Recipe: Carrot Cheesecake

Carrot Cheesecake

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter, melted
24 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
4 large eggs
1/4 cup unsweetened orange juice
1 cup carrot, finely shredded
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 tablespoon unsweetened orange juice
1 cup sifted powdered sugar

Heat oven to 325 F.

Mix crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and butter and press onto bottom of a 9-inch springfrom pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450 F.

Beat 2 1/2 packages cream cheese, sugar, and 1/4 cup flour at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in juice. Add combined remaining flour, carrots, raisins, and spices and mix well. Pour over crust.

Bake for 10 minutes and then reduce oven temperature to 250 F and continue baking for 55 minutes. Turn off oven and let cheesecake cool for one hour inside cooling oven. Loosen cake from rim of pan. Let cool completely and then refrigerate.

Beat remaining 1/2 package cream cheese and juice until well blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until well blended. Spread over top of cheesecake. Garnish with
additional raisins and orange zest or shredded carrot, if desired.