Cannoli Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 4 big graham crackers, crumbled
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 3/4 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 large egg, separated
• 1/3 cup candied orange peel, chopped
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped
• 4 large egg whites
• 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar

Recipe

• 1 make crust:
• 2 preheat oven to 350°f with rack in middle. invert bottom of springform pan (to make it easier to slide cake off bottom) and lock on side.
• 3 pulse graham crackers, almonds, and sugar in a food processor until finely ground, then transfer to a bowl. stir in butter until combined.
• 4 press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom and 1/2 inch up side of pan.
• 5 bake crust 8 minutes. cool to room temperature (still in pan), about 15 minutes. leave oven on.
• 6 make cheesecake:
• 7 stir together ricotta, granulated sugar, zest, and egg yolk in a large bowl until combined, then stir in candied orange peel and chocolate chips.
• 8 beat egg whites (all 5) and a pinch of salt in another bowl with an electric mixer until they hold soft peaks. fold into ricotta mixture gently but thoroughly.
• 9 pour filling into crust and bake until top is puffed and golden, about 55 minutes to 1 hour.
• 10 cool in pan 15 minutes. run a thin knife around edge to loosen cake, then remove side of pan. cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. dust with confectioners sugar.