Orange Cheesecake With Candied Kumquats Recipes

Steps:

• For candied kumquats:
• Combine water and sugar in medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add kumquats; reduce heat. Simmer until kumquat slices are translucent, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat; cool kumquats in syrup. Strain kumquats, reserving syrup. Combine kumquats and 1/4 cup syrup in small bowl. Return remaining syrup to same saucepan; boil until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 8 minutes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover separately and chill.
• For crust:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Combine cookie crumbs and brown sugar in medium bowl; add 6 tablespoons melted butter and stir until crumbs feel moist when pressed together with fingertips, adding remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter if mixture is dry. Press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Bake crust until set and edges are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool crust in pan on rack. Maintain oven temperature.
• Wrap 4 layers of heavy-duty foil tightly around outside of pan with crust to make pan waterproof.
• For filling:
• Combine orange juice, 1/4 cup sugar, and orange peel in small saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat. Simmer until mixture is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Chill until cool.
• Meanwhile, using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in large bowl until smooth. Mix in sour cream, flour, and salt. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in cooled orange juice mixture. Pour filling into crust; place springform pan in large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan.
• Bake cake until just set in center, about 1 hour 35 minutes. Remove cake from roasting pan; remove foil. Place cake directly in refrigerator and chill overnight. Arrange kumquat slices atop cake, covering completely. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Tent cake with foil and refrigerate.
• Remove pan sides; place cake on platter. Cut cake into wedges; drizzle some kumquat syrup over and serve.
• The KUMQUAT SYRUP is perfect with the cake-but don't stop there. It's also yummy drizzled over vanilla or coffee ice cream or in a cup of tea, a glass of club soda, or even a vodka Martini.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl, combine gingersnaps and butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 8-in. springform pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling., Place chopped chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth. Cool slightly., Finely grate enough zest from orange to measure 4 teaspoons. Cut orange crosswise in half; squeeze juice from orange. In a large bowl, beat ricotta cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in chopped kumquats, orange juice, zest, vanilla and cooled chocolate mixture. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. , Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake until edges are lightly browned and top is dry to the touch (center 5 inches of cheesecake will not be set), 70-80 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled., Remove rim from pan. Top cheesecake with chocolate curls and thinly sliced kumquats.

Steps:

• Using a microplane grater or the smallest holes on a box grater, zest one entire orange onto a plate or into a bowl; set aside, and refrigerate zested orange for a later use.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, making sure there are no lumps; add sugar and mix well.
• Add eggs and egg yolk; then add orange juice concentrate, orange zest, flour, vanilla extract& orange extract and mix until thoroughly combined, scraping down sides& bottom of bowl frequently to make sure all of the cream cheese is incorporated.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place prepared pie crust in center of a cookie sheet (preferably without sides).
• Brush crust with some of the orange juice concentrate.
• Pour cream cheese mixture into prepared crust and bake 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set but still wiggles slightly when shaken gently (cheesecake will continue to cook after removing from oven).
• Remove cheesecake from oven, and let cool thoroughly on a wire rack (without the cookie sheet).
• When cooled to room temperature, refrigerate cheesecake for several hours.
• While cheesecake is chilling, remove some of the rind from the second orange with a vegetable peeler or citrus zester, being careful to only remove the orange part (the white pith is bitter).
• If using a vegetable peeler, cut the pieces of rind into very thin julienne strips; set aside.
• Make chocolate curls by scraping a large chocolate bar with a heavy knife, holding knife at a 90-degree angle to bar.
• When ready to serve, place a mound of the chocolate curls in center of cheesecake; sprinkle with julienned strips of orange.
• Refrigerate any leftovers.

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 6- or 7-inch springform pan with nonstick baking spray with flour.
• Put the cookies, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely crushed, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. (Any large, stubborn bits of cookie can be crushed with the back of a spoon.) You should have about 1 heaping cup of crumbs.
• Put the cookie crumbs in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until combined and all the crumbs are moistened. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, using the flat bottom of a measuring cup to pack the crumbs down in an even layer and up the sides about 1/2 inch (or a little higher if using a 6-inch pan).
• Bake until set, about 12 minutes. Let the crust cool on a wire rack while you prepare the filling.
• For the filling: Combine the chocolate chips and milk in a large mug or other heatproof bowl. Microwave on high for 60 seconds. Remove from the microwave and use a small rubber spatula to stir in small circles until the mixture comes together and the chocolate chips are melted and smooth. Set aside.
• Add the cream cheese and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (you may also use a large bowl and a handheld electric mixer or whisk). Beat on medium-low speed until combined and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Increase the speed to medium. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each until smooth and homogenous, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
• Reduce the speed to medium low and add the flour, orange liqueur, vanilla and orange zest.
• With the mixer running, drizzle in the melted chocolate. Mix until smooth, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
• Pour the filling into the pan and smooth the top. Bake until the sides of the cheesecake are set and the middle jiggles when shaken, about 40 minutes.
• Turn off the oven and open the door a few inches. Let the cheesecake remain in the warm oven with the door ajar for 30 minutes. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature until no longer warm, about 30 minutes. Transfer the cheesecake to the refrigerator and let rest until completely chilled, about 2 hours, or until ready to serve.
• To unmold, run an offset spatula or butter knife around the edge of the pan. Carefully unlock the springform pan and remove the outer ring. Serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream, chocolate sauce and some candied orange peel.
• The cheesecake should be stored in the refrigerator, covered, up to 3 days. The cheesecake may also be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and frozen for up to 2 months. Defrost the frozen cheesecake in the refrigerator prior to serving.
• Using a vegetable peeler, cut the orange peel into vertical, wide strips (save the inside of the orange for eating later!). Try to carefully shave off any of the bitter white pith with a paring knife. Cut the orange peel into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• Put the orange peel in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Allow to boil for 5 minutes then drain and rinse. Repeat this process a second time. This step removes any bitterness from the peel.
• Bring 1 cup of the sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer in the same small saucepan. Allow the sugar to dissolve, about 5 minutes. Add the blanched orange peels and simmer gently over low heat until the peels are softened and pith is translucent, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl. Remove the peels from the syrup and dredge in the sugar (cool and store the leftover orange simple syrup for another use!). Shake off any excess sugar and place the peels on a wire baking rack set in a baking sheet. Allow to sit and dry out, uncovered, for a day or so.

Steps:

• Cut the kumquats crosswise into 1/4-in/6-mm rounds, discarding the stems and seeds. Cut a piece of parchment paper into a round that is the same diameter as a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• In the saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar dissolves. Add the kumquat slices, cover with the parchment, and weight down with a nonreactive heatproof plate. Reduce the heat until the liquid is gently simmering, then cook until the kumquat slices are tender and translucent, 30 to 45 minutes (the liquid should register about 230°F/100°C on an instant-read thermometer).
• Remove from the heat and, using a slotted spoon, transfer the candied kumquats to a heatproof container and ladle syrup over the fruit just to cover; discard any remaining syrup or save for sweetening cocktails. (The syrup will keep, refrigerated, for up to 1 month.) Let the kumquat slices cool completely in the syrup, then refrigerate for up to 1 month.

Steps:

• Rinse kumquats; place in a large saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; drain immediately. Repeat two more times, always starting with cold water.
• Place kumquats, sugar, and the water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved. Immediately remove from heat; let kumquats cool completely in syrup.
• The candied kumquats can be used immediately or stored, refrigerated, in the syrup in an airtight plastic container for up to a month.

Steps:

• CHEESECAKE.
• 1. Heat oven to 375°F Butter a 9 - or 10 - inch spring form pan with 1 tablespoon of butter; set aside.
• 2. In food processor bowl process cereal about 2 minutes, until a fine crumb forms. Add the 1/3 cup sugar, cinnamon, and salt; process to combine. With processor running, add remaining butter through feed tube just until combined. Press crumb mixture on bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• 3. In clean food processor bowl, *process cream cheese until smooth. Add 1 cup sugar until combined. Add eggs; process until creamy, scraping down sides once or twice. Add eggnog, vanilla, bourbon, rum, and brandy; process until combined.
• 4. Gently pour filling into baked crust. Bake 45 minutes or until sides are slightly puffed (center will be soft). Turn off oven and leave door ajar. Let cheesecake stand in oven 1 hour.
• 5. Transfer to wire rack; cool 15 minutes. Using a small thin knife, loosen crust from sides of spring form pan. Cool 30 minutes. Remove sides from pan; cool 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. To serve, top with Candied Kumquats, if desired.
• ***Cheesecake filling may be prepared with electric mixer, beating on medium speed.
• CANDIED KUMQUATS.
• 1. With paring knife, piercing only skin, cutting four evenly spaced slits in each kumquat. Place in medium saucepan; add cold water to cover. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook 5 minutes. Drain in colander.
• 2. In medium saucepan stir to dissolve 1 1/2 cups of the sugar in the 3/4 cup water; add kumquats. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce to low to barely simmer. Cook, uncovered, 30 minutes, until glazed. Remove fruit from syrup with slotted spoon. Place on wire rack over 15x10x1 - inch pan. Cool 10 minutes.
• 3. Place the remaining sugar in small bowl. Roll whole kumquats in sugar. Space on rack and let stand overnight. Store in airtight container in cool, dry place up to 3 months. Kumquats may be sliced before topping cheesecake.