Pumpkin Cheesecake

(1,387)
Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
8 hrs
Servings:
12

Who says pumpkin is just for pie? Our pumpkin cheesecake recipe creates a rich and creamy dessert that's a delicious ending for any meal but is especially memorable for a holiday dinner. There's a graham cracker crumb crust under the dreamy pumpkin-cream cheese filling, and yes this recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice!

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 1 ¼ cups graham-cracker crumbs (from 10 whole crackers)

  • ¼ cup sugar

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the Filling

  • 4 packages (8 ounces each) bar cream cheese, very soft

  • 1 ¼ cups sugar

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree

  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin-pie spice

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 4 large eggs, room temperature

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center. Assemble a 9-inch nonstick springform pan, with the raised side of the bottom part facing up.

  2. Make the crust: In a medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter until moistened; press firmly into bottom of pan. Bake until golden around edges, 10 to 12 minutes.

  3. Make the filling: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar on low speed until smooth; mix in flour (do not overmix). Add pumpkin puree, pie spice, vanilla, and salt; mix just until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is incorporated before adding the next.

  4. Place springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour filling into springform, and gently smooth top. Transfer to oven; reduce oven heat to 300 degrees. Bake 45 minutes without opening the oven. Turn off oven; to prevent the top from cracking, let cheesecake stay in oven 2 hours more (without opening).

  5. Remove from oven; cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours. Unmold before serving.

    pumpkin cheesecake
    Mikkel Vang

Cook's Notes

To make the crumbs for the crust, pulse graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Or, if you prefer, substitute the same amount of packaged graham-cracker crumbs.

Related Articles