While there are many reason to get excited about the holidays, Daria's baking makes this my absolute FAVORITE time of year!

Last year Daria shared my favorite Christmas Cookie recipe, and this year I've convinced her to share her famous Christmas Cranberry Cheesecake Recipe. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2lbs. cream cheese, at room temp.
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest 
• 2 tablespoons of Cointreau or Triple Sec
• 5 eggs

Directions:

• In a small saucepan, cover cranberries with water...simmer until soft and plump - about 4 minutes.
• Let it cool.
• In a bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter. 
• Press mixture over bottom and 2 inches up sides of a 10 inch diameter springform pan.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven until crust is golden...about 12 minutes
• Transfer to a cooling rack.
• Leave oven @ 350 degrees. 
• With an electric mixer, beat on "medium" speed the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
• Beat in orange juice, zest and liqueur.
• Add eggs...one at a time...beating well after each.
• With a rubber spatula, fold in cranberries.
• Spoon mixture into cooled crust.
• Bake until cheesecake is just set when the pan is gently shaken...about 1 hour
• Transfer to rack and cool completely
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• To serve...remove pan sides, slip cake onto a serving plate and cut into wedges.

Serves 12.

Mmmmm...makes my mouth water just writing out the ingredients!  We hope you enjoy this Dolans family treat.  Please be sure you share YOUR favorite holiday recipe wtih us and the rest of the Dolans.com family.  Just leave your recipe in the comments below.

Enjoy!!