SUNSHINE CHEESECAKE

Sunshine Cheesecake image

This treat is topped with slices of bright oranges. The slices must be cooked very slowly, or the pulp will fall away. Begin preparing the cheesecake one day before you plan to serve it.

Yield Serves 10 to 12

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

1 1/2 8-ounce bags gingersnap cookies, ground (about 3 cups)
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons (generous) minced orange peel (orange part only)
1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice
1 3-inch piece unpeeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
4 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon minced orange peel (orange part only)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
8 ounces imported white chocolate (such as Lindt), melted
4 large eggs
4 cups water
2 cups sugar
3 seedless oranges (unpeeled), cut into paper-thin slices
Fresh mint leaves

Steps:

Stir all ingredients in medium bowl until crumbs are moist. Press crumbs onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of 9x2 3/4-inch springform pan.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Boil orange juice and ginger in heavy medium saucepan until reduced to 3 tablespoons, about 12 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, orange peel and vanilla in large bowl until smooth. Strain reduced orange juice and add to bowl. With mixer running, add chocolate and beat until combined. Reduced speed to low. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until just combined.
Pour batter into crust. Bake cheesecake until top is dry and sides puff slightly (most of cheesecake will jiggle when shaken), about 50 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.)
Cover rack with waxed paper. Combine water and sugar in heavy wide shallow pot. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes. Add oranges slices 1 at a time. Adjust heat so syrup bubbles only around edges of pan. Cook oranges 1 hour. Turn over top layer of oranges and cook until oranges are translucent and orange peels are tender, about 1 hour longer. Arrange oranges in single layer on prepared rack. Let dry 1 hour. Boil sugar syrup until thick, about 6 minutes. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead.)
Run small knife around edges of cheesecake. Loosen pan sides and remove. Overlap orange slices and atop cheesecake. Reheat orange syrup over low heat if necessary. Brush over orange slices. Garnish with mint and serve.