Thoroughly grease the cavities of a mini cheesecake pan with nonstick cooking spray, or line a standard cupcake tin with paper liners.*
In a food processor, pulse the graham crackers until finely ground. Add the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt and pulse until moistened.
Divide the mixture among the cavities, about 1 1/2 tablespoons each. Firmly press into the bottom of each cavity. A small object like a shot glass, flat muddler, or tart tamper makes this easier. Set aside.
Make the cheesecake:
Melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 15-second bursts, stirring well after each burst, until smooth. Set aside to cool to just warm, about 75°F.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, butter, and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
Add the pumpkin puree, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Mix on low until combined, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
Add the cooled white chocolate and mix on low until fully combined.
Divide the mixture evenly among the cavities. If using a cupcake tin, use a large cookie scoop to add about 3 tablespoons of filling to each liner. Lightly tap the pan on the countertop a few times to release any air bubbles. If using a cheesecake pan, smooth the tops with an offset spatula.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight for the best flavor and a set texture.
When ready to assemble, freeze for 30 minutes before removing from the pan.
Assemble the cheesecakes:
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form, about 2-3 minutes.
Using a piping bag with a small star tip, pipe swirls of whipped cream over the top of each cheesecake, or leave one-third of the top empty to make room for a peanut butter pumpkin. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Assembled cheesecakes are best served the day they are made but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. For the best appearance, add the whipped cream and peanut butter pumpkins within a few hours of serving.
Notes
Pan Options:
Mini Cheesecake Pan: This is what you see photographed. I LOVE my mini cheesecake pan. It makes adorable shapes that pop up and out of the pan thanks to the removable bottom disks.
Standard 12-Cup Muffin Tin: Use about 3 tablespoons of filling per cavity. A large cookie scoop makes easy work of this!
Mini Muffin Tin: Double the crust recipe. Use 1 tablespoon crust with 1 tablespoon filling. If topping with mini peanut butter pumpkins, 2.5x the recipe and make into 6-gram balls. Yield: 36 mini cheesecakes.
Mason Jars: If you don’t have any of the above, you can layer the crust, filling, and whipped cream into mason jars to serve for dessert. I haven’t tested specific sizing and yields, so you’ll have to experiment.
Recipe Link
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