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1
Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease a 10 inch springform pan.
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2
Make crust:
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Measure out 1/2 cup of cake mix and set aside.Place remaining cake mix in large mixing bowl.
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4
Add remaining crust ingredients to cake mix. Blend with mixer on low speed for about 2 minutes. Stop machine, scrape down sides of bowl so the batter comes together in a ball.
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5
With your finger tips, pat dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan until smooth. Set aside.
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6
Filling:
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7
In the same mixing bowl you used for the crust, mix cream cheese and sweetened, condenesed milk on low speed until well mixed.
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8
Add eggs, reserved cake mix, orange juice and orange zest.
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Beat at medium for 1 minute, scraping sides of bowl as necessary.
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10
Pour filling onto the crust and smooth with spatula.
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11
Bake for 68-72 minutes, or until browned and shiny, but center still jiggles slightly when shaken.
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12
Just before bake time is over, mix sour cream, brown sugar, and ginger in a small bowl.
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13
Spread topping over cheesecake when it is done, then return pan to oven until topping sets, 7-8 minutes.
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14
Remove cheesecake from oven, let cool for 30 minutes, then cover and refrigerate overnight, or until ready to serve.
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15
Candied orange zest: (optional garnish for top of cheesecake).
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16
Use a zester, or a sharp paring knife to cut long strands of orange peel from oranges.
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17
Place sugar and water into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar completely dissolves and the syrup comes to a simmer.
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Drop the orange zest into the syrup and stir so the strands are covered.
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Let barely simmer for 1-1/2 hours, or until zest is translucent. The longer you cook it, the crunchier the zest will be.
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20
With metal tongs, remove zest from pan and let dry on a metal rack for several hours.
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21
After the zest cools, but before it completely dries, it will be flexible so that you can curl or twist it to make it more ornamental.
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22
When the zest has dried, store it in a tightly covered container.
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23
For an even tastier treat, dip dried strands into melted chocolate!
