Refreshing Chocoorange

This perfect Chocolate Orange Cheesecake recipe is as glorious as it tastes. This rich, creamy and sophisticated dessert shines with the addition of orange and HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate. Don't forget to top your chocolate orange cheesecake with a generous dollop of whipped topping, plus fragrant and freshly grated orange peel for that extra-special touch.

Ingredients

1 cup

graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup

butter or margarine (1/2 stick), melted

2 cups

sugar, divided

1 cup

HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Mildly Sweet Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

3 packages

cream cheese (8 oz each), softened

4

eggs

1 - 1/2 cups

dairy sour cream

2 tsps

orange extract

1 tsp

freshly grated orange peel

1 - 1/2 cups

whipped topping

orange wedges (optional)

Directions

Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and 1/4 cup sugar in small bowl; pat firmly onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.2

Place chocolate chips in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at medium (50%) 1 minute or just until chips are melted when stirred.3

Beat cream cheese and remaining 1-3/4 cups sugar in large bowl; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in sour cream and orange extract. Stir 3 cups cream cheese mixture into melted chocolate chips; pour into crust. Freeze 10 to 15 minutes until chocolate sets.

Heat oven to 325°F. Stir orange peelinto remaining cream cheese mixture; gently spread over chocolate mixture.

Bake 1 hour 15 minutes or until set except for 3-inch circle in center; turn off oven. Let stand in oven, with door ajar, 1 hour; remove from oven. With knife, loosen cheesecake from side of pan. Cool completely; remove side of pan. Cover; refrigerate. Garnish with whipped topping and orange wedges, if desired. Cover; refrigerate leftover cheesecake.