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These blood orange cheesecake squares are light and citrusy and one of my favorite Spring desserts.
As promised last week, I have a recipe for cheesecake bars with blood orange gelee and topped with candied blood orange slices.
If you don’t know already, I love fruity desserts.
And I’m the most happy, when I’m able to bake with seasonal fruits like blood oranges. This is how these Blood Orange Cheesecake Squares were created.
This dessert is simple to make and if you like cheesecake and fresh blood orange flavor, you’ll definitely like it.
Sadly these were gone in no time, because we love orange flavor at home.
Slicing this Blood Orange Cheesecake into small squares makes the perfect cute little dessert. They will be perfect for a party.
These really isn’t anything special about this dessert, but it looks impressive. I prepared a graham cracker cheesecake crust, which I baked for 8 minutes. Then I made the cheesecake part and baked it for 45-50 minutes, until it is set.
For the blood orange gelee, I used freshly squeezed blood orange juice, lime juice, sugar and gelatine. While the gelee layer was still in the process of setting, I placed some candied blood orange slices on top of it, which created the perfect decoration.
You may want to check out the vegan version of this dessert here – Raw Blood Orange Cheesecake Bars.
For more dessert bars, check out these Blackberry Cheesecake Bars With Shortbread Crust, Pear Mousse Cheesecake Bars and Classic Lemon Bars With Shortbread Crust.
Blood Orange Cheesecake Squares
Video
Ingredients
For the cheesecake crust:
- 1½ cups cookie crumbs of your choice, (oreo or graham cracker)
- 3 tbsp melted butter
For the cheesecake layer:
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, , softened at room temperature for 30 minutes
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp flour
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 - 1 tsp blood orange zest
For the blood orange gelee layer:
- 1/4 cup blood orange juice, (from about 3 small blood oranges)
- juice from 1 lime
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 4 tbsp water
- 1 1/2 tsp powdered gelatin
- 9 candied blood orange slices
Instructions
For the crust:
- Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine cookie crumbs and melted butter. Press mixture to the bottom of the baking dish. Bake crust for 8 minutes, then cool completely.
- Reduce oven temperature to 300F.
For the cheesecake layer:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with paddle attachment beat cream cheese for 3 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add sugar and flour and beat for 2 more minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition.
- Add sour cream and mix until just combined. Add vanilla and orange zest and mix to combine.
- Pour batter over the cooled crust and bake for 50 minutes, until the top is set and starting to lightly brown.
- Turn the oven off and let the cheesecake cool down for 20 minutes inside. Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour, before you add the gelee layer.
For the blood orange gelee:
- In a small saucepan combine blood orange juice, lime juice, sugar and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Sprinkle gelatin over 1 tbsp cold water. Let it sit for 3-4 minutes, then warm up over a double boiler or in the microwave until it turns liquid.
- Add gelatin to the blood orange mixture. Pour over the cheesecake layer and add blood orange slices on top.
- Refrigerate for 2 more hours.
- Slice into squares and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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That is stunning! And so unique. Love the color and I could eat my computer screen!
Thank you so much Susan!
What a great dessert for winter. The color is beautiful!
They look so beautiful!