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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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I am trying out this recipe. Looks like it will be delicious. I just baked it but the middle cracked a bunch and the knife comes out gooey. Is it supposed to be clear?
Did you bake and let the cake cool in the oven per instructions? “bake 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.”? That rest for 45 minutes is important to prevent cracking. Also, if you whip the cheesecake on too high of speed, you could incorporate too much air which could cause cracking. With a cheesecake, you generally should not insert anything into the center. It will be “gooey” until it is fully cooled and refrigerated. It should just barely jiggle in the center when you give it a little jilt – that’s how you know it’s done. I sure hope that helps!
Thanks. I have never made a cheesecake before, let alone a pumpkin cheesecake. I may have propped the door open too wide. I put it in the oven for 20 more mins and it seems to be helping. I am at a high altitude too, so that may make a difference. Thank you for your response.
I made this cheesecake with light cream cheese. I also roasted my pumpkin and pureed it in the food processor to get it smooth. I also used the food processor to mix the cream cheese and pumpkin mixture. It has absolutely no lumps and is delicious! Will be making this again!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I love the idea of using a food processor and I honestly hadn’t even considered it. Brilliant!
This recipe is wonderful! The cheesecake has been a huge hit! It is so rich and delicious! The recipe is also very easy to follow!
Thank you!
I’m so happy you loved it! Thank you for the great review 🙂
Hi Natasha, I read through the comments and reviews and I saw people ask about the pan sizes, I have 3 spring pans an 8′ 9′ and 10′ I plan on making 2 cheesecakes, I see your recipe calls for a 9′ spring pan. Any recommendation on which other pan size I should use? The 8′ or 10′ gratefully appreciated 🙂
I’ve only tested in a 9 inch spring form pan. It should still fit in an 8 inch pan, but you may need to increase the baking time since it will be a taller cake. If you do the 10 inch pan, the cake will be shorter and may require slightly less of a baking time. Again, without testing it in the other two sizes, I can’t say for sure how long you need to bake them.
My hubby works Thanksgiving, so we are having our dinner 2mrw. This cheesecake is in the oven as we speak and smells amazing, just like fall is supposed to! Thank you so much for this recipe, it’s easier than the one I tried last year.
I can just imagine how your house smells and you’re making me crave pumpkin cheesecake! 🙂
It tastes as good as it smells 😀 . Let me know how it turned out and enjoy your early Thanksgiving :).
Hubby loved it! Going to be making this again for him at Christmas. Thanks!
Can I double this recipe if I want to make larger batches or should I mix each batch separately? Also, is there any difference in quality/consistency if I use dark brown sugar?
I usually use light brown sugar so I’m not sure. Dark brown sugar has a higher concentration of molasses. It shouldn’t change the finished product except it might turn out darker. Again, without testing it myself, I can’t say for sure.
Hi! This looks amazing, but has anyone (or yourself) had the chance to try it in a standard pie plate? Looking for non-springform pan recipe-thanks!
I haven’t and I think it would be much too large to fit in a standard pie plate. It would overflow.
If I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin purée, is it still 15 oz? Do I need to add additional time to bake? Should I drain the pie filling before adding? Thanks
I have used pumpkin pie filling and it worked out just fine. It is still the same size can and does not require any additional baking time. Usually you don’t have to drain it since it comes pretty well packed. If there is liquid on top when you open it, you should drain that off.
Hello, This pie looks great and I can’t wait to try making it for Thanksgiving. I was planning on making my desserts early. Do you think this could be put in the freezer after baking and then thawed closer to the Holiday? or is this a dessert that would have to be made the day before?
To be honest, I haven’t tried freezing it so I’m not sure. It can definitely be refrigerated for several days and probably up to a week but I just haven’t tried freezing it so I can’t say for sure.
I’m going to make this for our work Thanksgiving (sounds a-mazing). . . I was wondering if there is going to be a baking difference if making it in a gas oven, and in Minnesota? I’m going to confirm my pan size when I get home, and if not 9″ I’ll be asking for instructions on that as well! Thank you!! I can’t wait to try this!
Hi Nancy, I’ve always cooked with an electric oven and haven’t tested this in a gas oven in Minnesota 😉 so I’m not sure how that will affect the recipe. I believe you are at lower elevation than I am but I haven’t heard anything about this not working due to elevation changes so I’m assuming all will be well :).
Haha! After I submitted that comment I realized I should have noted the Minnesota in relation to altitude 😉 I’ll give the gas oven a whirl and see how it does! Thanks!
Being that I’m not a big fan of graham cracker crust, do you think a shortbread or ginger snap crust would work for this pie. Thank you in advance.
Yes, I think that would work fine. I’d probably go with the ginger snaps for this one. Let me know how you like it! 🙂
Hey Natasha, great recipe! I can’t wait to make it but I was wondering if I could use an aluminum foil tray instead of a springform pan.
I think it would be very difficult to get the cheesecake out of anything besides a springform pan. Also, is your pan a different size? I haven’t tested it in an aluminum foil try or in any different sized pans to be able to advise you on differences in baking times.
Pie in oven this min! House smells so good! I’m not a very big pumpkin fan but a huge cheesecake fan so hoping this might change my mind a bit about pumpkins lol
I hope this makes you fall in love with pumpkin! 🙂
I made this cheesecake last night and served it today. It was incredible! The top of my cheesecake did crack, but I spread a layer of cool whip all over the top, so you couldn’t even tell. I did add the Caramel sauce which was perfect and made the cheesecake look fancy. Will be making this often!!
Krista, thank you for writing in and for the great review. I’m glad you liked the recipe :). I have a delicious pumpkin cake that will be posted shortly so stay tuned :).
I’ve got this cheesecake in the oven! Quick question. …. I plan on making the caramel sauce that is suggested. Can I drizzle the entire cheesecake ahead of time then refrigerate? Or possibly make the sauce and microwave when needed?
I think it would work fine to drizzle the entire cheesecake then refrigerate. I haven’t tried reheating it in the microwave, but if you go that route, reheat it slowly so the consistency doesn’t change.
Just made this, house smells amazing but unfortunately my cake cracked pretty good 🙁 I’m sure I did what you said, most likely over mixed or had the speed on faster than i should have. It’s ok, trial and error!
I absolutely love your blog, my “go-to” pretty often 😉
Blessings to you and your family 🍁🙏🏼
That could be why, sometimes if you put too much air into the filling, it may crack. I hope you love how it tasted anyways! 🙂
It was amazing! I made it for a girlfriend who is visiting from Cali, we both had parties in our mouths! I made your caramel sauce, and whipped cream with pumpkin spice sprinkled on top! Oh man! Perfection! Thanks!!
You are very welcome Nazha and thank you for such a great review :).
My cheesecake is in the oven and my house smells like Fall. I am going to deliver this to my very dear friend on Sunday for desert. I’ll let you know how it all ends.
Yum, pumpkin cheesecake sounds sooo good right now :).
Can this be made in a deep pie dish?
i do not have a springform pan, what else could i use?
I think it would overflow a deep pie dish. Without tested anything else, I can’t really recommend a different dish. Maybe a pyrex casserole dish, but again I haven’t tested it so I’m not sure how it would bake up or how the baking time would be altered.
Hi, I was wondering if you sprayed your springboard pan before putting in the crust and the cheesecake? Also, how well would it hold up if I made it on a Friday and served it on a Sunday?
The crust has enough butter that I don’t usually need to grease the pan. However, if your pan isn’t non-stick, it might be a good idea. It holds up really well in the refrigerator.
Thanks! I’m hoping to attempt this cheesecake this weekend!
Ingredients list pumpkin puree, but photo shows pumpkin pie filling. There is a huge difference! Which do you actually use?
Hi Deb, sorry I forgot to update that! I used pumpkin pie mix when I took the pictures but either one will work.
do you still add the extra spice in the mix if you use the pumpkin pie mix?
I did and it was great 🙂
Looking at your picture, it looks like you used a 30oz, pumpkin pie MIX. I have both a 30oz MIX and a 15oz solid-pack. Which one should I use? I would assume that half of the 30oz would not be enough pumpkin flavor.
Sorry for the confusion. When I was photographing it, I had used half of the 30 oz can because I got the wrong size for the recipe. You can use either one; pumpkin pie mix or pumpkin puree and they will both work.