Chocolate Almond Marble Cheesecake

3 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted

3 1 ounce squares bittersweet chocolate
2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 16 ounce container sour cream, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350° F.

In a medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs, almonds, 1/4 cup sugar and melted butter. Mix well. Press into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 10 inch springform pan.

In the top of a double boiler, heat chocolate, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Fold in the almond extract and sour cream. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the filling into a smaller bowl. Stir the melted chocolate into the smaller bowl, then fold loosely back into plain filling. Pour into crust. With the tip of a knife, swirl the filling to create a marbled effect.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.