Orange Cheesecake

I love cheese be it in the form of cheese slices, cheese platter or even a cheesecake. The rich creamy taste of the cheese is just heavenly. :)

Decided to make myself a cheesecake. An orange flavoured one. I just have this feeling that the orange and cheese blend will go well together. And to add "warmth" to the orange cheesecake, I reckon ginger will do nicely. I am not disappointed! :D Be warned however, that this cheesecake is lethally rich and creamy... YUMMY!! :)

Orange Cheesecake
Ingredients for the crust:

• 180g Ginger Nut biscuit, crushed
• 100g macadamia nuts, chopped
• 115g butter, melted
• 1t ground cinnamon
• 1/2t ground clove

Method:

1. Mix the spices, nuts and biscuit crumbs well.
2. Add in the melted butter and mix well
3. Line the crust ingredients on the pan base. It can also be lined up the sides of the pan if preferred. Press the crumbs into the pan.
4. Set crust aside.

Ingredients for the cheesecake:

• 750g of cream cheese
• 200g of pure cream
• 3 large eggs
• 155g sugar
• 1.5 orange zest
• 1.5 orange juice
• 1T vanilla essence

Method:

1. Preheat oven at 180 Celcius.
2. Use a (hand)mixer and combine the cream cheese and sugar till smooth.
   
3. Add eggs, one at a time. Ensure each egg is well incorporated before adding the next and scrape down the bowl between eggs.
4. Add the pure cream, orange zest, orange juice, vanilla essence and blend till smooth and creamy.
5. Pour the batter into the crusted pan.
   
6. Knock the pan on the bench a couple of times to remove the air bubbles.
7. Place the pan into a larger pan. Fill larger pan with water until halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan (ie. create a waterbath). Ensure the cheesecake pan's bottom is secured before adding water so as not to get the crust soggy.
8. Bake for approximately 45mins (depends on the oven). Check that there is still jiggle in the centre of the cheesecake.
   
9. Leave the cheesecake in the waterbath inside the oven for at least another hour, with oven door closed, to continue cooking with the oven turned off.
10. Bring the cake out to cool completely on the counter.
11. When completely cooled, move the cake into the fridge and chill it.
12. Serve chilled.

Hope you enjoy this cake as much as I did! :)