Baked Orange Cheesecake

This a simple baked cheesecake recipe I devised last night. Its based on the traditional New York cheesecakes with a citrus flavour. I love using marscapone but it is hard to find in New Zealand so riccota will also work. If you want to make the base more interesting you can add some rolled oats and coconut but for a cake like this i prefer it to be simple.

If you are feeling extra indulgent then you can make an orange caramel sauce to go on top!

Crust:

1 packet of wine biscuits

3 Tbsp margarine

Filling:

2 eggs separated

1 250g punnet of marscapone or riccota cheese

1/2 c sugar

1 orange zested and juiced

1tsp vanilla

Crush the biscuits in a food processor, add margarine and mix util it starts to form like a dough. Press the mixture into a pie dish to form a bottom and crush that is about a cm thick. Bake in a 180 degree oven for about 12 mins. Leave the oven on but take out the crust.

To prepare the filling, beat the egg whites until the peaks are stiff. Combine the yolks, cheese, vanilla, sugar, zest and half the juice. fold the egg whites into this mixture and ppou into the prepared crust.

Bake in the oven for about half an hour or until the filling looks solid. it will brown a little and when you shake the dish little it shouldn't wobble.

I try to leave a couple of slices of orange on the top as garnish- an optional caramel sauce can be made as a topping.

Combine 1/3 c of sugar with 2 tbs of water and bring to the boil. allow to boil for 5 mins or so or until the mixture gains an amber colour. add the rest of the orange juice and let simmer for a few more mins. You can do the drop test by dropping one drop in a saucer of cold water to check that it is ready. it the drop solidifies somewhat then the caramel is done.

Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. When the cake is out of the oven, arrange the orange pieces and drizzle the caramel sauce on top.

Can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days- but I doubt it will last that long!

(Subject enjoying said cake)

Orange Almond Syrup Cake

I had this once at a cafe and it was amazing so I ended up replicating it and now its one of my favourite recipes to bring to dinner parties and BBQs. Its important you pour the syrup on while it's still hot so it sinks in and makes the whole cake gooey.

Orange Almond Syrup Cake

2c Flour
3tsp baking powder

3/4c sugar
1-2 oranges (depends how juicy they are)
1½ tsp almond essence
32Tbsp light oil
1 egg
Milk (if needed)

Syrup
1 orange
2 Tbsp sugar

Pre heat oven to 180c. Sift flour and baking powder, add sugar. Juice oranges and grate the rind. Make a well in the dry mixture. Pour in orange juice and rind, essence, egg and oil. Mix until combined. Add milk if needed to get a thick batter consistency. Not too thin or cake will take too long to cook on the inside. Pour into oiled cake tin. Bake for 30 mins or until knife comes out clean. Prepare syrup by heating orange juice and sugar and mixing. This can be done in a microwave or on the stove. The juice will turn translucent when sugar has dissolved. While cake is still hot in tin, pour syrup and let cool

Enjoy!