ancho-chocolate cheese cake

18

 OREO Cookies, crushed (about 2 cups)

2

Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

4

pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1

cup sugar

2

Tbsp. ancho chile pepper powder

1

pkg.  (6 oz.) BAKER'S Bittersweet Chocolate, melted

4

 eggs

HEAT oven to 325ºF.

MIX crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.

BEAT cream cheese and sugar with mixer until well blended. Add pepper powder and chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each just until blended; pour over crust.

BAKE 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours.

SIZE-WISE

Sweets can be part of a balanced diet but remember to keep tabs on portions.

WHERE TO BUY ANCHO PEPPER POWDER

Look for ancho pepper powder in Mexican grocery stores where it is typically found next to the dried chiles or packaged herbs
.