Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake

This lucious baked orange Creamsicle cheesecake with a Golden vanilla Oreo crust contains a just hint of Grand Mariner and has a fluffy whipped cream topping. Candied orange peel tops it all off for a burst of citrus flavor. A light-tasting dessert that is the perfect ending to any meal!

Why This Recipe Works

When you think of cheesecake, you probably think of the tall, dense, rich kind that you find at The Cheesecake Factory. But if you find that's too heavy after a big meal, you're going to love this orange Creamsicle version. Unlike our New York Style Cheesecake which is oh-so-rich and filling, this one is light, fluffy and just the right end to a nice dinner.

I remember chasing down the ice cream truck to buy a Creamsicle as a kid growing up in the 1960's. This cheesecake really does taste like an orange Creamsicle, and who doesn't love that? Just like the ice cream, its citrus flavor makes a lovely summertime dessert. But I find I make it most often as a light end to a heavy holiday meal, when everyone is foraging for a delicate treat to top off their dinner.

There are several no bake orange Creamsicle cheesecake recipes made with Jello to be found. This is a baked Creamsicle cheesecake recipe. It contains eggs and natural orange flavoring, which I believe give it a richer taste and lighter, fluffier texture.

Equipment You'll Need

• A 9-inch springform pan
• Parchment circle to cover the bottom of the pan
• Roasting pan with rack
• Heavy duty, 18" aluminum foil

Five Tips For a Perfect Cheesecake

There are 5 things I do to ensure a perfect cheesecake:

1. Bring all cold cheesecake ingredients to room temperature before mixing (to prevent lumpy batter that is unevenly distributed.)
2. Use only a springform pan (the sides remove; a cake this soft cannot be lifted out.) All springform pans are not created equal -- I prefer this springform pan which is pricier than others but worth it. It is heavy duty, cooks evenly, doesn't leak, and won't damage the sides of the cheesecake upon removal. Plus, it's made in the USA!
3. Always wrap the springform pan in heavy duty, wide aluminum foil and use a circle of parchment paper in the bottom. This prevents the cake from sticking and makes it easy to slide off the pan. I use pre-cut parchment circles, but you can cut your own circle from a roll of parchment if you prefer.
4. Grease the sides of the pan and the top of the parchment paper with butter before pouring in the batter (prevents the cheesecake from sticking.)
5. Bake the cheesecake in a water bath. When ready to bake, place the foil-wrapped pan in a larger pan (I use a roasting pan) with hot water coming a half inch up the side of the pan (ensures even cooking, a smooth texture, and helps prevent cracks.)

These steps are not difficult, and they seem like small details that are tempting to skip. But they make a HUGE difference in getting the proper cheesecake consistency, texture and finish

Ingredients You'll Need For Baked Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake

Here's everything you're going to need for the crust, filling, and topping:

Golden Oreo Cookie Crust Ingredients

• Golden Oreo cookies (vanilla)
• butter

Cheesecake Filling Ingredients

• cream cheese
• sugar
• Grand Mariner liqueur
• orange juice
• orange zest
• vanilla
• eggs

Stabilized Whipped Cream Topping Ingredients

• heavy whipping cream
• powdered sugar
• cream cheese
• orange slices and/or candied orange peel for garnish (optional)

Fast and Easy Golden Oreo Cookie Crust Prep

With only two ingredients in the orange creamsicle cheesecake crust, preparing it is a breeze!

Place the cookies in a food processor and pulse until they turn into a fairly fine crumb, then transfer to a mixing bowl. Melt the butter in the microwave, then combine it in with the cookie crumbs. Using the back of a tablespoon, press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the springform pan, on top of the parchment circle. Bake for 10 minutes, then you're ready to add the filling!

Making the Creamsicle Cheesecake Filling is Easy, Just Don't Rush the Process

It's surprisingly simple to make the cheesecake filling. If you're in a hurry, it may be tempting to use cold ingredients, but I can't emphasize enough how important it is to let the ingredients come to room temperature. They need to sit out on the counter for about one hour before they're ready to mix.

Once your items are at room temperature, there are only a few steps to preparing the filling:

1. Put all filling ingredients except the eggs into a large mixing bowl. Mix at low speed until items are blended, then turn the speed up to medium and mix until well combined, about 1-2 minutes.
2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating on low just until fully incorporated. It's important not to over beat the batter.
3. Make sure your beaters are completely clean and dry, then whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
4. Using a spatula, gently fold the eggs whites into the batter until fully combined. Do not mix or stir the egg whites, just lightly fold them in to create a thick, fluffy batter. Then pour the batter into the springform pan over the prepared Oreo cookie crust.

Expert Tip: Use only full fat cream cheese in your cheesecake. Reduced fat cream cheese can negatively impact the consistency and flavor.

Substitutions

• If you don't have Golden Oreo cookies for the crust, you can substitute 1-¼ cups of graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and 4 tablespoons of melted butter. Combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar, melt the butter and mix in, and follow the same baking directions.
• You can use margarine in place of butter in the cookie crust.
• In place of Grand Mariner in the filling, you can use Cointreau or any orange flavored liqueur. If you prefer not to use alcohol, add another teaspoon of orange juice.
• If you don't have whipped cream cheese for the stabilized whip cream, you can substitute a tablespoon of brick cream cheese. Just make sure it is softened so that it mixes in smoothly.
• Instead of a whipped cream topping, you can substitute a non-dairy topping such as Cool Whip. I think you lose a bit of the Creamsicle flavor with a non-dairy topping, but it is still delicious.

Prepare a Water Bath for Your Cheesecake

You may be tempted to skip this step and place your pan directly into the oven. Don't do it! You've come this far, and a water bath helps your cheesecake bake evenly, results in a smooth texture, and prevents cracking on top.

It's important to start with a foil-wrapped high quality springform pan that doesn't leak. After adding the cheesecake batter to the pan, place it on top of a shallow rack inside a large roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with hot tap water until it comes up ½ inch on the side of the springform pan. Carefully place the water filled pan into the preheated oven and bake.

Expert Tips for Cheesecake Baking

• No matter how tempting, do not open the oven door while the cheesecake is baking! Cheesecake success depends on having an even baking temperature and no disruption in the baking process. The door and the pan should never be touched until it is ready to come out of the oven.
• Cheesecakes should bake at the recommended temperature for the recommended baking time. To ensure an accurate oven temperature, use an oven thermometer. I always have to set my oven to 5 degrees higher than the recommended baking temperature, because the oven thermometer shows that it runs 5 degrees low. You may need to adjust yours up or down, too.
• When the timer rings, remove the cheesecake to a nearby waiting cooling rack. Check for doneness by holding the edge of the pan with your oven mitt and very gently shaking the pan. If it jiggles slightly in the center, it is finished.
• Let the cheesecake sit on the wire rack untouched for two hours. Then cover it with plastic wrap and gently place it in the refrigerator to chill completely for at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight. Chilling overnight allows it to set completely and firm up.
• Once the cheesecake is fully chilled, gently release the sides of the springform pan and add the topping and garnish.

How to Make the Stabilized Whipped Cream Topping

With just three ingredients, you can create a tasty topping for your cheesecake that complements the orange flavor without overpowering it with too much sweetness.

I use a little cream cheese blended into the whipping cream to make it a stabilized whipping cream, meaning that it won't melt or fall away before you can serve it. It holds together nicely, even when you store it in the refrigerator for a couple of days (if it lasts that long in your house -- it definitely doesn't in mine!)

Begin by beating the whipping cream at low speed until it starts to thicken. Then add the powdered sugar and turn the speed up to medium and beat until it is thicker, but not all the way. Then add the cream cheese, turn the beater on high and whip until it is finished; the consistency should be very thick. Apply a thick layer of the whipped cream to the top of your cheesecake and you're done!

Expert Tip: When making whipped cream, always chill your bowl and beaters in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before starting, and keep the whipping cream in the refrigerator right until you're ready to begin. This helps increase the volume and fluffiness of the whipped cream. If the ingredients and equipment are warm, the whipped cream can flatten.

Garnishing Your Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake

Now that it's ready, here are several things you can garnish your cheesecake with to make it look pretty for serving:

• candied orange peel
• orange zest
• thin orange slices
• orange fruit slice candies
• small Mandarin orange wedges
• mint leaves

Or, use your creativity to come up with a completely different garnish!

How to Slice a Cheesecake

Cheesecake is sticky, so you can't cut it like a regular flour cake and get good results. To slice a perfect piece of cheesecake, follow these steps:

1. Run a long, sharp knife under hot water for a few seconds, then dry it.
2. Place the tip of the knife to the center of the cheesecake. Push the knife down to the bottom of the cheesecake, then drag it straight out of the cake without lifting. Rinse the knife in hot water, then dry it and repeat on the opposite side of the cake, so that it is cut completely in half.
3. Rinse the knife in hot water, dry it, reposition the knife and press down firmly to the bottom of the cake to cut your first slice.
4. Slide a pie server spatula gently underneath the slice, lift it straight up and and pull it out.

Expert tip: It's important to rinse the knife in hot water and dry it in between each slice. This prevents residue from building up on the knife and tearing the sides of your delicate cake.

Now you should have a perfect slice of cheesecake! Enjoy!

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Are you making cheesecake for the first time? Let me know how it turns out!