Ingredients

  • 9 inches Oreo cookie pie crusts (I use Keebler brand)
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages light cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/4 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed & undiluted
  • 2 medium whole navel oranges
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure orange extract
  • chocolate curls (optional)

Method

  • Using a microplane grater or the smallest holes on a box grater, zest one entire orange onto a plate or into a bowl; set aside, and refrigerate zested orange for a later use.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, making sure there are no lumps; add sugar and mix well.
  • Add eggs and egg yolk; then add orange juice concentrate, orange zest, flour, vanilla extract& orange extract and mix until thoroughly combined, scraping down sides& bottom of bowl frequently to make sure all of the cream cheese is incorporated.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Place prepared pie crust in center of a cookie sheet (preferably without sides).
  • Brush crust with some of the orange juice concentrate.
  • Pour cream cheese mixture into prepared crust and bake 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set but still wiggles slightly when shaken gently (cheesecake will continue to cook after removing from oven).
  • Remove cheesecake from oven, and let cool thoroughly on a wire rack (without the cookie sheet).
  • When cooled to room temperature, refrigerate cheesecake for several hours.
  • While cheesecake is chilling, remove some of the rind from the second orange with a vegetable peeler or citrus zester, being careful to only remove the orange part (the white pith is bitter).
  • If using a vegetable peeler, cut the pieces of rind into very thin julienne strips; set aside.
  • Make chocolate curls by scraping a large chocolate bar with a heavy knife, holding knife at a 90-degree angle to bar.
  • When ready to serve, place a mound of the chocolate curls in center of cheesecake; sprinkle with julienned strips of orange.
  • Refrigerate any leftovers.