Ricotta Cheesecake With Caramel Orange Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 450°F. Grind crackers and sugar in processor until fine crumbs form. Add butter; process until crumbs are slightly moist. Press onto bottom (not sides) of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 1/2-inch-high sides. Bake until set, about 12 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool completely. Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until smooth. Add eggs, liqueur, orange peel and vanilla. Beat just until blended. Pour filling into crust-lined pan.
• Bake cake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Bake until cake is puffed, outer 2-inch edge is set and center moves just slightly when shaken, about 55 minutes longer. Transfer cake to rack. Run knife around pan sides to loosen; cool. Chill cheesecake overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; keep chilled.)
• Serve with Caramel-Orange Sauce.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray the springform pan with cooking spray. Separate the eggs, placing the whites in one of the large bowls and the yolks in the work bowl of a food processor.
• Add the sugar and vanilla to the work bowl of the food processor and process until thick and light yellow, about 1 minute. Add the ricotta and zest and process until smooth, another 30 seconds. Scrape the mixture into the other large bowl.
• Beat the whites on high speed with the mixer until they hold stiff peaks. Fold the whites into the ricotta mixture and scrape into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula.
• Bake until the cake is deep golden brown and the sides begin to pull away from the pan, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Transfer to the rack to let cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day. To serve, release the sides of the springform pan, dust with confectioners' sugar using the strainer, and cut into wedges.

Steps:

• Position an oven rack to the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Spread the pistachios out on a baking sheet and bake until golden and toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a heat-safe plate to cool, then pulse them in a food processor until very finely ground. Transfer the ground pistachios to a small bowl and set aside.
• Set a 9-inch springform pan on top of a piece of parchment paper and trace a circle around it. Cut out the circle and set aside. Generously grease the bottom and sides of the pan with the room temperature butter, then press the parchment circle into the bottom of the pan.
• Put the ricotta and 2/3 cup sugar in the bowl of food processor and process until the mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds. Transfer the ricotta mixture to a large bowl and whisk in the eggs yolks, orange zest and juice and the vanilla.
• In another large bowl, add the egg whites and whip using an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the eggs become foamy. Sprinkle in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and continue to whip the egg whites until medium peaks form, about 2 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to fold 1/3 of the beaten whites into the ricotta mixture until just incorporated and a few white streaks remain. Gently fold in the remaining whipped egg whites, folding until there are no white streaks remaining.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared springform pan and set it on a baking sheet. Bake until the cheesecake is light golden brown and the sides begin to pull away from the pan, 55 minutes to about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Transfer the cheesecake to a cooling rack and let it cool completely, about 1 hour. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 2 days before serving.
• To serve, run a thin knife or spatula around the cake to release it from the sides, then unclasp the latch of the pan. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners' sugar and sprinkle with the finely ground pistachios. Set the cheesecake on a cake platter, slice and serve.

Steps:

• Combine zwieback crumbs, sugar and cinnamon; mix in butter until mixture is crumbled. Press onto bottom and 1-1/2 in. up sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Refrigerate until chilled., Preheat oven to 350°. Beat all filling ingredients except eggs until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low until combined. Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake until center is set, about 50 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 15 minutes, leaving oven on. Combine topping ingredients; spoon around edge of cheesecake. Carefully spread over filling. Bake 10 minutes longer. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• The cake must be made one day before serving. To begin making the filling, place a sieve over a bowl and line it with a double layer of paper towels. Spoon the yogurt into the sieve and let drain for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. To make the crust, place pistachios, orange zest, salt, cinnamon and sugar in a food processor and pulse until nuts are ground. Put in a bowl and stir in the melted butter.
• Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Press the pistachio mixture into the bottom of it and set aside.
• To continue making the filling, place the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, gradually add the sugar, beating until light. Stop and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary while incorporating ingredients. Add the lemon zest and the drained yogurt, then the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the salt and flour, then the lemon juice, vanilla and honey.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place in a large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake until the cheesecake is set, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove cake from the water and let cool. Cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight.
• To make the sauce, use a paring knife to remove all peel and pith from the oranges, working over a bowl to collect any juice. Cut the orange sections out from between the membranes and place in the bowl. Add the 1/4 cup orange juice to the bowl and set aside.
• Stir the sugar and water together in a medium saucepan. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals from the sides of the pan. Place over low-medium heat and cook without stirring until the sugar turns a nice caramel color. Remove from heat and carefully pour in the heavy cream, as the mixture may spatter. Return to the heat and stir until the caramel is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the oranges and juice. Set aside. (The sauce can be made ahead, refrigerated and warmed slightly before serving.)
• Release the sides of the springform pan. To cut the cake, rinse a large sharp knife under hot water and cut a slice of cake. Wipe off the knife and reheat with hot water before slicing the next piece. Place on dessert plates and spoon a pool of sauce, with orange sections, beside each slice. Serve.