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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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Hi Natasha how are you? I love your recipes . The pumpkin cheesecake look beautiful but here in Australia we don’t have pumpkin in tin. How much is the quantity in fresh pumpkin… i got sone in my gardens.. thanks a lot
Hi Ana, it would be the same amount. We have people asking about that in the comments also, I recommend looking through those.
Hey Natasha! I have been making this cheesecake for a couple year In a row and my family absolutely LOVES it but everytime it cracks I have followed the recipie so closely and even tried using different ovens and it cracks every time :(( it’s not a huge deal because I serve it cut but it’s become so frustrating that I can’t get it to come out without a crack. Hope there’s something I can do to fix it!
Hi Vera, I’m always happy to help troubleshoot. Be careful not to beat on too high of speed and do not use the whisk attachment if a paddle is called for in the recipe. This is so that it doesn’t incorporate too much air bubbles into the batter which can cause the cheesecake to crack. I hope that helps!
Can you omit the flour in the cheesecake filling? I need to make it gluten free. Thanks
Hi Kari, without testing that myself, I can’t really recommend it. Maybe someone else has tried making it gluten free? Thanks in advance!!
Hi Kari, I would suggest replacing it with a 1:1 gluten-free flour instead.
I just made this for a party yesterday. It looked beautiful when I went to serve it, but I cut one piece and quickly saw that it didn’t seem like it set completely. I baked for a full hour. I let the cheesecake sit in the oven to cool as well. Anyone else have an issue?
Taste was good but I think next time I’d use the pumpkin pie mix in a can instead of pure pumpkin. I did add extra pumpkin pie spice but something just seemed to be missing.
Hi Chrissy, I haven’t had that experience but not all ovens are created equal so it may just have needed an extra 5 minutes. Also, make sure to let it cool completely before slicing. If you slice any cheesecake too early, it will appear underbaked in the center before it has had a chance to set. I hope that helps to troubleshoot.
Hello I would love to make this but don’t have a paddle attachment. Could I just use a regular beaters? Thank you.
Hi Dayle, the reason for the paddle attachment is so that it doesn’t incorporate too much air bubbles into the batter which can cause the cheesecake to crack. Be careful not to beat on too high of speed. I hope you love it!
Is the pumpkin pure the same like pumpkin pie mix? The pumpkin pie mix is powdery or solid pure mix?
Hi Laura, we used pumpkin pie mix in the instructions. We have a photo in the recipe of the pumpkin pie mix in a can. I hope that helps.
Thank you Natasha for your answer, however I’d like you to tell me if in the can presented in your picture, it’s pumpkin pure?? I live in Canada and usually in the cans like the one presented in your picture it’s pumpkin pure. And in the picture where you put all the ingredients together I can’t see well if it’s a pure or not. I appreciate your answer. We are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend and I am looking forward to make it for our Thanksgiving diner with friends.
Hi Laura, I used pumpkin pie mix which is pumpkin puree with spices mixed into it – essentially the filling for pumpkin pie in a can. You can also use pumpkin puree but I would suggest adding a little extra pumpkin pie spice to the mixture to compensate.
I love everything you show, however my son can not have sugar so I really try to make something he can have without cheating, I know there are many people out there in the same position, PLEASE share with us some great cakes,pies etc. sugar free so we all can enjoy #sugar sub.?
Thank you for that suggestion, Charlene! Several of our readers try our recipes with sugar substitutes and post that in the recipe comments. I recommend looking there for suggestions also.
Hi natasha, i love your recipes. For this one did you use regular sugar or icing sugar for frosting.
Hi Nicola, we used this regular sugar here. I hope that helps.
Hello my favourite cook!
I love your easy and delicious recipes and copy a lot of them.i would love to make this Pumpkin cheesecake but I can’t get the pumpkin pie filling nor the pumpkin pie seasoning here in Darwin. How much of a fresh pumpkin would I have to use and what other seasoning could I use.
I thank you very much in advance and I’m looking forward to your new recipes
Cheers. Ursula
Hi Ursula, I have tried this with equal parts of regular pumpkin puree from a can and it still worked well.
Do you think I would be able to freeze this pumkin cheesecake?
Generally pies freeze well, however, I haven’t tested that with this recipe. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe!
Hello Natasha,
Recipe looks great and I would love to try but I live in the UK and can’t find sour cream. I also don’t have any Greek yogurt on hand. Can I substitute anything else? Or leave it out? I have heavy cream…
Please let me know.
Thanks!
Hi Evie, without testing it, it is difficult to make that kind of recommendation. Do you have a thick plain yogurt? That might be the best bet.
After searching and looking at numerous recipes I kept coming back to yours. I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit! I made a pecan praline sauce to serve with it.
Thank you so much!
Rosalie
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
I wanted to make this cheesecake for Thanksgiving. Went to four different supermarkets to buy the pumpkin cake mix. They were all out!! I finally found it at Target. I’m glad I found it because this recipe is super delicious and easy to make. Everyone loved it. Thanks for the recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I followed this recipe a couple years ago when my buddy had a bunch of crook-necked pumpkins from his farm. It came out great then.
Using store bought pumpkin mix – very different stuff than real pumpkin. This time I let the cream cheese get very soft, made the mixing much easier.
Nothing beats homemade!! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Can you use canned pumpkin?
Hi Imra, absolutely! Canned pumpkin puree will work great 🙂
I like the way you think! I think your husband is a happy man and it’s obvious you put love into what you make and “bam” it in your own special, kind of twisted and caring way to better one’s experience. I’m looking forward to making this recipe for the holidays and thank you for sharing!
I’m also curious HOW you stay so slim and lovely eating so much good food!
Thank you Catherine! You’re too kind! Everything in moderation is key. Thank you for that wonderful feedback.
Can you substitute real pumpkin for the stuff out of a can? I always make my pumpkin pie from pumpkins I’ve previously steamed and mashed. Will that work instead of the canned filling, or will it not be smooth enough to mix with the other ingredients?
Hi Sarah! There may have to be a few adjustments but it should work just fine. Simply use the same amount of fresh pureed pumpkin as the recipe calls for.
Hi Natasha, I was wondering, if I cooked this in a 8”x11” pan, do you have any idea how long I would need to cook it for?
I want to cut them into small, square cheesecake bites 🙂
Hi Liliy! It will probably bake up a little faster since the cheesecake will not be as thick. Without testing it in a 8″x11″ inch pan myself, I can’t give you exact baking times. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Hey Natasha I know you posted this recipe in 2017 but I have made a smaller crust and I have a lot of mix left over and its too late to go to the store and buy another crust (I am to lazy to make my own lol!) could I just wrap it up and put it in the fridge overnight or do I Have to just throw it out?
Thanks!
Hi Kathryn, I’m not sure how it would turn out after being refrigerated. If it firms up with all the cream cheese, you may need to bring it back to room temperature and beat until it is smooth and creamy. I honestly haven’t tested it that way but that is my best guess 🙂
The best pumpkin cheesecake ever. I made this for thanksgiving this year. Everyone loved and enjoyed it. Can you freeze this pumpkin cheese cake? If not can the recipe be cut in half? How would the ingredients be cut in half if this is possible. What size pan would you use? If the pumpkin cheesecake can be freeze, I would like to make 2 separate smaller cakes with one recipe. What size pans would I use to do this. Give one and freeze one.
Thank you for your time
Hi Paulette, I haven’t tried freezing it so I’m not sure but my guess is that it would work. One of my readers wrote in with their experience cutting the recipe in half and baking in a 9″ pie dish: “2 special changes for the glass 9-inch pyrex pie pan: I did not pre-bake the crust AND I cooked it at 400′ for 45 minutes, taking it straight to the cooling rack (I did not leave it in the oven any longer). I used about half of the mix to avoid any overflow.” I hope that helps!
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was INCREDIBLE!! I went to Truluck’s that night and ordered their pumpkin cheesecake, and it tasted awful compared to this one.
Thank you for this recipe, Natasha!
You’re welcome Michaela! I’m happy to hear how much you love the recipe. Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
This will be my first cheesecake so I’ve looked at a lot of recipes. I’ve stopped looking and definitely baking this cheesecake. Your recipe doesn’t call for a water bath, correct? And why out of curiosity?
Hi Chelsea, I don’t do the water bath for this one and haven’t had any issues. If you prefer to have some moisture in the oven, you can add a metal pan (like a bread pan half full with hot water) and place it on a rack while the cake is baking.
How long will I have to cook it if using store bought crust?
Hi Nancy, you would have to bake the filling for the same amount of time, but can skip the pre-baking crust in most cases (follow instructions on the package for prepping the crust if you have to pre-bake or not). Just keep in mind, if it’s one of those pre-made crusts in the small pie tins, it would probably overflow that if you fill it with the full recipe.