Creamy Ambrosia Cheesecake

This recipe is tried and true! I make this every year for my Dad's birthday. He asked if I will make it for Easter this year too. I love this, and every time I make it, I think about how much my Dad enjoyes it. I hope you will enjoy it too. Plan ahead - allow minimum of 6 hours to chill. Time DOES NOT include cooling.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• Coconut Crust

• 1 1⁄3 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1⁄2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1⁄4 cup butter or 1⁄4 cup margarine, melted
• 2  tablespoons sugar

• Filling

• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments, reserve
• 1 (8 ounce) can  crushed pineapple in juice, reserve (not syrup)
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 3  eggs
• 2  cups white chocolate chips

• Tropical Fruit Sauce

• 1  cup  fruit, juices reserved
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  tablespoon cornstarch
• 1⁄4 teaspoon oranges or 1⁄4 teaspoon  pineapple extract

Directions

1. Coconut Crust:
2. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, coconut flakes, melted butter, and sugar in a medium bowl. Press mixture firmly onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 8 minutes; cool slightly.
3. Filling:
4. Cut mandarin oranges into small pieces. Drain oranges and pineapple, reserving juices.
5. Beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar; beat well. Add eggs; beat well. Stir in white chips, oranges and pineapple. Pour mixture over baked and slightly cooled crust.
6. Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from oven to wire rack. With knife, loosen cake from side of pan. Cool completely; remove side of pan. Cover; refrigerate until cold.
7. Prepare Tropical Fruit Sauce.
8. Tropical Fruit Sauce:
9. Combine reserved fruit juices, suagar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickend. Remove from heat. Stir in orange or pineapple extract. Cool to room temperature. Cover; refrigerate leftover sauce.
10. To serve:
11. Pour desired amount of fruit sauce over individual slices of cheesecake. Garnish with toasted coconut if desired.
12. Refrigerate leftover cheese cake - it there is any!