Chocolate Orange Cheesecake Layer Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Fold 2 (16-inch-long) sheets of foil lengthwise in half twice to form 3-inch-wide strips. Place 1 in each of 2 (9-inch) round pans, with ends of foil extending over sides. Spray with cooking spray. Prepare cake batter as directed on package. Add dry pudding mix; beat 2 min. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Remove cakes from oven; flatten tops with back of spatula. Beat 3 pkg. cream cheese, sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Stir in orange peel.
• Pour cheesecake batter evenly over cakes. Return to oven. Bake 25 to 30 min. or until centers of cheesecakes are almost set. Run knife around rims of pans to loosen cakes; cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to remove cakes from pans. Place 1 cake layer on serving plate. Microwave marmalade in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 20 sec.; stir. Spread over cake layer on plate; top with remaining cake layer.
• Beat remaining cream cheese, remaining vanilla and marshmallow creme in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add COOL WHIP; beat on low speed just until blended. Spread onto top and side of cake. Sprinkle with grated chocolate.

Steps:

• Combine the first three ingredients; press onto the bottom and 1-1/2 in up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes; cool completely. , In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and sour cream until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in chocolate. Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet , Bake at 350° for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until center is nearly set. Cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. , Combine the sour cream, sugar and extract; spread over filling. Bake at 450° for 5-7 minutes or until set. Chill, uncovered, 1 hour. Arrange oranges on cheesecake. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 6- or 7-inch springform pan with nonstick baking spray with flour.
• Put the cookies, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely crushed, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. (Any large, stubborn bits of cookie can be crushed with the back of a spoon.) You should have about 1 heaping cup of crumbs.
• Put the cookie crumbs in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until combined and all the crumbs are moistened. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, using the flat bottom of a measuring cup to pack the crumbs down in an even layer and up the sides about 1/2 inch (or a little higher if using a 6-inch pan).
• Bake until set, about 12 minutes. Let the crust cool on a wire rack while you prepare the filling.
• For the filling: Combine the chocolate chips and milk in a large mug or other heatproof bowl. Microwave on high for 60 seconds. Remove from the microwave and use a small rubber spatula to stir in small circles until the mixture comes together and the chocolate chips are melted and smooth. Set aside.
• Add the cream cheese and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (you may also use a large bowl and a handheld electric mixer or whisk). Beat on medium-low speed until combined and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Increase the speed to medium. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each until smooth and homogenous, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
• Reduce the speed to medium low and add the flour, orange liqueur, vanilla and orange zest.
• With the mixer running, drizzle in the melted chocolate. Mix until smooth, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
• Pour the filling into the pan and smooth the top. Bake until the sides of the cheesecake are set and the middle jiggles when shaken, about 40 minutes.
• Turn off the oven and open the door a few inches. Let the cheesecake remain in the warm oven with the door ajar for 30 minutes. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature until no longer warm, about 30 minutes. Transfer the cheesecake to the refrigerator and let rest until completely chilled, about 2 hours, or until ready to serve.
• To unmold, run an offset spatula or butter knife around the edge of the pan. Carefully unlock the springform pan and remove the outer ring. Serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream, chocolate sauce and some candied orange peel.
• The cheesecake should be stored in the refrigerator, covered, up to 3 days. The cheesecake may also be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and frozen for up to 2 months. Defrost the frozen cheesecake in the refrigerator prior to serving.
• Using a vegetable peeler, cut the orange peel into vertical, wide strips (save the inside of the orange for eating later!). Try to carefully shave off any of the bitter white pith with a paring knife. Cut the orange peel into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• Put the orange peel in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Allow to boil for 5 minutes then drain and rinse. Repeat this process a second time. This step removes any bitterness from the peel.
• Bring 1 cup of the sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer in the same small saucepan. Allow the sugar to dissolve, about 5 minutes. Add the blanched orange peels and simmer gently over low heat until the peels are softened and pith is translucent, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl. Remove the peels from the syrup and dredge in the sugar (cool and store the leftover orange simple syrup for another use!). Shake off any excess sugar and place the peels on a wire baking rack set in a baking sheet. Allow to sit and dry out, uncovered, for a day or so.

Steps:

• 1. I make the cheesecake layer the night before the chocolate cake.
• 2. CHEESECAKE LAYER Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a 9-inch round baking pan with aluminum foil, letting edges of foil extend over sides of pan. Lightly grease the foil.
• 3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar, beating until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in sour cream and vanilla.
• 4. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 45 minutes then turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in oven with door closed for another hour. Let the cheesecake cool completely in its pan on a wire rack then cover and chill for 4 hours. Using edges of foil as handles, remove cheesecake from pan and peel away foil. Place in fridge.
• 5. Chocolate Cake Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.
• 6. In large bowl, combine cake mix, milk, water, oil and eggs. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Divide batter evenly between the 2 prepared pans. Bake 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks and let cool completely.
• 7. Chocolate Almond Frosting In a large bowl, beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add chocolate, beating until combined. Beat in almond liqueur and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. To be honest I have also used 2 cans of Chocolate fudge frosting. Not quite as good but easier.
• 8. Assembly: Spread a layer of frosting on top of chocolate cake. Next, layer cheesecake and top with chocolate icing. Place second chocolate cake and ice with frosting on top and on the sides. Sprinkle almonds on sides or top. (optional)

Steps:

• For the filling, take the soft cheese, eggs and double cream out of the fridge to come to room temperature 1 hr before you begin. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line the base of a 23cm springform cake tin with baking parchment: unclip the ring, lay the parchment over the base and clip the ring back. This will ensure there is no lip on the bottom of the finished cheesecake.
• Tip the gingernuts into a food processor and blitz to a fine crumb. Add the melted butter and orange zest, then blitz briefly until the crumbs are coated. Tip the mixture into the prepared tin and press into an even layer using the back of a spoon. Bake for 10-15 mins until the base is slightly crisped up.
• Beat the soft cheese and light brown sugar together until creamy using an electric whisk. Whisk in the whole eggs, the egg yolks and cream until smooth. Tip the dark chocolate into a heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave in 20-second bursts, or do this in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn't touch the water. Leave to cool until warm to the touch. Slowly pour the melted chocolate over the soft cheese mixture, whisking continuously until combined. Stir in the orange zest, reserving the oranges.
• Tightly wrap the bottom of the cake tin in foil to prevent leaking, then sit it in a deep roasting tin. Pour the cheesecake filling over the biscuit base. Put the roasting tin in the oven, then pour enough hot water into the roasting tin to come 2½cm up the side of the cake tin. Bake for 1 hr-1 hr 15 mins until the edge of the cheesecake is set, but the centre has a slight wobble (it will continue to set in the fridge).
• Put the cake tin on a wire rack, then run a small, sharp knife around the edge to loosen. Remove the foil and leave to cool completely in the tin, then chill for at least 6 hrs in the fridge before removing to a plate. Segment the reserved oranges, avoiding the pith, and use these to decorate the top along with a grating of dark chocolate and candied orange slices, if you like. Will keep covered in the fridge for up to three days.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a medium bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter until well blended. Press into the bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the side of a 9 inch springform pan.
• Bake for 10 minutes. In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate, stirring occasionally until smooth. Set aside to cool, but do not allow to harden.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until smooth. Mix in the eggs, one at a time on a low speed, or by hand. Gradually stir in the orange juice, and orange zest. Reserve 2 cups of the batter. Pour the remaining batter over the baked crust. Stir the melted chocolate into the reserved batter. Drop the chocolate batter by large spoonfuls onto the white batter. Use a knife to cut through the batter, and leave a swirling design.
• Bake for 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the center is almost set. Run a spatula or thin knife around the edge of the pan while it is still warm, so the cake will not crack. Allow cake to cool completely before removing the sides of the pan. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.