Cranberry Orange Cheesecake

5 from 2 votes

This festive Cranberry Orange Cheesecake is the perfect easy holiday dessert for your next gathering. The creamy citrus filling pairs beautifully with a bright, homemade cranberry topping. It’s a make ahead favorite that saves you time during busy holiday hosting.

Prep Time40

Cook Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 262kcal

Author: Raquel Pineira

Equipment

Mixing Bowl
electric mixer or stand mixer
springform pan
roasting pan

Ingredients

For the crust:

1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

For the filling:

3 8 oz cream cheese blocks softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 large orange (for zest)
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the cranberry topping:

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup orange juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325°F. Wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent leaks.
Mix crust ingredients together and press firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then set aside.
Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in sour cream, flour, orange zest, juice, and vanilla until creamy. Pour filling over crust.
Place springform pan inside a larger roasting pan. Pour hot water into the roasting pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
Bake 60–70 minutes, until the edges are set and the center is slightly wobbly. Turn off oven, crack the door open, and let cheesecake rest in the water bath for 1 hour.
Remove cheesecake from water bath, discard foil, and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
For topping, simmer cranberries, sugar, and orange juice until berries burst. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened. Cool, then spoon over chilled cheesecake before serving.

Notes

Use room-temperature ingredients for a smooth batter.
Bake until the center is slightly jiggly, then let cool in the oven slowly to avoid cracks.

Nutrition