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This pumpkin cheesecake recipe is easy and has just the right amount of pumpkin flavor. It tastes exactly like a cheesecake that crossed paths with a pumpkin pie – the best of both worlds. The only thing difficult about this cheesecake is waiting for it to cool down so you could eat it!
This pumpkin cheesecake is delicious by itself but is just over-the-top impressive when you add some of that caramel sauce and rum-infused whipped cream. This is the perfect holiday dessert. It’s inspired by Fall, makes your home smell incredible, and will have your dinner guests humming with delight.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 12 whole graham crackers)
6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) melted, unsalted butter
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling:
3 (8-ounces each) packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups (about 9 oz by weight) packed light brown sugar
15 oz canned pumpkin pie mix (use half of the 30 oz can)
4 large eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour *measured correctly
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or make your own)
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp real vanilla extract
Optional Pumpkin Cheesecake Toppings:
1 cup of cold heavy cream beat with 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp rum or vanilla
Pumpkin pie spice to dust
Toasted pecans
Caramel sauce – this 8-minute recipe will rock your cheesecake
How to Make a Pie Crust:
Preheat Oven to 350˚F.
1. Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until fine crumbs form.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 6 Tbsp melted butter. Transfer into a 9-inch springform pan with 3″ tall walls and use a large spoon to press crumbs into the bottom of your springform pan, and going about 1/2″ up the sides of the pan. Bake at 350˚F for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temp.
How to make the Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling:
Preheat Oven to 350˚F.
1. In the bowl of your mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the 3 packages of softened cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups brown sugar on med speed until light and fluffy and without lumps (5 min), scraping down the bowl once to make sure you don’t have chunks of cream cheese. Tip: brown sugar is considered “packed” when it holds it’s shape as it comes out of the measuring cup.
Have a taste of this cream cheese frosting. It would make a super yummy frosting actually! Just don’t eat too much. You need it for your cheesecake.
2. In a separate bowl, using a whisk, stir together 15 oz pumpkin pie mix, 4 large eggs, 1/4 cup sour cream, 2 Tbsp flour, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 Tbsp vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Add this mixture to the cheesecake filling and continue mixing on low speed just until well combined, scraping down the bowl as needed.
3. Transfer filling into pre-baked crust and bake on the middle rack at 350˚F for 1 hour. Turn off heat, prop the oven door open slightly with a wooden spoon and let cheesecake sit in the oven another 45 min. Then remove from the oven and let cool to room temp before covering with plastic wrap and refrigerating. Serve when fully chilled (at least 4 hours in the refrigerator, or overnight).
4. Before serving, carefully remove cheesecake from springform pan by running a blunt knife along the sides of the cheesecake to release from the springform mold. Add desired toppings (see list above) and serve
To Make the Whipped Cream:
Tip: Freeze mixing bowl for 10 minutes to get the best whipped cream results.
1. In a cold mixing bowl, add 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream, 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp rum or vanilla. Beat on high speed until fluffy and spreadable. Don’t over-beat or it will turn buttery. It only takes less than 2 min to make fresh whipped cream.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients
The Crust:
The Filling:
- 24 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 15 oz can pumpkin pie mix
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp real vanilla extract
Optional Toppings:
- 1 cup cold heavy cream beat with 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp rum or vanilla
- Pumpkin pie spice to dust
- Toasted pecans
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
How to Make the Crust: Preheat Oven to 350˚F.
- Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until fine crumbs form.
- In a medium bowl, stir together 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 6 Tbsp melted butter. Transfer into a 9-inch springform pan with 3" tall walls and use a large spoon to press crumbs into the bottom of your springform pan, and going about 1/2" up the sides of the pan. Bake at 350˚F for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temp.
How to make the Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling: Preheat Oven to 350˚F.
- In the bowl of your mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the 3 packages of softened cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups brown sugar on med speed until light and fluffy and without lumps (5 min), scraping down the bowl once to make sure you don't have chunks of cream cheese. Tip: brown sugar is considered "packed" when it holds it's shape as it comes out of the measuring cup.
- Have a taste of this cream cheese frosting. It would make a super yummy frosting actually! Just don't eat too much. You need it for your cheesecake.
- In a separate bowl, using a whisk, stir together 15 oz pumpkin pie mix, 4 large eggs, 1/4 cup sour cream, 2 Tbsp flour, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 Tbsp vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Add this mixture to the cheesecake filling and continue mixing on low speed just until well combined, scraping down the bowl as needed.
- Transfer filling into pre-baked crust and bake on the middle rack at 350˚F for 1 hour or until slightly wobbly in the center. Turn off heat, prop the oven door open slightly with a wooden spoon and let cheesecake sit in the oven another 45 min. Then remove from the oven and let cool to room temp before covering with plastic wrap and refrigerating. Serve when fully chilled (at least 4 hours in the refrigerator, or overnight).
- Before serving, carefully remove cheesecake from springform pan by running a blunt knife along the sides of the cheesecake to release from the springform mold. Add desired toppings (see list above) and serve.
To Make the Whipped Cream:
- Tip: Freeze mixing bowl for 10 minutes to get the best whipped cream results.
- In a cold mixing bowl, add 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream, 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp rum or vanilla. Beat on high speed until fluffy and spreadable. Don't over-beat or it will turn buttery. It only takes less than 2 min to make fresh whipped cream.
Nutrition Per Serving
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Delicious cheesecake, especially good with the Carmel sauce. I subbed gingersnaps for the graham crackers – yummy.
That sounds delicious!
So tasty! I don’t like pumpkin pie, but my husband does, so this is a good compromise. It was so yummy and was a big hit with my family. And I appreciate that you have the measurements in the instructions and that this cheesecake doesn’t need a water bath 😅
Thank you for trying my recipe! I’m so glad it was a hit. 🙂
Fantastic! We won’t be doing plain
pumpkin pie again! Needed more time in the oven, but worth it! Made ahead and froze.
So glad you loved this recipe! Thank you. 🙂
You’re a very funny and charming person and it shows it what you prepare! I’ve tried your banana bread and it’s to die for! I’m doing pretty much a “Natasha” thanksgiving with your turkey, pumpkin cheesecake , mashed potatoes and green bean salad. Thanks so much for what you do and the great food you share!
Thank you for that wonderful compliment, Randy! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my recipes!
I followed the baking instructions and after the 45 mins with the oven door propped it is still quite jiggly and a thick liquid under a thin top baked layer. Will this firm when cooling or should it be former before cooling?
Hi Stephaine, the cheesecake is supposed to fully set after it is refrigerated so I suggest checking on it in the morning to make sure it is set. It should be slightly wobbly in the center but mostly set when you take it out of the oven. I hope that helps.
I’ve made this cheesecake for our thanksgiving dessert for the past three years- it’s a must have! Once October hits I’m hit with “are you making the cheesecake for thanksgiving?!” Thanks so much for this recipe!
You’re welcome. Brooke! Glad you like this recipe and maybe we will be!
This was absolutely wonderful! My oven runs hot and was worried I burnt the crust. Luckily, I did a water bath about 10 minutes into baking and it turned out beautifully.
It also tastes better than any pumpkin pie. Which means, I’m NEVER making just a pie again!
So good and so easy!
Love it! Thanks for sharing your experience trying out this recipe, we’re glad you love it!
I don’t recommend the pre bake of the graham cracker crust. It’s not necessary. The eight minutes is far to long. You’ll end up with a burnt crust and will have to start over. Not a very good recipe at all.
Hi Holly, I do recommend pre-baking the crust when you have a liquid filling like this. It helps it set up properly without getting mushy.
also, if yours is burning, make sure you aren’t using the convection oven setting. Normally 8 minutes should not get anywhere close to burning the crust. Happy Thanksgiving!
Followed recipe. Middle part does not seem done. Seems like it should be more firm and not stick to a knife when inserted.
Hi Diane, the cheesecake is supposed to fully set after it is refrigerated so I suggest checking on it in the morning to make sure it is set. It should be slightly wobbly in the center but mostly set when you take it out of the oven. I hope that helps.
I forgot the sour cream? Will it still come out ok?? 😭 I’m so afraid I ruined it!
Hi Marisa, without sour cream the cheesecake will still turn out, but it will be left soft, and the texture will be a bit different. It works to soften the texture.
If I use the water bath method with this recipe what should the oven temperature and baking time be?
Hi Jeff, One of readers shared this comment “In making cheesecakes, I always use a water bath, and in this case, it prevented cratering and cracking. It does slightly increase cooking time, so I went 70 minutes/50 minutes. Some like to use foil to protect the springform…I placed the 9″ springform inside a 10″ tart pan…way better and less leakage. I also broke up inclusion of the spice…added 1/2 into the pumpkin mix, the rest when incorporating with the cream cheese. Note: if not using a pumpkin mix with seasoning, you definitely want to add more spice and sugar. Terrific recipe…crowd pleaser! Thank you!” I hope that helps.
Third year in a row that I have made this recipe for Thanksgiving. It’s a family favorite!
I’m so glad you have a family from my blog, Anne! That’s just awesome!
Hello I’m going to be making this today the pumpkin cheesecake, it looks deliciouss. So my question is do I use regular pure pumpkin purée for my cheesecake or is there a different brand of pie mix
HI, I use pumpkin pie mix. You could also make this work with a good concentrated pumpkin puree such as Libbys with a little extra pumpkin spice.
I have made this 2 years in a row now and both times I have had to bake it for 2 hours. I bake other cheesecakes as well, which only take the standard 60-75 mins. Not sure what makes this cheesecake different. Other than that it is delicious!
Hi Kayleigh, I haven’t had that experience – are you possibly using a smaller pan that would make the cake taller?
I’m glad to hear someone else had this problem! The top looked done but then cracked while cooling in the oven. When I took it out, I realized it was still pretty raw in the middle. Not a problem I typically have making cheesecakes. The recipe did seem a little liquidy.
Hi Kim, It should look very soft on the inside; not watery or runny, but soft is expected. It will firm up as it sets.
Hi. Will pumpkin puree work instead of mix? There seems to be plenty of sugar and it calls for pumpkin pie spice already. Maybe double to 4 tsp to make of for puree not having it like the mix.
Hi Donna! You’d have to experiment with it. It should but may need some adjustments since the mix contains sugar and spices as well.
I also accidentally used pumpkin purée vs pumpkin pie mix 😭
The picture shows a syrup covering the cheesecake but it looks like the recipe only has the whipped cream. What is the syrup? Did I miss it somewhere?
Hi Brian! Yes, it’s in the blog notes. It’s caramel sauce. 🙂
I have a recipe for homemade caramel sauce HERE.
I’ve never heard of a canned pumpkin pie “MIX.” What does it consist of? I can’t find it at any local grocery store in Birmingham, AL. I’ve made cheesecakes for many years. Puzzled.
Hi Michael! The pumpkin pie mix already has spices and sugar added to it whereas pumpkin puree does not.
Where does the water bath come in. I made this a couple of weeks ago and it cracked on top. I am a guy who likes to make a good cheese cake and impress the in-laws. Help!
Hi Bill! This recipe is adjusted to not need a water bath! You can view my other cheesecake recipe HERE for the water bath process/instructions.
I do not find in the recipe when the spring pan is to be removed. Please advise.
Hi Sue! See step 5 in the recipe card. 🙂
how would you make this recipe with regular pureed pumpkin instead of Pumpkin pie mix?
Hi Kimberly! I don’t have specific instructions for making this with pumpkin puree. You’ll need to adjust and add spices and sugar since the pie mix from the can already contain this.
Hi, I am looking to make this for a family member with a gluten intolerance. I have already found a gluten free graham crust but wanted to know if you suggested anything to replace the little bit of flour in this recipe? Thanks!
Hi Allie! I have not tested a GF alternative to advise but one of my readers mentioned using King Arthur cup for cup GF flour successfully. Let us know how it turns out if you try.
You can use Pamela’s brand gluten free flour 1-1. I have tried different flours but i liked this one the most.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us!