Chocolate-Glazed Cheesecake With Violets

Step 1: Using the butter, coat the inside bottom and 2 inches up the sides of a 10-C mold or 10-inch Bunt pan.

Step 2: Sprinkle mold with graham-cracker crumbs, shaking mold to evenly coat the inside completely. Turn mold upside down to remove excess crumbs.

Step 3: Heat oven to 325°F

Step 4: In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat cream cheese until softened and fluffy.

Step 5: Beat in sugar until well mixed.

Step 6: Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Step 7: With rubber spatula, fold in violet petals and vanilla until well mixed.

Step 8: Pour mixture into prepared mold.

Step 9: Set filled mold in a 13- by 9-inch baking pan and place on the lower oven rack.

Step 10: Pour boiling water into pan to a depth of about 1 inch. Bake cheesecake 1 1/2 hours or until almost set in the center. If using Bunt pan, bake 1 1/4 hours.

Step 11: Turn off oven; let cake stand in oven 30 minutes longer.

Step 12: Remove cheesecake from the water bath and cool in the mold to room temperature on wire rack.

Step 13: Cut a piece of cardboard into a round to fit exactly over the cheesecake.

Step 14: Loosen the cake around the side of mold. Unmold cake onto the cardboard round and place on a wire rack set over a jelly-roll pan.

Step 15: Prepare Chocolate Glaze: In double boiler over hot, not boiling water, melt butter with chocolate squares Stir until smooth and cool to lukewarm.

Step 16: Pour half of glaze over top of cheesecake, and with small metal spatula, carefully spread to evenly cover side, allowing excess to drip into pan below.

Step 17: Refrigerate cake just until glaze hardens.

Step 18: Meanwhile, keep remaining glaze at room temperature. If glaze hardens, re-heat in hot water just until spoon able.

Step 19: Pour and evenly spread remaining glaze over cake.

Step 20: Refrigerate cheesecake at least 2 hours or overnight.

Step 21: Just before serving, transfer cheesecake to serving plate.

Step 22: Garnish top with Candied Violets and decorate plate with violet leaves, if desired.