SANTA'S FAVORITE CHEESECAKE

Santa's Favorite Cheesecake image

Ring in the holiday season with Santa's Favorite Cheesecake, a lucious and beautiful classic with festive orange and cranberry toppings. Spread good tidings with this versatile dessert--from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day!

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories Home

Time 5h25m

Yield 16 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 Tbsp. sugar
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 cups sugar, divided
2 tsp. vanilla, divided
4 eggs
1 pkg. (10 oz.) cranberries
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. orange zest

Steps:

Heat oven to 325°F.
Combine graham crumbs, butter and 3 Tbsp. sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
Beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
Bake 55 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hr.
Meanwhile, combine cranberries, orange juice and remaining sugar and vanilla in medium saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir 1 min. or until sugar is dissolved. Simmer over medium-low heat 6 to 8 min. or until cranberries are softened, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, dissolve cornstarch in water. Add to cranberry mixture; mix well. Cook 30 sec. to 1 min. or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in orange zest. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Spoon cranberry topping over slices of cheesecake just before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 410, Fat 25 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 120 mg, Sodium 310 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 6 g