Cassata-style Cheesecake

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup cold butter, cut into cubes
• 1 orange, zest of
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 cups extra-smooth ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup mixed candied fruit
• 1/2 cup shelled pistachios

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 325°f lightly coat or spray a 9- or 9 1/2-inch springform pan with oil.
• 2 for crust:.
• 3 place 3/4 cup flour and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor. pulse to mix. add butter. pulse until small crumbs form. turn into pan. press firmly and evenly over bottom. (don't worry about cleaning processor.)
• 4 bake crust in centre of preheated oven until lightly golden around edge, 15 to 20 minutes. remove pan and reduce heat to 300f
• 5 for filling:.
• 6 finely grate peel from orange. cut cream cheese into chunks.
• 7 place in a food processor with ricotta and vanilla. whirl until smooth, occasionally scraping down side of bowl.
• 8 add 1 cup sugar and whirl to mix. add eggs, one at a time, whirling after each addition. then add 3 tbsp flour and orange zest. whirl just until evenly mixed.
• 9 scrape filling into a large bowl. stir in chocolate, candied fruit mix and pistachios.
• 10 pour filling over warm base.
• 11 lay a piece of foil loosely overtop. don't seal.
• 12 bake in centre of 300f oven until centre is slightly jiggly, 2 hours.
• 13 remove to a rack. run a knife around outside edge of cake, but don't remove from pan. cool in pan, then refrigerate at least 3 hours or cover and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months.
• 14 if centre cracks, cover with orange slices or whipped cream and chopped pistachios, if you wish!
• 15 hint: if you cannot find the mixed chopped candied fruits and peel use diced candied cherries and pineapple.