Chocolate-Wrapped Banana Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 3 medium size bananas ripe
• 12 servings caramelized bananas 
• 1 tablespoon butter 
• 16 ounce cream cheese softened
• 4 large eggs 
• 12 servings peanut-graham crust 
• 2 teaspoons juice of lemon 
• 1 cup mascarpone cheese 
• 1 cup milk chocolate morsels 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• knife
• wire rack
• hand mixer
• microwave
• springform pan

Directions

1. Mash bananas with a fork; stir in lemon juice until blended.
2. Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
3. Add mascarpone, beating until smooth.
4. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in banana and vanilla.
5. Pour into Peanut-Graham Crust.
6. Bake at 325 for 1 hour (center will be slightly soft).
7. Remove from oven; run a knife around edge to loosen sides. Cool on a wire rack; cover and chill 8 hours.
8. Microwave chocolate and butter in a 1-quart microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 60 seconds; stir until smooth.
9. Let stand 30 minutes.
10. Remove sides of springform pan.
11. Spread three-fourths of melted chocolate around sides of cheesecake. Arrange Caramelized Bananas on top; drizzle with remaining chocolate.
12. *1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, 2 1/2 tablespoons sour cream, and 2 tablespoons whipping cream may be substituted for mascarpone cheese. Beat ingredients well at medium speed with an electric mixer. Use 1 cup mixture for cheesecake recipe, reserving remainder for other uses.