Cranberry Cheesecake

This is a beautiful cheesecake with a cranberry swirl in the center.  A little orange complements the cranberries.  This is a great cheesecake for the holidays.

Additional Recipes and References

• Free! How to Bake, a free 250 page baking book
• Free! Easy Cheesecakes from A to Z (Includes “A Cheesecake Troubleshooting Guide)
• Free! A Manual for No-Bake Cheesecakes
• Springform Pans from Round to Square
• Click to see the Cheesecake Recipe Index with over 40 additional recipe

For the crust

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon water, or more as needed
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
zest from one orange

For the filling

3 8-ounce packages of cream cheese
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cream
3 large eggs

For the cranberry center

1 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tablespoon orange zest

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

1. For the crust, mix the sugar, flour, salt together in a medium bowl.   Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture is like coarse crumbs. 
2. Add the egg yolk, water, vanilla, and zest.  From a ball, adding more water if necessary.  Press into a nine- or ten-inch springform pan. 
3. Bake for eight minutes.  Remove the pan from the oven and let the crust cool completely on a wire rack. 
4. For the filling, add the cranberries, 1/2 cup sugar, orange juice, and one tablespoon zest to a blender.  Pulse until the mixture is smooth. 
5. Remove the cranberry mixture to a saucepan, bring to a boil, and then simmer for three minutes.  Let cool.
6. With an electric mixer or your stand-type mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth..  Add the sugar, flour, and salt and beat in well, scraping down the sides.  Add the vanilla and cream.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each.  Pour the cream cheese filling into the prepared crust.
7. Scrape the cranberry mixture into the center of the cream cheese mixture.  Use a spatula to create swirled spokes by inserting the spatula in the center and dragging the spatula in a curve halfway to the edge of the pan.
8. Bake for ten minutes at 400 degrees. Turn the heat down to 325 degrees and bake for an additional 45 minutes or until done.  A knife inserted near the center will come out clean when done.   Let cool on a wire rack.