Fluffy Orange Cheesecake: Creamy, Zesty & Easy

The moment you fold fresh orange zest into cream cheese batter, the whole kitchen changes. That citrus smell, sharp, clean, a little floral, mixes with the warmth coming off the oven, making whatever room you are standing in feel like somewhere good things are happening. This fluffy  orange cheesecake is not heavy. That is the first thing people notice. Unlike a dense New York style cheesecake that sits in your stomach like a brick, this one has a lightness, a soft, cloud like texture that comes from temperature control and a batter carefully built rather than beaten into submission.