Sicilian Cheesecake
Luxurious, light, and easy to make, this creamy Sicilian cheesecake is perfect for desserts, holidays, and every kind of celebration.
- Prep time
- 20 min
- Cook time
- 50 min
- Yield
- 10 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- 13/4 cup (6oz/185 grams) cookie crumbs (See note1)
- 1/2 cup (4oz/115 grams) unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 lb (32oz/900 grams) whole milk ricotta cheese (See Note 2)
- 4 eggs (room temperature)
- 1 cup (approximately 250 grams) mascarpone cheese
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup (2oz/60 grams) chopped semisweet dark chocolate
- 3 tbsp cornstarch ((also known as cornflour))
- 2 tbsp Marsala wine (See note 3)
- 3 tsp finely grated orange zest (See note 4)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350ºF/180ºC. Butter a 9inch/23cm springform pan with a removable base.
- 2
Combine the cookie crumbs with melted unsalted butter in a medium bowl.
- 3
Spread evenly onto the base of the prepared pan then press with fingertips or the back of a spoon until well compressed and flattened.
- 4
Refrigerate while preparing the filling.
- 5
Process the ricotta and sugar in the food processor until smooth.
- 6
Add the eggs and whizz until well combined.
- 7
Add the mascarpone, cornstarch (cornflour), Marsala wine, orange zest and cinnamon. Process to mix well. Don’t over mix or the mascarpone can split.
- 8
Put in the dark chocolate then pulse until just barely combined without breaking up the chocolate too much.
- 9
Pour into the prepared base and smooth the surface.
- 10
Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the sides are puffed up and beginning to brown, the middle is still a little jiggly. The surface will begin to become golden. Every oven is different, so use the visual cues more than the timing. Take care not to overcook or the cheesecake can become dry and crack.
- 11
Turn the oven off and leave the cheese cake in the oven for 1 hour with the door ajar. Use a wooden spoon to hold the door open just a little.
- 12
Remove from the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool completely. Then refrigerate overnight or for a few hours to chill and set completely.
- 13
For best results, remove from the fridge 30 minutes before serving.