White Chocolate & Passion Fruit Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 1/4 cups tea biscuits, crushed
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 4 ounces white chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) container mascarpone cheese
• 1/4 cup superfine sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup passion fruit pulp
• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
• 6 passion fruit, pulp removed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. Grease an 8 inch spring form pan with 1 Tablespoon melted butter.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together biscuit crumbs and 4 Tablespoons melted butter.
4. Press into the bottom of spring form pan, and smooth with the back of a spoon; set aside in the refrigerator to firm up.
5. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
6. Heat half-and-half to a simmer in a small saucepan; pour over white chocolate.
7. Set aside for 1 minute, then stir until smooth; set aside.
8. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
9. Mix in mascarpone cheese, sugar, and egg yolks.
10. Stir in white chocolate mixture and 1/2 cup passion fruit pulp.
11. In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
12. Fold 1/3 of the whites into the batter very thoroughly, then quickly fold in remaining whites until no streaks remain.
13. Pour batter into prepared pan.
14. Place the cake pan on a baking sheet.
15. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until just set in the center when shaken lightly.
16. Turn off the oven, and leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door ajar for 2 to 3 hours, or until cool.
17. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
18. Before serving, remove from pan, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
19. Dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve with pulp from 6 passion fruit.