Description
Orange Cheesecake brings zesty sunshine to your dessert table with creamy, smooth elegance. Silky cream cheese blended with fresh citrus creates a tangy-sweet slice perfect for sharing with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
Crust and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm your oven to precisely 325°F (160°C) for perfect cheesecake baking.
- Combine 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs with ½ cup melted unsalted butter in a mixing bowl.
- Press the buttery crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan, creating an even base.
- In a large mixing bowl, whip 3 packages of softened cream cheese with 1 cup granulated sugar until silky smooth.
- Incorporate 3 large eggs individually, thoroughly mixing after each addition to ensure a creamy texture.
- Gently fold in 1 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon orange zest, ½ cup fresh orange juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Carefully pour the fragrant orange-infused filling over the prepared graham cracker crust.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes until the center looks set but maintains a slight jiggle when gently shaken.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cheesecake to cool completely at room temperature.
- Refrigerate the cheesecake for a minimum of 4 hours to help it firm up and develop deep, rich flavors.
Notes
- Zesting oranges works best with a microplane or fine grater to avoid the bitter white pith.
- Room temperature cream cheese and eggs blend more smoothly and prevent lumps in the cheesecake filling.
- For a gluten-free version, swap graham cracker crumbs with crushed gluten-free cookies or almond flour.
- Avoid overbaking by checking the cheesecake’s center – it should jiggle slightly when gently shaken, as it will continue setting while cooling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes - 1 hour
- Category: Cheesecakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg