• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Marilena's Kitchen

Mediterranean Cooking With an Accent

  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Classes
    • Private Cooking Classes
    • Personal Chef
    • Culinaria Cooking School Classes
    • Customer & Student Reviews
  • Let’s Work Together
  • Portfolio
  • Travel

Orange-Scented Cheesecake Baked in Crispy Filo

April 30, 2020 by Marilena Leavitt 11 Comments

Orange Scented Cheesecake

It is hard to believe that the month of April is over, that May is here, and that Mother’s Day is just a week away.  Even though our circumstances are different this year, baking an easy and delicious dessert, like this orange-scented cheesecake, is the perfect way to lift our mood, as the air around us fills with this wonderful aroma.

I know that many people think cheesecakes are tricky to make, while others often find them too rich or too overly-sweet.  This orange-scented cheesecake is different in so many ways:  a lighter, crispy filo base replaces the traditional graham cracker crust, and, a delicious, aromatic and less-sweet filling takes the place of the usual heavy, sugar-laden cream cheese version of other recipes.

Ingredients for the orange-scented cheesecake

I always keep a couple of packages of good quality filo pastry in my freezer.  To me, filo is an essential ingredient, one that I use almost every week in some form of savory or sweet baking.  In addition to the filo, this recipe calls for just a handful of other ingredients that most of us usually keep on hand:  cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and an orange.

The easy steps

To make the easy filo crust:  simply layer a few filo sheets on a clean surface, brush some butter on each one and then stack them up one on top of the other to form a shell.  No need to make a perfectly even crust–this is a rustic dish after all!

  1. Brush filo with butter. Repeat with two more layers of filo and cut in half.

Filo pastry brushed with butter

2. Layer one stack of filo pastry on a buttered spring-form pan:

Layering of filo pastry

3. Repeat with a second stack of filo pastry:

filo pastry base for cheesecake

4. Fill the crust with the orange-scented cream cheese mixture and bake!

cheesecake ready to bake

The best thing about this cheesecake is that you do not have to bake the base separately and also, you don’t have to worry about baking it in a water bath either. 

When it comes out of the oven, let the cheesecake cool before removing the ring.  When ready to serve, top with your favorite fresh berries, some candied orange peel, and, if you have it, pearl sugar.  If you don’t have fresh berries, you can even top it with your favorite canned fruit.  Serve at room temperature or refrigerate and enjoy later.

Orange-scented cheesecake

I hope you give this easy orange-scented cheesecake a try, friends.  It is the perfect dessert for Mother’s Day and a special treat to enjoy at the end of your Sunday meal!

Sliced orange cheesecake

5.0 from 1 reviews
Orange-Scented Cheesecake Baked in Crispy Filo
 
Save Print
Prep time
40 mins
Cook time
1 hour 15 mins
Total time
1 hour 55 mins
 
A delicious cheesecake made with crispy filo pastry and an aromatic orange-scented cream cheese filling.
Author: Marilena Leavitt
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients
  • 4 TBSP. butter, melted
  • 6 sheets frozen filo dough, thawed (I used Fillo Factory brand)
  • 16 oz. cream cheese (2 packages), softened
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1½ TBSP. whole milk
  • 1½ TBSP. cornstarch
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 TBSP. orange zest
  • [b]Toppings:[/b]
  • Candied orange peel, chopped
  • Fresh berries
  • Pearl sugar
Instructions
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the softened cream cheese at medium speed for about two minutes. Slowly add the sugar and beat until very smooth. Taste and adjust the sugar if necessary (note: this is not an overly-sweet dessert).
  2. Dissolve the cornstarch in the milk then add it to the bowl with the cream cheese mixture. At low speed, beat in the eggs and the orange zest. Process the mixture until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl a couple of times, but be careful not to over mix.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  4. Butter well a 9-inch spring form pan. Wrap the outside of the pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil and set aside (this will prevent any butter from leaking out during the baking stage).
  5. Place one sheet of filo dough on a clean surface and brush with some melted butter. Place a second filo sheet on top of the first and brush with some more melted butter. Repeat with a third layer. Cut the stack of three layers of filo in half. Lift half of the sheets of filo dough and place them on top of the other half. Place this stack of six layers of filo inside the prepared pan, gently pressing the filo to fit inside the pan; the long ends of your filo will slightly come up the sides of the pan (see photo). Repeat, the same with three more layers of filo, cut them in half, stack them on top each other and place them in the pan the opposite way (see photo), so that you have completely covered the bottom and sides of the pan. Your crust now has a total of 12 layers of filo (six sheets of filo in total, cut in half). Trim excess filo from around the pan, butter the edges lightly and tuck them in. Do not fuss too much about having even sides all around.
  6. Pour the mixture of cream cheese into the filo crust and smooth the top.
  7. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 45 minutes. At this point the cheesecake is almost done. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake sit in the oven another 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool on a rack. As the cheesecake cools, it might shrink slightly from the filo crust.
  8. Once the cheesecake is completely cool, carefully, release it from the mold. Just before serving, top the cheesecake with chopped candied orange, fresh berries, and pearl sugar (or a topping of your choice). Serve at room temperature for the optimal filo crunch. Refrigerate the rest to enjoy later. If you do refrigerate the cheesecake, the filo will likely soften a bit, but the taste will still be amazing.
Notes
There are several reasons that cause a cheesecake to crack. One is incorporating too much air into the mixture while overbeating the eggs. A second reason is over-baking the cheesecake itself. The third reason is removing the cheesecake from the hot oven when it is done according to the timer. To avoid this slightly under bake the cheesecake, turn off the oven, and let it sit in for thirty more minutes to finish cooking.
3.5.3240

This recipe is a collaboration with the Fillo Factory, a company that makes great quality filo pastry, puff pastry, and kataifi, among many other products.

THANK YOU FOR READING AND FOLLOWING ALONG

If you are not already following my blog, you can subscribe to Marilena’s Kitchen to have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

I love hearing from you, please leave me a comment below.

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: Dessert Tagged With: cheesecake, cheesecake baked in filo, easy cheesecake, Fillo Factory, filo cheesecake, light cheesecake, mother's day dessert, orange cheesecake, spring dessert

Previous Post: « Traditional Greek Lamb Fricassée with Avgolemono
Next Post: Greek-Style Sweet or Savory Pancakes (tiganites) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    May 1, 2020 at 8:56 AM

    Wow Marilena! It’s beautiful how the cake can stand on it’s own out of the pan. And the fillo is such a great crust idea for this cake. Happy Mother’s day all! Stay safe.
    with love from-the fillo factory

    Reply
    • Marilena Leavitt says

      May 2, 2020 at 8:40 AM

      Thank you so much Lauren! Yes, the filo crust is sturdy enough as a base and much lighter than the traditional cheesecake crust!

      Reply
  2. Kathe Graham says

    May 1, 2020 at 8:58 AM

    This looks beautiful, I love the idea that it’s lighter than a traditional cheesecake. A cheesecake with a filo crust is something to try. Happy May!

    Reply
    • Marilena Leavitt says

      May 2, 2020 at 8:42 AM

      I hope you try it Kathe, I know you will like how lighter and less sweet this orange-scented cheesecake is!

      Reply
  3. Leeanna Bednarz says

    June 8, 2020 at 7:52 AM

    I truly appreciate this blog article.Thanks Again. Muc

    Reply
  4. Floretta Lofton says

    June 10, 2020 at 4:28 AM

    I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking mor

    Reply
    • Marilena Leavitt says

      June 10, 2020 at 1:01 PM

      Thank you for joining our mailing list!

      Reply
  5. Mattie Hafemeister says

    June 10, 2020 at 10:25 AM

    I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put th

    Reply
  6. Kristopher Laface says

    June 17, 2020 at 11:05 PM

    I like what I see sonow i’m following you.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Orange Scented Cheesecake with a Crispy Fillo Crust – Fillo Talk says:
    June 8, 2020 at 2:56 PM

    […] If you follow this link you can print the recipe right off her website […]

    Reply
  2. 10 Top Recipes to Try this Spring - Marilena's Kitchen says:
    May 1, 2025 at 11:45 PM

    […] 8. Orange-Scented Cheesecake Baked in Filo Crust […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:  

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Marilenas-Kitchen-Author-Bio
marilenas-kitchen-author-bio

more about me

Search

Marilena Leavitt

INSTAGRAM

Mini filo tartlets with almond custard and fresh b Mini filo tartlets with almond custard and fresh berries 🍓A delightful springtime dessert that is light, seasonal, and elegant at the same time 🌼 Crispy filo layers form the base, with a delicious almond pastry cream custard, fresh strawberries and toasted almonds on top - so delicious! 🍓
.
A new recipe in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 
.
✨You can find this recipe on the blog [marilenaskitchen.com], linked also in bio! ✨
.
.
#springdessert #strawberries #tarts #baking @fillofactory #bakingtime #sweettreats #bakingfromscratch #dessert #bakingwithfruit #fillofactory #Easterdessert #bakedwithlove #mothersdaydessert #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Braided Mini Greek Sweet Rolls - the smaller versi Braided Mini Greek Sweet Rolls - the smaller versions of the traditional Greek Easter bread (tsoureki), a bread that everyone makes for Easter in Greece! 🧡 It is a brioche-like, slightly sweet, yeasted bread made using eggs, milk, and butter. 🧡 A delicious breakfast bread, the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of coffee or tea! 🧡☕️ 🫖☕️
.
✨ New recipe on the blog, linked in profile and in stories 👩🏻‍🍳✨
.
#breadrolls #bread #Greekbread #Easterbread #tsoureki @kingarthurbaking #braidedbread #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #bakingathome #feedfeedbaking #foodblogfeed #makeitdelicious @thefeedfeed #foodstyling #droolclub #myfoodphotography #buzzfeast #foodfluffer #foodphotographer #photooftheday #yummyfood #realfood #sweetreats #foodphotography #foodiesfeed #heresmyfood #thebakefeedfeed #marilenaskitchen 

.
Crisp Spring Salad with a refreshing Greek yogurt Crisp Spring Salad with a refreshing Greek yogurt dressing: seasonal, bright and tender vegetables that pair so well with this delicious, creamy dressing! So, so good! 🥗🥬🥒🌿
.
🌿Recipe linked in bio & on the blog: [Marilenaskitchen.com]👩🏻‍🍳🌿
.
.
.
#springsalad #summersalads #vegetarian #healthyrecipes #salad #homemadefood #instagood #greekdish #mediterraneandiet #yogurtdressing #greekfoodblogger #yummyfood #mygreektable #thefeedfeed #mediterraneanliving #huffposttaste #yahoofood #bonappetitmag #buzzfeedfood #epicurious #feedyoursoul #dailyfoodfeed #eathealthy #eattherainbow 
.
.
Crispy spiral filo pie with spinach, artichokes, s Crispy spiral filo pie with spinach, artichokes, shallots, fresh herbs and Feta cheese 🌿🌀 A delicious spring recipe inspired by the classic Greek spanakopita. Wholesome, flavorful vegetarian dish, perfectly crispy and flaky in every bite! 🌿
.
🌿This is a new recipe, in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 
.
🌿 Recipe linked in profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 👩🏻‍🍳
.
.
#savorybaking #filo #filopastry  #appetizer @fillofactory #bakingtime #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #spinachpower #bakingathome #feedfeedbaking #foodblogfeed #fillofactory #makeitdelicious @thefeedfeed #foodstyling #droolclub #myfoodphotography #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeast #foodphotographer #photooftheday #yummyfood #realfood #eattheworld  #foodphotography #foodiesfeed #heresmyfood #thebakefeedfeed #marilenaskitchen
My favorite orange almond cake, made with almond f My favorite orange almond cake, made with almond flour and semolina flour. 🍊🍊 A super moist, not too sweet “snack cake”, with a great nutty flavor and a pronounced citrus flavor. So, so good, perfect with a cup of coffee and a great treat to have around the house for anytime of the day! 🍊🍊
.
✨Recipe linked in profile, and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] ✨
.
.
#orangecake #coffeecake @kingarthurflour #bakelove #dessertsofinstagram #snackcake #mediterraneancuisine #bakefromscratch #fromscratch #greekfoodblogger #almondcake #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed #droolclub #thecookfeed #thebakefeed #makeitdelicious @thefeedfeed #f52food #comfortfood #huffposttaste #hautescuisines #gastronomia #buzzfeast #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #realfood #onthetable #allrecipes #foodphotography
Creamy Hummus with Crispy Homemade Pita Chips: a d Creamy Hummus with Crispy Homemade Pita Chips: a delicious and healthy recipe, full of good plant-based protein and fiber, a staple in the Mediterranean diet! ✨💯😋
.
✨New recipe on my site [marilenaskitchen.com], linked in bio!✨👩🏻‍🍳
.
Ingredients:
1 15 oz. can chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and with their skin removed
2-3 cloves garlic
¼ cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
3 TBSP. fresh lemon juice
pinch of ground cumin
pinch of Cayenne pepper (optional)
½ tsp. sea salt
⅓ cup ice-cold water 
.
(Full recipe on my site)
.
.
#hummusrecipe #pitachips #homemadepitachips #savoryfood #easydips #partyfood #gamesnacks  #appetizerideas #bluezoneskitchen #Mediterraneandiet #fromscratch #foodandwine #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #gastronomia #buzzfeast #homemade #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #snack #foodphotography
Tiropitakia - traditional Greek filo triangles fil Tiropitakia - traditional Greek filo triangles filled with Feta cheese and a tiny amount of spearmint 💙✨Crispy filo layers and sharp Greek Feta, such a delicious flavor and texture combination! 😋 Nobody can resist this favorite Greek snack! ✨💙🇬🇷
.
.
✨Full recipe on my site [marilenaskitchen.com], linked in bio!✨👩🏻‍🍳
.
~ INGREDIENTS:

• ½ lb. Greek feta cheese, crumbled
• ½ lb. ricotta cheese (full fat) or Greek anthotiro (if you can find it)
•1 large egg, beaten
• ¼-½ tsp. sea salt
• ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
• ½ lb. filo dough, thawed
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, for brushing on the filo 
.
.
.
#filoappetizers #gamedayfood #tiropitakia #τυροπιτάκια  #greekfood #greekrecipes #filo #tiropitakia #greekgastronomy #filosnacks #Mediterraneandiet #fromscratch #Greeksnack #greekfoodblogger #foodandwine #thefeedfeed @dodoni_international #mediterraneanlifestyle #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #greekchef #hautecuisines #gastronomia #buzzfeast #eatrealfood  #fetacheese #yummyfood #allrecipes #lovefood #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Cold, winter Sundays call for comfort food: oven-r Cold, winter Sundays call for comfort food: oven-roasted chicken with small red potatoes and lots of fresh lemon and garlic! A super simple and delicious recipe! ✨😋👌
.
.
✨Full recipe on my site [marilenaskitchen.com], linked in bio!✨
.
.
#roastedchicken #sundaydinners #comfortfood #chickenrecipes #familymeals #buttermilkchicken @ciaosamin #saltfatacidheatcookbook
Light as a cloud vegetable frittata with lots of F Light as a cloud vegetable frittata with lots of Fontina cheese, a delicious dish - not only for breakfast or weekend brunch, but also for those busy weeknight evenings!  So, so good! 😋🌶️🌿🧀 🍠
.
✨Full recipe up on my site [marilenaskitchen.com], linked in bio!✨
.
.
#frittata #breakfastrecipes #savorybreakfast #brunchtime #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #bakingathome #myfoodphotography #mediterraneandiet #makeitdelicious #photooftheday #realfood #eattheworld  #foodphotography #thebakefeedfeed #marilenaskitchen
Mini filo quiches with salmon and chives: a delici Mini filo quiches with salmon and chives: a delicious and easy holiday appetizer! A box of good quality filo shells, some smoked salmon, and a simple custard of eggs & cream is all you need to make these flavorful little savory bites! 🥂🎄😋
.
🎄A new recipe in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory🎄
.
✨You can find this recipe on the blog [marilenaskitchen.com], also linked in stories!✨
.
.
.
#appetizerideas #holidayappetizer #brunchideas #filoappetizer #savorybaking @fillofactory #bakingtime #filodough #greekfoodlovers #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #greekgastronomy #bluezoneskitchen #Mediterraneandiet #fromscratch #foodandwine #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #hautecuisines #gastronomia #buzzfeast #todayfood #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #greektreats #filorecipes #onthetable #foodphotography
A delicious holiday appetizer: four-ingredient Puf A delicious holiday appetizer: four-ingredient Puff Pastry Parmesan Cheese Straws with fresh rosemary and sesame seeds! ✨😋 Crispy and flaky, savory and so flavorful, they are the perfect addition to a holiday buffet and any charcuterie board! ✨🧡💯
.
This new recipe is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
.
✨Find the recipe on the blog [marilenaskitchen.com], linked also in bio! ✨
.
.
#cheesestraws #puffpastryrecipes #appetizerrecipe #vegetarianappetizer #savorybaking @fillofactory #bakingtime #greekfoodlovers #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #bluezoneskitchen #Mediterraneandiet #fromscratch #foodandwine #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #hautecuisines #gastronomia #buzzfeast #todayfood #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #greektreats #filorecipes #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Delicious Greek meatballs, creamy tzatziki and red Delicious Greek meatballs, creamy tzatziki and red onion slivers, ready to be wrapped in toasted pita bread! An all-time favorite family meal! 😋🥙 💙🇬🇷
.
✨Recipe linked in profile! 👩🏻‍🍳✨
.
.
.
#Greekmeatballs #keftedakia #greekcuisine #comfortfood #instagood #greekdish #mediterraneandiet #greekfoodblogger #yummyfood #mygreektable #thefeedfeed  #mediterraneanliving #huffposttaste #yahoofood #bonappetitmag #yummyfood #weeknightmeals #buzzfeedfood #epicurious #feedyoursoul #dailyfoodfeed #saveurmag #appetitejournal #allrecipes #marilenaskitchen
Spiced Apple and Cheddar Cheese Filo Treats - a gr Spiced Apple and Cheddar Cheese Filo Treats - a great way to celebrate the beginning of fall baking! 🍂🍎🍁
Crispy, buttery, flaky filo cups make the base for a delicious apple and spice filling. The addition of cheddar cheese adds an unexpected layer of flavor to this easy fall dessert! 🧡🍂🍎
.
🍂A new recipe in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡🍂
.
✨You can find this recipe on the blog [marilenaskitchen.com], linked also in bio! ✨
.
.
#fallbaking #apples #bakingwithapples @fillofactory #bakingtime #sweetandsavory #bakingfromscratch #falldessert #bakingwithfruit #fillofactory #cabotcheese #bakedwithlove #Mediterraneandiet #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Tiropsomo, a delicious Greek skillet bread with Fe Tiropsomo, a delicious Greek skillet bread with Feta cheese, oregano and lots of good extra virgin olive oil - such an irresistible treat! 🧡🍞Super easy to make even for the novice baker, a favorite accompaniment to every Greek meal! 🇬🇷💙😋
.
✨A favorite recipe from my blog, linked in profile! ✨👩🏻‍🍳
.
.
.
#Greekbread #cheesebread #skilletbread #τυρόψωμο #freshbread #breadbaking #bread #bakingtime #fromscratch #goodmoodfood #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #droolclub #myfoodphotography #buzzfeast #eatrealfood  #makeitdelicious #photooftheday #yummyfood #realfood #eattheworld  #foodphotography #foodiesfeed #heresmyfood #chefsofinstagram #marilenaskitchen
A delicious plum puff pastry tart ✨the flavor of A delicious plum puff pastry tart ✨the flavor of cardamom-infused plums is a match-made-in-heaven! ✨ A wonderful combination of sweet and slightly tart plums that pair so well with the deep, earthy flavor of freshly ground cardamom! So, so good! 🧡😋 
.
✨ A new recipe in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡 
.
✨You can find this recipe on the blog [marilenaskitchen.com], linked also in bio! ✨
.
.
.
#easydessert #fruitart #puffpastry @fillofactory #bakingtime #plums #bakingfromscratch #falldessert #bakingwithfruit #greekfoodlovers #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #greekgastronomy #Mediterraneandiet #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #hautecuisines #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #greektreats #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Follow on Instagram

PINTEREST

Archives

my foodgawker gallery

Terms of Use

© Marilena Leavitt and Marilena’s Kitchen, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Marilena Leavitt and Marilena’s Kitchen with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. 

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d