Mandarin Cheesecake with Mandarin Marmalade Glaze

Crust:

Cooking Spray
1/4 cup roasted, blanched almonds, ground fine
3/4 cup flour
1/4 teas. baking powder
1/4 teas. salt
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 large egg yolk

Filling:

2 1/2cups cream cheese, softened (may be substituted with low fat cream cheese)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup sour cream (may be substituted with fat free)
2 tablespoons grated mandarin rind
1/4 cup mandarin juice
4 large eggs

Glaze:

2 tablespoons mandarin marmalade (melted in microwave until spreadable)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
To prepare crust, lightly coat an 8-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. Combine ground almonds, 3 tablespoons sugar and butter in a food processor; process until light and fluffy. Add egg yolk; process until smooth. Add sugar/butter mixture to the flour mixture and cut in with fork or pastry cutter until just combined and about the size of small peas. Firmly press mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.

Combine cream cheese in food processor or use an electric beater to beat until smooth (about 30 seconds). Add 3/4 cup sugar, beat or process for 30 seconds, add sour cream, rind and juice; beat another 30 seconds. Add eggs, 1 at a time, processing well after each addition. Scrape down side of bowl; process 10 seconds. Pour cheese mixture into prepared crust; place pan in a large baking pan. Add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 325 degrees for 70-75 minutes until cheesecake center barely moves when pan is touched. Turn oven off; let stand 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven and water bath; run a knife around outside edge. Cool to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 8 hours. Before serving remove the metal collar from cheesecake. Place 2 tablespoons mandarin marmalade in microwave for 10-20 seconds to melt to a spreadable consistency. Spread a thin layer of marmalade over the cake before slicing.

Enjoy !