Ingredients
1 1/2
cups graham cracker crumbs (24 squares)
1/4
cup sugar
1/2
teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4
cup butter or margarine, melted
1
cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream
6
chai black tea bags
3
packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1
cup sugar
1/2
teaspoon ground cinnamon
1
teaspoon vanilla
3
eggs
1
tablespoon grated orange peel
1
cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream, whipped
1
tablespoon sugar
Orange peel twists, if desired
Preparation
Heat oven to 350°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with heavy-duty foil to prevent leaking. Spray inside bottom and side of pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press in bottom of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Cool crust 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in microwavable measuring cup, microwave 1 cup whipping cream on High 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes or just until it begins to boil. Place tea bags in hot cream; let stand 15 minutes.
In large bowl, beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and the vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until blended. Remove tea bags from cream and squeeze extra liquid from tea bags; discard bags. Stir cream and orange peel into cream cheese mixture until well blended. Pour filling over crust.
Bake at 300°F 55 to 65 minutes or until edge of cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from edge of pan but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Turn oven off; open oven door at least 4 inches. Let cheesecake remain in oven 30 minutes. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
To serve, run small metal spatula around edge of pan; carefully remove foil and side of pan. In chilled medium bowl, beat 1 cup whipping cream and 1 tablespoon sugar with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Spread over cheesecake. Garnish with orange peel twists. Cover; refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.
