Chocolate Almond Cheesecake

Crust:

1 c. chocolate graham cracker crumbs

¼ c. melted butter

¼ c. chopped almonds

3 tbsp. brown sugar

Cake:

1 ½ c. chocolate chips

3 – 8 oz. cream cheese

¾ c. brown sugar

3 eggs

3 tbsp. milk

¾ tsp. almond extract (can also be vanilla extract)

Preheat oven to 325oF.  Mix together crust ingredients and press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan (bottom of pan may be lined with parchment paper).  Bake 10-15 min.

Melt chocolate chips in heavy saucepan, stir until smooth and set aside.  Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Mix in brown sugar, eggs, milk, and extract. Mix in melted chocolate.  Pour batter over cooled crust.  Bake 35-40 min.  Cool on cooling rack and refrigerate to cool completely.  Run knife around edge of cheesecake before removing sides of pan.