Recipe: Fudge Marble Cheesecake (using cake mix, Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe)

FUDGE MARBLE CHEESECAKE
Source: Wanda Bierbaum, Illinois (one of the winning recipes of Pillsbury's-Bake Off in 1986)

1 (2-layer-size) pkg. pudding-included fudge marble cake mix
1/3 cup oil
3 eggs, divided use
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup ricotta cheese (or small curd cottage cheese)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13x9-inch baking pan.

TO PREPARE THE BASE:
Reserve 1 cup dry cake mix and marble pouch; set aside. In large bowl combine remaining (dry) cake mix, oil and 1 egg at low speed until soft dough forms. Press in bottom and 1 1/2-inches up sides of prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

TO PREPARE THE FILLING:
In large bowl combine reserved 1 cup cake mix, remaining 2 eggs, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, sugar, sour cream and heavy cream at low speed until blended; beat 3 minutes at medium speed until creamy.

Reserve 1 1/2 cups cheese mixture. Spoon remaining cheese mixture over the baked base; set aside.

Add reserved marble pouch to reserved cheese mixture; blend well. Spoon chocolate mixture randomly over cheese mixture. Pull knife through batter in wide curves; turn pan and repeat for marble effect.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly in center. Do not overbake. To prevent cracking, immediately run knife around edge of pan. Cool completely, then refrigerate until serving time. Store in refrigerator.

Makes 15 servings