Description
Cranberry orange cheesecake delivers festive holiday magic with zesty citrus and tart berries dancing across a silky cream cheese canvas. Festive dessert lovers will savor each creamy, tangy slice that brings seasonal cheer to any celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Orange Cheesecake Ingredients:
Filling:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon orange extract
- Orange food coloring (optional)
Crust:
- 2.5 cups (250 grams) graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 4 tablespoons (50 grams) sugar
Cranberry Sauce:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) cranberries
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
Topping:
- Whipped cream (optional)
- 2–3 drops orange food coloring
Instructions
- Craft the cranberry sauce by gently simmering cranberries with sugar and orange extract in a saucepan until slightly thickened, approximately 10 minutes. Allow the sauce to cool completely at room temperature.
- Pulverize graham crackers into fine crumbs using a food processor, then integrate melted butter and sugar until the mixture becomes cohesive and moist.
- Transfer the graham cracker mixture into a greased springform pan, pressing firmly to create an even crust layer.
- Drizzle half of the cooled cranberry sauce across the prepared crust, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Place the crust with cranberry layer into the freezer while preparing the filling.
- Whip cream cheese and powdered sugar together until achieving a silky, lump-free consistency.
- Separately whip heavy cream until soft peaks form, then enhance with vanilla, orange extract, and a hint of orange food coloring, continuing to whip until stiff peaks develop.
- Delicately fold the whipped cream mixture into the cream cheese base, maintaining a light, airy texture.
- Carefully spread the cheesecake filling over the cranberry-layered crust, creating a smooth surface.
- Refrigerate the assembled cheesecake for a minimum of 6 hours, preferably overnight, to allow complete setting.
- Prepare the topping by tinting whipped cream with additional orange food coloring.
- Once set, gently loosen the cheesecake edges using a thin knife and remove the springform pan sides.
- Artfully spread the remaining cranberry sauce in the center of the cheesecake.
- Pipe the colored whipped cream around the perimeter for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Lock in the tangy-sweet balance by cooking cranberries with orange extract precisely for 10 minutes to create a vibrant sauce foundation.
- Graham cracker crust transforms into a sturdy, buttery base that captures the cranberry sauce’s rich crimson layer before freezing for optimal texture integration.
- Whipped cream folded delicately into cream cheese creates a luxurious, airy filling that carries subtle orange undertones and stunning visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg