Arizona Sunset Cheesecake

__NOTOC__
==Ingredients==
=== Shortbread Crust ===
* 1½ cups flour
* ½ cup finely ground pecans
* ⅓ cup sugar
* 1 large egg, separated
* ½ cup butter, softened
=== Cranberry Glaze Filling ===
* 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce or 2 cups cranberry-orange relish
* 2 tbsp sugar
* 1 tbsp cornstarch
* 1 tbsp grated lemon zest
* 1 tbsp lemon juice
=== White Chocolate Filling ===
* 1½ cups fresh orange juice
* 1 x 3-inch x 1-inch piece of orange peel (orange part only)
* 4 x 8 oz pkgs cream cheese
* ⅔ cup sugar
* 1 tbsp grated orange zest
* 2 tbsp cranberry liqueur (such - as crantasia schnapps)
* 8 oz white chocolate, melted
* 4 eggs
=== Candied Orange Topping ===
* 4 cups water
* 2 cups sugar
* 3 seedless oranges (unpeeled)- cut into paper-thin slices
==Directions==
=== Shortbread Crust ===
# Preheat the oven to 400°F. 
# Working on a large flat surface, such as a pastry board, place flour, pecans, and sugar in the center of the surface and mix together. 
# Form a small depression or well in the center of the mound. 
# Add the egg yolk and the softened butter to the well, then blend these with the dry mixture. 
# Mix the ingredients thoroughly using your hands there is no substitute for warm hands. 
# Shape the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
# Chill for at least 10 minutes. 
# Roll out the dough to a thickness of about ¼-inch. 
# You should have a circle of about 11 inches in diameter. 
# For best results, roll out your dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper, then peel away the paper and cut the crust in a 9 inch circle. 
# Place the circle inside a 9 inch spring-form pan. 
# Prick the crust several times with a fork to keep the crust from puffing up during the baking. 
# Place the spring-form pan in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until light brown.
# Allow to cool. Using the leftover dough, line the sides of the spring-form pan. 
# Press the dough against the sides of the pan, smoothing it so as to have a continuous layer of crust all the way around the sides of the pan. 
# Make sure that the side crust meets the bottom crust all the way around. 
# Brush the reserved egg white onto the shell, covering the bottom and sides. 
# This will seal the dough and keep it from becoming soggy. 
# Set aside until ready to use.
=== Cranberry Glaze Filling ===
# Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a small saucepan. 
# Stir in the cranberry sauce. 
# Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick. 
# Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside to cool slightly.
=== White Chocolate Filling ===
# Reset the oven to 350°F. 
# Boil the orange juice and piece of orange peel in a heavy medium saucepan until the juice is reduced to 3 Tbsp - about 12 minutes. 
# Remove and discard the strip of orange peel and set aside the reduced orange juice. 
# Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, grated orange zest, Crantasia, and reduced orange juice until smooth. 
# Beat in the melted white chocolate and then the eggs, beating just until combined. 
# Pour the cranberry glaze filling into the prepared crust, spreading evenly. 
# Pour the white chocolate filling over the cranberry layer and bake about 50 minutes (the top will be dry and the sides puffed slightly - the center will not be set). 
# Move cheesecake to a wire rack and cool completely to room temperature. 
# Chill in the refrigerator overnight.
=== Candied Orange Topping ===
# Cover a wire rack with waxed paper. 
# Set aside. Combine the water and sugar in a heavy shallow wide skillet. 
# Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. 
# Simmer 5 minutes longer. 
# Add the orange slices 1 at a time and adjust the heat so that the syrup bubbles only around the edges of the pan. 
# Cook the oranges for one hour. 
# Turn over the top layer of oranges and cook until the oranges are translucent and the orange peels tender, about another one hour longer. 
# Lift and drain each orange slice out of the syrup, and arrange the slices in a single layer on the prepared rack. 
# Let dry 1 hour. 
# Boil the orange-sugar syrup until thick, about 6 minutes. 
# Loosen and remove the sides of the spring-form pan. 
# Set the cheesecake on a serving dish. 
# Overlap the candied orange slices around the top of the cheesecake. 
# Reheat the orange syrup, if necessary, and brush over the orange slices. 
# Drizzle any remainder over each serving. 
# Garnish: whipped cream.
Category:Cheesecake Recipes