Ginger and Pink Grapefruit Cheesecake

This Ginger and Grapefruit Cheesecake is really spectacular; not only is it visually delightful, and he texture is spot on. The ginger flavor is very pronounced, so it's not for the ginger-faint-of-heart and it's not overly sweet with the tang of the grapefruit providing a perfect accompaniment to the sweetness and the zing of the ginger.

Yield:

Makes 12 servings

Ingredients

1. For the crust:
2. ===============
3. 20 whole graham crackers, coarsely broken
4. 6 tablespoons sugar
5. 1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6. 3 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
7. .
8. For the filling:
9. ===============
10. 1 1/3 cups heavy whipping cream
11. 1 (1-inch-long) piece fresh ginger, peeled, cut into very thin rounds
12. 1 cup ginger preserves
13. 1 tablespoon water
14. 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
15. 1 1/4 cups sugar
16. 1 tablespoon ground ginger
17. 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
18. 1/4 teaspoon salt
19. 4 large eggs
20. .
21. For the topping:
22. ===============
23. 2 large pink or ruby grapefruits
24. Finely chopped crystallized ginger

Directions

1. For crust:
2. Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter 9-inch springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides.
3. Blend graham crackers and sugar in processor to coarse crumbs. Add 1/2 cup butter. Blend until crumbs hold together; press onto bottom and up sides of prepared pan. Bake crust until beginning to color, about 15 minutes; sprinkle with chopped ginger. Cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
4. Stack 3 long sheets of 18-inch-wide foil on work surface. Place cake pan in center. Fold foil snugly up sides of pan.
5. For filling: Bring cream and fresh ginger to simmer. Remove from heat; cover. Steep 30 minutes. Strain cream. Stir preserves and 1 tablespoon water in small saucepan over medium heat until preserves melt; strain into small bowl. Discard solids; reserve ginger jelly.
6. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until smooth. Beat in sugar, ground ginger, vanilla, and salt. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well. Add 2 tablespoons ginger jelly and beat until blended. Gradually beat in strained cream. Transfer to prepared crust. Place cake pan in large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of cake pan. Place cake in water bath in oven.
7. Bake cake until gently set, browned on top, and beginning to crack around edges, about 2 hours. Remove from water. Remove foil. Place hot cake, uncovered, in refrigerator and chill overnight. Do ahead Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep cake chilled. Store ginger jelly at room temperature.
8. For topping:
9. Line large plate with several layers of paper towels. Cut all peel and pith off grapefruits. Working over bowl, cut between membranes to release segments; place on paper towels to drain. Cover with additional paper towels, pressing to absorb excess liquid. This can be prepared 8 hours ahead as long as you chill, changing towels as needed.

Notes