake!!! Your cherry pie is on my summer list too. Just have to go cherry picking and make it happen ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. Eileen says:

    What a great combination! I’ve had black pepper with strawberries, but never with cherries before. Clearly this goes on the to-try list immediately. ๐Ÿ™‚

  23. This is a show stopper indeed! I bet the.boy won’t mind doing all the dirty work if he got to eat this! I used to work at a bakery during my college years, where a chocolate-cherry loaf was their top seller, Joanne, your combo so rocks!

  24. Damn girl you know how to make a cheesecake- it looks PERFECT!!!

  25. Show stopper sounds about right! I love that loosely whipped cream on top…truly drool inducing.

  26. Sarah says:

    This looks absolutely phenomenal! I bet your mom loved it. Hilarious about your husband- sounds like you guys have very similar roles to me and mine… I am the “support person” who sits on the couch and scours food blogs thus “am too busy” to help ๐Ÿ˜‰ Hope you guys have fun on the honeymoon- where are you going??

  27. Julia says:

    LOL sounds like me and the.boy handle automated phone calls the same way. No patience from this one right here. So thrilled for you two lovebirds and your upcoming honeymoon. And this flipping cherry cheesecake with that marble affect? I want to nosedive right in and eat my way out. Have a great weekend, sister!

  28. I’m definitely making this cheesecake for my next Sunday brunch. I know it will be the first thing to go and that everyone will wish they had a slice to take home when they leave. I cannot wait to test out this recipe. Thanks for sharing Joanne!

    Happy Friday ๐Ÿ™‚

  29. Christine says:

    Good grief, 2 lbs. chevre? And chocolate? And heavy cream? And cherries? Pure heaven! Gorgeous cake. Hate the phone robots too, so feel for the.boy.

  30. Kate says:

    This whip cream on this completely bowls me over.

  31. Anne says:

    This is nothing if not brilliant. I mean black pepper with black cherry and CHEEZZZCAKEEE!!!!

  32. This year Dave didn’t bother with an international drivers license and his South African one sufficed. It would have saved us thousands had we not bothered in the first place. Not that I’m advocating you don’t get one, but maybe double check if you actually need one ๐Ÿ™‚

  33. Johanna GGG says:

    wow what a beautiful cheesecake – I have seen black pepper in sweet food and wondered what it must be like – somehow I much prefer the heat of black pepper to chilli so I think I need to try it for myself and I also need to make this cheesecake when summer finally rolls around. Oh and I sympathise with the boy – I make lots of these phone calls in our relationship and hate all those robot voices – hope they enjoy listening to his recorded conversations ๐Ÿ™‚

  34. Mr Bite and I both hate making phone calls, so it’s always challenging when we need to ring somewhere. I sympathise!

    I’m really intrigued by the pepper in this. I’ve had pepper in dark chocolate a few times but imagine it would be extra good set against the sweetness of cheesecake!

  35. […] Black Pepper and Black Cherry Marble Cheesecake via Joane Eats Well With Others – I’m positive I’d eat this whole thing in a night.  P. S. What are some of your favorite blogs to read, especially lifestyle or crafty blogs? And I also need to know what activities you like to do with kids during the summer?  […]

  36. Perfectly timed! I just bought a cart-load of cherries yesterday. The marbling is so pretty, and the goat cheese sounds delicious!

  37. easypeasy says:

    A work of art!!! ๐Ÿ™‚ I want a piece soooo bad!!! LOL

  38. Izzy says:

    Hahaha, my husband sounds the exact same way when he calls customer service! That is hilarious! This cheesecake sounds so good and I’m so intrigued with the addition of the black pepper! Can you please send me some?! Thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

  39. Wow, what an awesome looking cheesecake. Loving that heavy cream topping!

  40. cheri says:

    Lovely cheesecake Joanne, such a great combination. I laugh at my husband too, but he always says operator, operator ooopppeeraaator!

  41. CakeSpy says:

    I’m into a whisper of pepper on my sweets. VERY nice work here!

  42. Well, at least he doesn’t swear! I do! Perfect way to get out all my frustrations! A piece of this cake ought to do the trick, too! It sounds awesome! Tell him to try pressing 0.

  43. Lynnette says:

    Joanne! That cream on that cake is just devine. Whilst I have never been the biggest fan of cherries, this cake is making me think twice. Looks so good. Still thinking about this cake as I open other posts I have missed from your blog. Damn that cake is definitely a show-stopper!

  44. grace says:

    spectacular! i love the look of this, but more importantly, the flavors are spot-on too! ๐Ÿ™‚

  45. sandra says:

    show stopper – you are not kidding. makes me wish I still baked ๐Ÿ™‚

  46. Elizabeth says:

    What an excellent idea to add black pepper to the cherries!

  47. This looks absolutely divine!! And I love the mix of flavors ๐Ÿ™‚ A stunning cheesecake!

  48. Elena Shetty says:

    You have a very good taste on cake, my dear. I mean i love your taste. I’m talking a bit nonsense huh? It just your cakes remind me of a sweet heaven, and my mind is up there. It can’t be down to earth at this moment. But seriously, i love your baking ideas. Black pepper and black cherry marble cheesecake. Kidding right? It is unbelievably amazing cake art!

  49. Lynn says:

    This is a beautiful cake – love cherries. Might have to try that!

  50. […] Black Pepper and Black Cherry Marble Cheesecake from Eats Well With Others […]

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