Pumpkin Cheesecake

This fall, make a pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. This cheesecake has all the best parts of pumpkin pie (pumpkin! cinnamon! nutmeg!) combined with the creaminess of cheesecake. Top with caramel sauce and whipped cream.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated January 10, 2023
Elise Bauer
pumpkin cheesecake slice with caramel and whipped cream

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Move over pumpkin pie and say hello to pumpkin cheesecake! If you really truly want to impress your guests this holiday season, I recommend this cheesecake. Tall and proud like a classic New York-style cheesecake, this one has a pumpkin cream cheese filling with a splash of bourbon all sitting atop a pecan graham cracker crust.

And if that wasn't enough, we bathe it with homemade caramel sauce and whipped cream.

2:20

How to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake

The Best Pumpkin Cheesecake

Yes, it is good. Better than good. Downright fabulous.

I first made this pumpkin cheesecake for my mother years ago. She's a "cake girl" in family of people who prefer pies, and cheesecake is her favorite cake. A pastry chef reader sent me his recipe (thank you, Glen!), which I adapted to this one.

pumpkin cheesecake slice with caramel and whipped cream

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Tips for Making the Best Cheesecake

  • The best pan for cheesecake: Like a proper New York cheesecake, this one is tall and requires a high-sided springform pan. You may be able to halve the filling and cook it in a standard pie tin (if you do, let us know how it works out for you) with less cooking time.
  • Use a water bath: It also requires cooking in a water bath, which can sometimes be problematic. My recommendation is to use three layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil and make sure that when you are wrapping the pan you do so gently, so you don't introduce any holes that would cause the pan to leak. Several people have also suggested using a turkey roasting bag as a way to keep the water out of the pan.

If you are a fan of cheesecake and pumpkin pie, this cake is so worth doing. Just be warned that it serves a small army, which might be just what you need for the holidays.

Don't Skip Pressing the Pumpkin Purée!

Pressing the pumpkin purée between paper towels might seem strange, but don't be tempted to skip it. It's the secret weapon in making this cheesecake creamy and full of pumpkin flavor. Removing excess moisture concentrates the pumpkin and avoids a watery cheesecake.

You will start with two 15-ounce cans of pumpkin purée, and after draining, you will measure out 2 cups of purée to use in the recipe.

How to Store and Freeze Pumpkin Cheesecake

For neat slices and the best taste, make this cheesecake at least a day ahead so it can set in the refrigerator. If you like, refrigerate it up to 3 days in advance.

Refrigerate the cheesecake up to 5 days. You can also freeze the entire cheesecake, without the caramel, up to a month.

More Favorite Pumpkin Desserts

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Prep Time 40 mins
Cook Time 100 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins
Servings 16 servings
Yield 1 cheesecake

You can make your own pumpkin purée by cutting a sugar pumpkin in half, scooping out the seeds, placing the pumpkin halves cut-side down in a roasting pan with a 1/4 inch of water in it, and baking it in a 350°F oven for an hour, until soft. Scoop out the flesh and purée it in a blender or food processor. Strain out the excess water.

For a nut-free cheesecake, use this crust recipe.

Ingredients

For the crust

  • 1 cup pecans

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (approximately 4 graham crackers)

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 egg yolk

For the filling

  • 2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin purée

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

  • 2 tablespoons bourbon or other whiskey

  • 5 large eggs

  • 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature

  • 2 cups brown sugar, packed

Special Equipment

  • Food processor
  • 1 (9-inch) springform pan
  • Roasting pan

Method

  1. Make the graham cracker pecan crust:

    Preheat the oven to 375°F.

    Pulse the pecans, flour, brown sugar, and graham cracker crumbs in a food processor. Add the butter and egg yolk. Pulse until the mixture is homogeneous.

    Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer
  2. Press the pumpkin purée:

    Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Arrange a rack in the center of the oven.

    Place the pumpkin purée on several layers of paper towels. Cover with several layers of paper towels and use your hands to gently squeeze out water from the purée.

    Note that you will probably go through a lot of paper towels (or you can use tea towels).

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer
  3. Measure the pumpkin puree:

    Two 15-ounce cans of puréed pumpkin should yield a little more than 2 cups of purée with the excess moisture removed. Measure out 2 cups of purée; you want exactly 2 cups.

  4. Make the pumpkin base:

    Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a medium bowl. With a wooden spoon (no need for a mixer for this step), mix in the salt, 2 cups of pressed pumpkin purée, vanilla, and bourbon. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

  5. Make the cheesecake filling:

    In a large bowl (it helps to use a stand mixer or hand mixer for this step), beat the cream cheese and the brown sugar until fully creamed and smooth (no lumps). Gradually add the pumpkin mixture until fully incorporated.

    Bring a kettle of water to a boil.

  6. Line the pan with 3 layers of thick foil:

    Place the springform pan with the crust in the middle of 3 layers of large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil (to help prevent water bath moisture from leaking into the pan). Fold the aluminum foil up the sides of the pan and trim. (You can also use a turkey roasting bag instead of the foil to keep the water out.)

    Elise Bauer
  7. Pour the filling into the pan:

    Place the aluminum-wrapped pan in a large roasting pan (large enough so that there is room on all sides). Pour the pumpkin cream cheese mixture into the springform pan.

    Elise Bauer
  8. Add water to the roasting pan:

    Place the roasting pan containing the springform pan in a 325°F oven on the middle rack. Pour boiling water into the pan (careful not to get water on the cheesecake) so that it comes halfway up the side of the springform pan.

    Elise Bauer
  9. Bake and cool:

    Bake the cheesecake for 1 1/2 hours. Turn off the oven heat and prop the oven door open. Let the cheesecake sit in the oven, cooling for another hour.

    Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let come to room temperature. Once it has cooled down, chill for several hours in the refrigerator, preferably overnight.

  10. Remove from the pan:

    When ready to serve, gently remove from the pan.

    To do this well, I recommend a tip by Dorie Greenspan in her book Baking: From My Home to Yours. To help ensure that the cake doesn't stick to the springform side as you unlock it, first run a blunt knife around the cake and then warm the sides of the pan with a hair dryer. Then carefully unlock the springform and lift off the sides.

    Serve the cheesecake with caramel sauce, candied pecans, and whipped cream.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
452 Calories
28g Fat
43g Carbs
8g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 452
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 36%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 142mg 47%
Sodium 261mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 43g 16%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 33g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 114mg 9%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 291mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.