Cheesecake Factory Key Lime Pie Cheesecake

5 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar, plus 1¼ cups, plus ¼ cup
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
¾ cup key lime juice
4 eggs, at room temperature
2 egg yolks, at room temperature
2 tablespoons grated key lime zest
1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
2 egg whites, at room temperature
Pinch of salt
1 cup simple syrup, (1 cup sugar, 1 cup water heated until sugar dissolves)
Rind of 2 limes, julienned

In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, 2 tablespoons of the sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Mix well. Press the crust firmly over the bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan. Set aside.
In a pan dissolve the gelatin and the key lime juice, about 4-5 minutes. Add 1¼ cups of the sugar, eggs, egg yolks, and lime zest. Mix well.
Over medium heat, cook until the mixture thickens and is pudding like, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth. With the mixer running, add the lime mixture slowly and beat until smooth. Remove the mixture and put into another bowl and cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, stirring every 10 minutes.
In a bowl of an stand mixer with a whip attachment, place the egg whites, pinch of salt and remaining ¼ cup of the sugar. Whip on medium high until stiff peaks form. Remove the lime and cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Fold the egg whites into the lime mixture and blend thoroughly. Be careful not to break it up. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
The plastic wrap will keep it from forming a film over the cheesecake.
Remove from the refrigerator. Run a sharp knife along the sides of the pan and remove the spring-form.
For the candied zest: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the simple syrup and the lime zest. Bring the liquid to a simmer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the zest from the liquid and cool on parchment paper.
Cut the cake into individual servings. Garnish with candied lime zest.