This cheesecake is not your average dessert. It starts with a buttery graham cracker crust, filled with a silky blend of cream cheese and mascarpone kissed with fresh orange zest and juice. The whole thing is finished with a dark chocolate ganache that glistens like a mirror and melts into every forkful.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Combines Italian mascarpone and classic cream cheese for an ultra-luxurious texture
- Bursts with natural orange flavor — no artificial extracts
- Topped with rich, glossy ganache that balances the citrus with chocolate
- Gorgeous enough for dinner parties, simple enough for a Sunday bake
- Can be made ahead — it actually tastes better the next day!
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Pinch of salt
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 16 oz (2 blocks) cream cheese, softened
- 8 oz mascarpone cheese, room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- Zest of 1 large orange
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (helps prevent cracking)
For the Chocolate Ganache:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz dark chocolate (60–70%), chopped
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for shine)
Equipment You’ll Need
- 9-inch springform pan
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Fine zester or microplane
- Mixing bowls, spatula
- Saucepan (for ganache)
- Optional: citrus juicer