Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

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Pumpkin Cheeses is absolutely wonderful and is better tasting than a pumpkin pie! After making this fantastic Pumpkin Cheesecake, you will never again want or have to make a pumpkin pie for the holidays. Let your family be the judge as they will love this cheesecake!

Cheesecake is the absolute perfect dessert for Thanksgiving Dinner. I usually make my cheesecake ahead of time and freeze it. Freezing my cheesecake before Thanksgiving sure saves me a lot of time and stress.

Please read Linda’s tips on Baking A Perfect Cheesecake before making and baking your cheesecake.

Check out more of Linda’s Cheesecake Recipes. Please check out my Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Menu which includes this delicious Pumpkin Cheesecake.

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Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe:

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 20 mins

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Servings: 10 to 12 servings

Author: What's Cooking America

Ingredients

Pumpkin Cheesecake:

  • 2(8-ounce) packagescream cheese,room temperature*
  • 1cup granulatedsugar
  • 1 1/2teaspoonspure vanilla extract
  • 1/4cupsour cream
  • 1/4cupwhipping cream
  • 3/4teaspooncinnamon,ground
  • 1/3teaspoonginger,ground
  • 1/3teaspoonnutmeg,ground
  • 1/8teaspooncloves,ground
  • 1/8cup all-purposeflour
  • 4eggs,room temperature
  • 1 1/2cupspumpkinpuree(either canned or homemade)

Graham Cracker Crust:

  • 1cupgraham cracker crumbs**
  • 1/3cuphazelnuts,toasted and ground (any type of nut may be used)
  • 1/4cup granulatedsugar
  • 1/4cupbutter,melted

Instructions

Pumpkin Cheesecake Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and position rack in center of oven(too high or too low of rack placement will cause baking problems). Lightly grease (butter) a 9-inchspringform pan.

  2. Prepare Graham Cracker Crust; set aside to cool before using.

  3. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add sour cream and whipping cream; beat, on low speed, just until smooth. Mix in cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and flour. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition; beat in pumpkin puree. NOTE: Do not over beat the mixture. You want to avoid beating air into the mixture. Too much air will make the cheesecake fall.

  4. Pour pumpkin mixture into prepared graham cracker crust, using the back of a spoon to spread evenly over the crust(this helps get rid of any extra air bubbles).

  5. Place cheesecake in center of middle oven rack. Position a baking pan filled halfway with hot water on lower rack.

  6. Bake 15 minutes, then lower oven temperature to 300 degrees and bake approximately another 50 to 60 minutes or until edges are light brown and center is almost set. NOTE: There should be no wet spots or liquid areas in the center of the cheesecake. Remember that a cheesecake continues to cook when it is removed from the oven.

  7. How to tell when cheesecake is done cooking:The cheesecake is done when center is almost set, but jiggles slightly when gently shaken. For a perfect cheesecake, use a cooking thermometer and take it out of the oven when the cheesecake reaches 150 degrees F. at the center to avoid over baking. Expect a slight shrinkage as it cools. If there is great shrinkage, you have baked it at too high a heat.

  8. When the cheesecake is done cooking, turn the oven off. Let cake stand in oven, with door ajar, approximately 30 minutes or until center is completely set.

  9. How to prevent cracks in your cheesecake:When the internal temperature of a cheesecake rises beyond 160 degrees F. while baking, it will always crack. To prevent this from happening, use aninstant-read cooking thermometerto test its doneness. Take it out of the oven when the cheesecake reaches 150 degrees F. at the center to avoid over baking.

  10. NOTE: A wonderful looking baked cheesecake (with no cracks), can crack as it sits on the cooling rack because the cake shrank during cooling and clung to the sides of the springform pan. To avoid this from happening, cool the cheesecake for only a few minutes, and then, using a paring knife, free it from the sides of the pan before allowing it to cool completely. If a crack should appear, simply blend together some sour cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract; spread over the top of the cooled cheesecake when ready to serve.

  11. Cool cheesecake completely on a wire rack before refrigerating. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 to 24 hours before cutting(the cheesecake will solidify to a perfect consistency during this time). To serve, slide a small knife around edges of cake to loosen it and remove sides of the springform pan; transfer onto a cake plate.

  12. LearnHow To Freeze Cheesecakes.

  13. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Graham Cracker Crust Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and position rack in center of oven(too high or too low of rack placement will cause baking problems).

  2. Lightly grease (butter) a 9-inchspringform pan.

  3. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, hazelnuts, sugar, and butter. Mix well and press firmly onto bottom of prepared springform pan. Bake 7 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from oven and cool crust completely on a wire rack. Maintain oven temperate.

Recipe Notes

* To quickly bring cream cheese to room temperature, place unwrapped packages in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 30 to 45 seconds or until slightly softened. Do not let it melt or get warm. Refrigerate if it does.

NOTE: Use a conventional oven rather than a convection oven in baking your cheesecake. The forced hot air from the convection oven causes too much browning and can often cause the center of the cheesecake to collapse.

** Finely ground ginger cookies may be substituted for all or part of the graham cracker crumbs.

I get many readers asking what cooking/meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use the Thermapen Thermometer.Originally designed for professional use, the Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer is used by chefs all over the world. I only endorse a few products, on my web site, that I like and use regularly.

You can learn more or buy yours at:Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer.

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You might also like:

Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Cheesecake
This cheesecake is for serious chocophiles. Imagine the hazelnut spread on a bed of crunchy nuts and a piping hot cup of coffee – it’s a sweet temptation.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Peanut butter and chocolate! This delightful combination of flavors will remind you of one of your favorite childhood candy bars.

Perfectly Plain Cheesecake
This is just a basic cheesecake recipe, but it can be used as the base for many other varieties. Change the crust, add some chocolate, or just get creative!

Pumpkin Swirl Gingersnap Cheesecake
Pumpkin and plain cheesecake swirled together with a gingersnap crust. Amazing!

Sweet Potato Cheesecake
A wonderful cheesecake with a light sweet potato taste.

Source: Cheesecake photo shared by my sister, Carol Arroyo, and her baking web site called The Baking Pan.

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Comments and Reviews

6 Responses to “Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe”

  1. Megan

    The springform pan does not go in the water bath correct?

    Reply

    • Nancy

      The water bath goes on the rack underneath. Some people do put it directly in the water bath, but then you have to have a large enough pan and the pan has to be sealed so water doesn’t seep in. I always just put the pan of water on the rack below.

      Reply

  2. Sandy Aycoth

    Can you make it without a crust like original new York cheesecake?

    Reply

  3. Kimberlee

    Followed the directions to a tee and this is the BEST cheesecake I’ve ever made!!! Had it for Thanksgiving dessert, and it was devoured. Great recipe!

    Reply

  4. Sarah k

    I used this pumpkin cheesecake recipe and absolutely loved it! If I wanted to make a plain cheesecake using this recipe do I need to ad anything when leaving the pumpkin out??

    Reply

    • Whats Cooking America

      You can follow our recipe for plain cheesecake that is very delicious: https://whatscookingamerica.net/Cake/PerfectlyPlainCheesecake.htm

      Reply

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Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

FAQs

What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

What happens when you overbeat cheesecake batter? ›

When making your filling, overmixing can lead to incorporating too much air into the batter. Once baked, the air bubbles will burst, and the cheesecake will fall and crack. THE FIX: The number one reason why you'd overbeat your batter is because you're having dificulty incorporating cold ingredients.

How far in advance can a cheesecake be made? ›

For serving: Remove the sides of the springform pan. Make Ahead: The cheesecake can be made and stored in the springform pan in the fridge, tightly covered with plastic wrap, up to two days ahead of time. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cheesecake can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Should I bake my cheesecake on top or bottom? ›

Cheesecakes are egg based, and they need low heat. Position baking rack in center of oven and place cheesecake in center of middle oven rack. Place a shallow pan full of water on the lower rack in the oven. The water will also help minimize cracking in the top of the cheesecake.

What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

16 Mistakes You're Making With Homemade Cheesecake
  1. Working with cold ingredients. Hobo_018/Getty Images. ...
  2. Using whipped cream cheese. ...
  3. Using low-fat cream cheese. ...
  4. Undermixing your cheesecake. ...
  5. Not diversifying your cheeses. ...
  6. Not being careful with your eggs. ...
  7. Only making plain cheesecake. ...
  8. Baking in anything but a springform pan.
May 29, 2023

Is sour cream or heavy cream better for cheesecake? ›

Sour cream supports the underlying tang of the cream cheese, but, if overdone, it takes over as the dominant flavor. You need a little of each -- cream for texture and sour cream for flavor. With our ingredients settled, we focused in on how to keep the cheesecake from baking up grainy and cracked.

What happens if you add too much sour cream to cheesecake? ›

What happens if you put too much sour cream in cheesecake? Sour cream adds tanginess and moisture, so if you use too much, it can make the cheesecake too tangy and the additional moisture can make it runny.

How do you know if you overmixed cheesecake batter? ›

Overmixing is exactly what it sounds like: the process by which a dough or batter gets mixed too much, typically yielding dense, tough, or deflated baked goods. Overmixed doughs and batters may have an unappealing look or feel, which remain just as unappealing when they're baked.

How do you make cheesecake batter smooth? ›

You can solve and fix a split cheesecake mixture by making the mixture smooth again – the best way I have found is to add the mixture to a pan on a really low heat, and stir constantly and have it on the heat as little as possible and stir until it is smooth. This process will bring the mixture back from being split.

Can I eat 2 week old cheesecake? ›

Prepared cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, per USDA food safety recommendations. We suggest storage in an airtight container, so it doesnt absorb any fridge odors.

Is it better to make cheesecake the night before? ›

It also needs to spend four hours, or ideally overnight, in the fridge before slicing and eating to ensure the perfect velvety smooth texture.

Can you leave cheesecake out overnight after baking? ›

While we wish we had better news, if you accidentally went to bed and left your cheesecake cooling on the counter, it's best to not risk illness by consuming it. When you have cheesecake that's already baked and chilled, the absolute max time you could let it sit out to avoid the USDA's "danger zone" is two hours.

Which baking method is best for cheesecake? ›

Learn more about essential baking tools. 2. Master the water bath. A bain-marie, or water bath, is the preferred method for baking cheesecakes because it gently cooks the eggs in the filling.

Which oven setting is best for cheesecake? ›

For best results, an oven heated to 170°C / 150°C fan-forced is ideal.

What happens if you add an extra egg? ›

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein.

Why is my cheesecake not fluffy? ›

Why is my cheesecake not fluffy? The airy texture comes from the folding of whipped egg whites through the batter. However, if the egg whites are not folded properly it can result in a dense cake. If you under-mix the egg whites into the batter you will have a cake with a dense bottom and light top.

How do you make a cheesecake mixture thicker? ›

  1. Increase the Amount of Cream Cheese: Adding more cream cheese to the filling can help thicken it. ...
  2. Add Sour Cream: Incorporating sour cream into the filling can add thickness and tanginess. ...
  3. Use Greek Yogurt: Similar to sour cream, Greek yogurt can be added to the filling to increase thick.
Jun 1, 2023

Why does my cheesecake taste like scrambled eggs? ›

Baked cheesecakes need to contain some egg as the egg thickens the cheesecake mixture as it bakes, in a similar way to a baked custard, so it is possible that you are more sensitive to the egg flavours within the cheesecake or maybe did not add quite enough flavouring (such as vanilla).

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