Frango Mint Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 2 sheets chocolate graham crackers
• Cooking spray
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup 1% low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 (8-ounce) block fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8-ounce) block 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 1 large egg white
• 5 Frango mint candies, chopped and divided

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Place chocolate graham crackers in a food processor; process 30 seconds or until finely ground. Sprinkle crumbs over bottom of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Lightly coat crumbs with cooking spray. Wrap outside of pan with a double layer of foil.
3. Combine sugar, flour, and salt. Place cottage cheese and cream cheeses in a food processor; process 1 minute or until smooth. Add sugar mixture; process 1 minute or until smooth. Add vanilla, eggs, and egg white; process 1 minute or until well blended. Add half of chopped mints; pulse once to combine. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining half of chopped mints evenly over batter. Place springform pan in a jelly-roll pan or large roasting pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch.
4. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until cheesecake center barely moves when pan is touched. Remove the cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Run a knife around outside edge. Cool to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.