Instant Pot cheesecake with chocolate swirl is an easy dessert recipe to make and perfect for cheesecake lovers! The swirl layer creates a beautiful cake that is full of flavor.
First start out by taking your cream cheese out. It will need to sit out for probably close to 2 hours (depending on the temperature in your house) before being ready to mix. The yogurt (or sour cream) and eggs need to sit out about an hour before mixing.
16 ounces cream cheese, ¼ cup plain yogurt, 2 eggs
Making the Crust
Crush graham crackers into crumbs using either a food processor or a bag with a rolling pin.Add in the cocoa powder, sugar and espresso. Mix well to combine.
Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Pour the graham cracker crumb mix into butter and stir well.Pour into the springform pan. Optional - place a circle cut out of parchment paper on the bottom of the springform pan before adding the crust.
4 Tablespoons butter
Using something with a flat surface like a jar or cup, pack the crust mixture into the bottom of the spring form pan. Pack them down as best as you can.
Making the Filling
Add the cream cheese to a mixing bowl. With a hand mixer, beat it for about 30 seconds or until it is smooth and creamy.
16 ounces cream cheese
Add in the sugar and beat again for about 20-30 seconds.
½ cup sugar
Next add in the vanilla extract and the yogurt. Beat until just incorporated.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup plain yogurt
This is a delicate step. Add the eggs one at a time but only beat for about 5 seconds each time. It will not be fully mixed.Continue to carefully stir the mixture with a spatula, slowly until it is fully incorporated - doesn't take long.
2 eggs
Pour the filling over the crust and spread it evenly with a spatula.
The Chocolate Swirl
Heat the oil up in a saucepan and add the espresso powder. Stir it well.
Pour the chocolate chips into the oil mix and stir often until they are just melted and like a thick syrup. Do not walk away while melting, there is a quick line between melted and scorched.
½ cup chocolate chips
Carefully drop blobs of the melted chocolate on top of the cheesecake and swirl around with a fork.
Cooking the Cheesecake
I use a silicone sling, but you can use the trivet and a foil sling if you don't have the silicone one. To make a foil sling:Take a piece of foil that is about 20 inches long and fold it lengthwise 3 times, like folding a letter. So you now have a 20 inch sling that will be strong enough to take a cheesecake out of the Instant Pot.
Place the spring form pan on the sling.
Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot. Add the trivet only if using a foil sling. The silicone sling has it's own built in trivet.
Place the cheesecake into the Instant Pot and lock the lid. Set the vent to sealing.
Hit manual/pressure cook (different models have different buttons) and set for 27 minutes.It will take around 7-10 minutes to build pressure.
Allow to naturally release pressure when it is finished cooking which will take about 7-10 minutes.Carefully remove lid as there will be moisture on the lid.Once you remove your cheesecake, set it on a wire rack to cool for an hour on the counter. If there is any moisture puddles (this is normal), carefully blot it with a paper towel before cooling.
Once it has cooled on the counter for about an hour, transfer it to the fridge to cool uncovered for at least 2 hours. Cover after 2 hours and allow it to sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours total, overnight is best for the best texture. Do not cover before letting it cool in the fridge, it creates excess moisture.Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Serving sizes and nutritional values are estimated. Be sure your cold ingredients are close to room temperature before mixing all together. Your cheesecake may turn out lumpy if any cold ingredients mix with the cream cheese.Espresso powder is optional, but we highly recommend it to enhance the chocolate.The oil we recommend for melting the chocolate chips is refined coconut oil due to the fact that it has no taste. You can use shortening in it's place.Sour cream can be substituted for yogurt.