Sicilian Easter Cheesecake

Total Time: 6 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 6 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 1/2 cups crushed chocolate cookies
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped candied lemon and orange rind
• 2 tablespoons creme de cacao
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, grated
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar, to taste
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, grated

Recipe

• 1 in a small bowl, mix together the crushed cookies, cinnamon and butter.
• 2 press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
• 3 refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
• 4 in a medium bowl, beat the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
• 5 stir in candied peel and 2 ounces of grated chocolate by hand.
• 6 spoon the filling over the chilled crust, and smooth out the top surface.
• 7 refrigerate for 6 hours, or overnight.
• 8 just before serving, whip cream with 1 tablespoon of confectioners' sugar until stiff in a small bowl using an electric mixer.
• 9 run a knife around the outside edge of the cake, and remove the sides of the pan.
• 10 spread the whipped cream over the top of the cake, and sprinkle with remaining grated chocolate.
• 11 serve immediately.