Ambrosia Cheesecake

This is a beautiful and impressive cake--great for holidays.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups  almond  shortbread cookies, crumbs (about 12 cookies)
• 3  tablespoons sugar
• 3  tablespoons butter or 3  tablespoons margarine, melted
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3  large eggs
• 1  cup sugar
• 1 (14 ounce) package sweetened flaked coconut
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2  cups  fresh  orange curd
• 1  cup sweetened flaked coconut, lightly toasted (optional)

Directions

1. Stir together first 3 ingredients; press mixture into bottom of a 10-inch springform pan.
2. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Cool.
3. Beat cream cheese, eggs, and 1 cup sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in 14-ounce package coconut and vanilla. Pour into prepared crust.
4. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. Cool completely on a wire rack.
5. Cover and chill 8 hours. Release sides of springform pan, and place cheesecake on serving platter or cake stand. Spread Fresh Orange Curd evenly over top of cheesecake. Sprinkle 1 cup toasted coconut around outer edge of top, if desired. Arrange Decorated Pastry Strips on sides of cheesecake, if desired. Garnish top of cake, if desired.