How to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake
What Type of Cream Cheese for Pumpkin Cheesecake?
- Use full-fat bricks of cream cheese.
- Do not use the spreadable type of cream cheese in tubs meant for spreading on bagels.
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Be sure to buy a high-quality brand. Some generic grocery store brands are watery and rubbery.
- I like Philadelphia cream cheese.
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The MOST IMPORTANT thing is to ensure your cream cheese is completely and totally softened to room temperature.
- If it’s too cold, you’ll end up with a lumpy cheesecake batter.
What Type of Pumpkin Should I Use for Pumpkin Cheesecake?
- I used store-bought canned pumpkin puree for this Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.
- Homemade pumpkin puree may work in this recipe, but I don’t necessarily recommend it because it can add excess liquid.
- Note: Be sure NOT to use canned pumpkin pie filling for this recipe – it is not the same thing as pumpkin puree.
- Check out my Fresh vs. Canned Pumpkin article for the differences between using fresh pumpkin puree, regular canned pumpkin, and organic canned pumpkin, and learn how to make your own pumpkin puree!
Alternatives to Biscoff Cookie for the Cheesecake Crust
Although the Biscoff (also called Speculoos) cookie crust is out-of-this-world delicious, if you can’t find or don’t prefer Biscoff cookies, I have included both the volume measurement and the weight measurement for the cookies, so you can swap at a 1:1 ratio for any other crushed crispy cracker, cookie, or biscuit you like. A few suggestions:
- Vanilla wafers
- Digestive biscuits
- Graham crackers
- Amaretti cookies
- Gingersnaps
What’s the Best Pan for Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake?
- This recipe requires a 10-cup, 9-inch diameter springform pan like this one.
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Not all springform pans are made equally.
- You want one that’s both heavy-duty and sturdy.
- Avoid putting your pan in the dishwasher as hand washing will extend the life of a springform pan.
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Just because your pan is 9-inches in diameter doesn’t necessarily mean it has a 10-cup batter volume capacity.
- Every brand may vary slightly, so be careful not to overfill your pan if yours has a smaller capacity!
How to Get SMOOTH Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling
- Make sure your cream cheese is completely softened to room temperature.
- Fully beat the softened cream cheese, and then the cream cheese and sugar, until totally smooth. This may take several minutes.
- Be sure to scrape down all the nooks and crannies of your mixer bowl and paddle attachment when mixing the filling at each step.
Do I Have to Use a Water Bath? No, This Recipe Bakes Low and Slow!
Though I typically recommend baking a cheesecake with a water bath, I’ve found an alternative that still produces the best texture in cheesecake, though you may still end up with a crack in your cheesecake depending on your oven. Luckily, since this one is getting covered in a generous cloud of whipped cream, it won’t matter too much.
The cheesecake on the left is my Ultimate Classic Cheesecake, baked with a water bath. On the right is this Pumpkin Cheesecake baked without a water bath with the Low & Slow method, where we bake at 275°F for nearly two hours then cool in the oven with the heat off and the door cracked:
Every time I posted my original Cheesecake Water Bath vs. No Water Bath photo on Instagram it would always go viral. And I’d always get comments from people espousing the benefits of the Low & Slow method.
However, when I first tried that method years ago in a previous home with an old oven, I found that it just wouldn’t maintain the low temperature accurately and consistently. I decided to give it another try. What I found was that while I still got a crack with my current oven (it’s less than 5 years old), it was a small one.
Then, when we baked this exact same cheesecake recipe at my photographer’s house in her older oven, it developed the larger crack photographed below:
This is why I’ll likely still use the water bath method when I want to ensure no cracks, especially for cheesecakes that I won’t cover with whipped cream, ganache, or something that disguises a crack. OR, when I want that ultra-rich custard-y texture that only a cheesecake baked in a water bath provides.
But for this recipe, with the chaos of the Thanksgiving season, I decided Low & Slow would be the easiest method for this Pumpkin Cheesecake.
How to Tell When Cheesecake is Done Baking
- Let me say this as clearly as possible… don’t overbake your cheesecake!!
- The residual heat of the oven will continue to cook the cheesecake even after the heat has been turned off.
- That means you want your cheesecake to look dry at the edges but slightly wobbly or jiggly like Jello in the center when the baking time has ended.
- The internal temperature should be 140°F-150°F. Use a digital instant-read thermometer to verify this.
How to Serve Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Cheesecake will ONLY finish setting up after it has cooled completely, then been chilled in the fridge for at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight.
- Only then should you remove the Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake from the springform pan and slice it.
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You can also sprinkle some additional Biscoff cookies on top for an extra impressive-looking Pumpkin Cheesecake.
How to Store Cheesecake
- Store your Pumpkin Cheesecake in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Avoid putting your whipped cream topping on until ready to serve.
- Beyond 3 days, the crust will become mushy. Read just below for freezing instructions.
How to Freeze Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Cheesecake freezes wonderfully!
- Place whole Pumpkin Cheesecake or individual slices on a baking sheet inside the freezer until firm.
- Wrap the cheesecake or each individual slice in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag.
- Freeze for up to 2 months.
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To serve, defrost a whole cheesecake in the fridge overnight. You can also defrost individual slices in the fridge overnight, or at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
I was worried while I was making it that I wasn’t doing it correctly but it is so crazy delicious! My grown daughter, who doesn’t like anything pumpkin, took some home with her after Thanksgiving dinner.
This recipe got the ultimate designation at our house called “OMG Excellent!” There are only a few recipes that have received that designation.
Thank you for sharing it!
So happy to hear this was such a hit, Dee! 🙂
This cheesecake is so delicious! It was enjoyed by everyone. I did change a few things to make it gluten free. For the crust I used the same amount (by weight) of gf graham crackers (about 14 full sheets) and added 3 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp. ground ginger. I also used 1Tbsp gf cornstarch in place of the flour.
I want to make this and was wondering if a chocolate cookie crust would taste good with this recipe. otherwise I’ll stick with your crust!
Hi Sue! Tessa’s Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars use a chocolate cookie base, so I don’t see why that wouldn’t be delicious here! Let us know how it goes 🙂
I’m making this tomorrow. I’ll post reels to mighty.smart.mom! on.iG. (Real butter sold me on this recipe.)
No way to print
Hi Sheila! I’m sorry to hear that you’re having trouble printing this recipe. Up the very top, right below the recipe name and little short explanation about the recipe, you should see a printer icon. Simply click that to bring up a printer-friendly version of the recipe, and print from there! For your convenience, I have also included a direct link to this printable version here 🙂 Happy baking!
Do the oven temperature & bake time stay the same if I decide to use a water bath for this recipe?
Hi Dina! We have not tried this cheesecake with a water bath because the “low and slow” method works so well for this recipe. That being said, generally speaking, you can bake any cheesecake at 325°F for about 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the volume of cheesecake batter. You can check out all of Tessa’s incredible tips for using a water bath here! I hope that helps 🙂 Let us know what you think of this cheesecake once you have given it a try!
Made this for a Friendsgiving and it was a hit!
I’ll probably do a water bath next time because it still breaks my heart to see a crack in my cheesecake, even though it’s getting covered with the homemade whip cream (I’m a perfectionist) LOL
It tasted just as good as it looked and I will definitely be made every fall from now on!
Yay! So happy to hear that, Dina!!
Thanks for this amazing recipe! It came together quickly and was fun to make with my kids. I put a casserole dish filled with water on the oven rack below the cheesecake and mine did not crack. Not sure if this actually helped it not to crack or I just got lucky but I’ll take it.
Great recipe! The fantastic pumpkin flavor and the tangy goodness of cream cheese was delicious! It was a hit on Thanksgiving! I used a Graham cracker crust this time, but next time I will use the Biscoff cookies. Thank you, Tessa!
So happy you loved it, Bruce!
Made this for Thanksgiving and this was phenomenal!! Thank you!
I was asked if I could make this in a muffin tin to have smaller portions and I wonder what your thoughts are in regards to temperature and time to pull this off??
Hi Amanda! So happy you enjoyed this recipe! We haven’t tried making this cheesecake into smaller size, so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out! You could try experimenting by basing the time off of one of our baked mini cheesecake recipes, but make sure to keep an eye on them while they bake. Please let us know how it goes if you give it a try!
Update…I made 24 mini cheesecakes with this recipe and even though I used the full crust recipe, I could have cut the batter recipe in half (just means though I have frozen batter for future use!!). In regards to time and temp, I put them in for 15 min at 300° and they turned out perfect!!
Yay!! Wonderful, so happy they turned out perfectly 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to comment back and let us know!
Excellent recipe! We had 5-6 ounces of pumpkin leftover raw from another pie. (I was hoping for more, but it was a small pumpkin.) I know I could have used canned, but also knew that many of our eaters would prefer the gluten- and sugar-free desserts (so-called!). So I divided everything by 3 and calculated a corresponding size for a springform pan (as 5-6 inches). We have a 7-inch, and that allowed a depth of about 1 1/4 inches. Then, I found our graham crackers for an alternate crust were chocolate! And the local resort-town grocery was out of heavy cream!
But it all turned out well! The flavors were a good match; it even won over one of the gluten-free fans. Photos on Instagram.
I ran out of crust before I ran out of pan, but I took Stephanie’s suggestion (in the comments) and baked the extra batter in a couple of ramekins so we could snack before Thanksgiving.
Now, of course, I want to bake this again properly and with a better cookie crust and real whipped cream. If the recipe could stand up to my abuse of it, think how it will do when I do it right!
Perfect! I’m so happy to hear this recipe worked well, even after the changes 🙂 Thanks so much for the comment!
This is the perfect recipe for if you want to make something really easy but still impress EVERYONE. I made it for Thanksgiving and my whole family was absolutely astonished that I made a cheesecake. Little did they know, it was insanely easy! The presentation was gorgeous and it tasted absolutely amazing. So creamy and perfectly pumpkin-y and spiced. I’ve made a lot of HTH recipes and they’ve all been wonderful but this has been the best. Thank you, Tessa!!!
Wonderful! We definitely love easy recipes during the holidays, so happy to hear this was such a hit with your family! 🙂
Hi! It doesn’t say in the instructions but I’m assuming we add the ginger in at the same time with all the other spices, correct?
Sorry about that! Just updated the recipe, yes, you are correct!
Made this as a test for Thanksgiving and the flavors were delicious! One question – when I cut out a piece, it didn’t hold its form very well. The tip of the piece didn’t come out with the slice and when I forked into the slice, it just kind of all collapsed. Does this mean I likely took it out too soon?
Hi Jaimie! That does sound like your cheesecake didn’t fully set. While you definitely don’t want to overbake your cheesecake, the edges shouldn’t move at all when slightly shaking your pan in the oven to check for doneness, but the very center should be the consistency of Jello, just slightly wiggly. You can also check the internal temperature if you’ve got a thermometer, and it should be between 140°F-150°F. How long was your cheesecake in the fridge for?
Hey Emily! Thanks for the response! I left it in the fridge overnight. It was *pretty* jiggly when I pulled I pulled it from the oven…I was so concerned about over baking that I did the opposite!
I completely understand, I’ve actually done the opposite and overbaked quite a few cheesecakes myself because I was worried they weren’t done! As long as you leave your cheesecake in just a bit longer or follow the internal temperature listed, your next attempt should go perfectly. Let me know!
How long is the whipped cream good once made? Should I wait a few hours before serving or even closer to serving?
Hi Breanna! Feel free to top the pie with whipped cream the morning of when you plan to eat the cheesecake. After about a day, the whipped cream will start to deflate and weep onto the surface of the cheesecake. Still tasty but maybe not so pretty 🙂 Let us know what you think of this recipe!
I want to make a gluten-free version of this cheesecake. Will 2 TB of gluten-free flour give me the same results or do you have another suggestion for substituting the AP flour?
Hi Jamie! We don’t bake gluten free, so I can’t say for sure! Please let us know how it goes if you give it a try!
If made on a Monday night, would it be good on Thursday night? And would you leave it uncovered that whole time in the fridge?
Hi Andrea! I wouldn’t recommend making this too far in advance as the crust will get mushy the longer it’s in the fridge. 3 days max, but for the best tasting experience, I’d suggest eating within 1-2 days. And you do want to cover your cheesecake as air tightly as possible so not only does it not dry out, but covering it will also block other odors from being absorbed. I hope that helps, please let us know what you think!
I have pumpkin pie spice but not all the spices listed. Can I use that instead and if so, how much?
Hi Kathleen! We haven’t tried that, so I can’t say for sure! Your bet bet is to substitute in an equal amount of pumpkin spice for the individual spices, then add more to taste. Keep in mind that the end result won’t taste quite the same though as pumpkin pie spice is only about half cinnamon. Please let us know how it goes if you give it a try!
This looks so good. I usually use ginger snap cookies for my crust with pumpkin cheesecake. I can’t wait to try Biscoff cookies for a change. Thank you.
Feel free to use either 🙂 Let us know what you think!
This is the BEST cheesecake I’ve ever had!! My springform pan wasn’t big enough so I baked the extra batter in a casserole dish and used it as Graham cracker dip! The instructions for this are so easy to follow and the cake is fabulous!! My son said this is his new favorite and wanted the recipe, My husband said I had to make this again. Everybody loved it!!
I would give it 10 stars if possible!
Thank you for the recipe and the tips. Mine didn’t crack!
I’m drooling, what a fantastic idea with the extra batter! So so happy your family loved this recipe and that your cheesecake didn’t crack! Thanks for the rave review 🙂
Thanks! Sorry for the partial anonymity, it was not inteded. I'm Efthimia Despotaki and I'm from Greece. Happy Hollidays!
Bedroom Talk- Water baths are very easy to work with! You just have to have a pan big enough for one 😉
I agree about Ikea! We just bought a coffee table and a bookshelf for super cheap so thanks for the suggestions ladies!
Ευθυμία Δεσποτάκη- I believe once stick of butter is 115 grams. Yes you can use creme fresh instead!
Cheesecake and pumpkin are naturals together so this had to be gooc.
Questions from over seas:
1) One stick of butter is 50 grams?
2)Can I use creme fresh instead of sour cream?
This looks delicious. Love cheese cake and pumpkin. together – perfect
Good luck with the move and the decor… I second the idea to look at IKEA for design on a budget. It's one of my favorites! I look forward to seeing/reading all about it!
Also, your cheesecake looks divine. Yum!
This looks amazing but I've never used a waterbath, is hard to work with? I'm kinda nervous.
As for the decor obviously IKEA is the best if you're on a budget but try places like HomeGoods they have designer styles for home items for gnarly cheap prices! Good Luck with the search! Can't wait for pix 🙂
It's the best cheesecake on the planet.
-boyfriend