This Pumpkin Cheesecake has the perfect pumpkin flavor with smooth cheesecake texture and the best chocolate ganache on top. With these easy to follow instructions, you will have the best pumpkin cheesecake.
With Thanksgiving only a few days away I feel like I’m about to BURST with holiday spirit. I LOVE the holiday season, and I want to snuggle up in front of a fire with a glass of wine and watch a Christmas movie. OR I want to crank up the Christmas music and start making Christmas cookies, peppermint bark, and fudge.
I have already started baking holiday treats for you, but I am going to tide you over with this incredible Pumpkin Cheesecake that would be perfect for Thanksgiving.
If your family isn’t into Pumpkin Pie and can’t be won over by Pecan Pie (we can still be friends but I’m giving you serious side eye right now), this pumpkin pie cheesecake with it’s gingersnap cookie crust is a great alternative.
HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
- Make your crust by combining gingersnap cookie crumbs and butter. Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool before making the rest of the cheesecake.
- Using room temperature cream cheese, combine the filling of the cheesecake – cream cheese, pumpkin, eggs, sugar, and spices.
- Bake and then allow to sit in the oven that you have turned off for an hour.
- Let the cheesecake cool completely on the counter before covering and putting the refrigerator overnight.
- Before serving make the ganache and coat the cheesecake.
CHEESECAKE WITHOUT A WATER BATH
Let’s talk for a minute about cheesecakes.
Whenever I post one, I make sure it is absolutely delicious. That is my number one concern.
That being said, I will often receive comments that I’m making it wrong because I don’t bake it in a water bath.
At some point in the future, that might change. But right now, guys? I’m not going to put it in a bath. The reason is that I think cheesecakes come out perfectly delicious without a bath, and I don’t like to risk a leaky springform pan and a soggy crust.
So, if you would like to put this in a bath, you do you. You can still use this recipe, you will likely just need to tweak baking times.
If you don’t want to make a bath for the cheesecake, then solider on my friends.
TIPS FOR THE PERFECT CHEESECAKE
- Start this recipe the day before serving.
- Read the recipe in it’s entirety before you start baking.
- Use a quality cream cheese. I always use Philadelphia Cream Cheese. No this isn’t sponsored, I just think they make the most high quality cream cheese.
- Always use full fat cream cheese in brick form.
- Let the cream cheese come to room temperature. Do not microwave it to get it there.
- Use room temperature eggs.
- Fully scrape down the bowl as you are adding in ingredients so everything gets fully distributed. The last thing you want is a chunk of nutmeg in your piece of cheesecake.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE
The chocolate ganache on this pumpkin cheesecake puts it over the top.
Chocolate ganache comes together very simply by combining chocolate and heavy cream. How thick you want the ganache will change your ratio of chocolate to cream.
In this recipe we use a ratio that results in a ganache that is smooth and thick, but doesn’t become hard on top of the cheesecake.
MORE HOLIDAY DESSERTS
If you are looking for more great desserts to make your family this holiday season here are some that can’t be missed:
- This Caramel Apple Cobbler is a from scratch baking dessert that is infused with love and the best flavors – a favorite for sure.
- Your adult guests will LOVE this No Bake Chocolate Baileys Pie.
- If you are looking for something a little simpler, go with these Mint Chocolate Brownies. A family recipe I adore.
If you make my pumpkin cheesecake recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/4 cups gingersnap crumbs see note 1
- 5 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
Pumpkin Cheesecake
- 24 ounces cream cheese at room temperature see note 2
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree 100% puree, not pie filling
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 eggs room temperature
Chocolate Ganache
- 7 ounces chocolate see note 3
- 5 liquid ounces heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
- Combine the cookie crumbs, butter, and 1 tablespon granulated sugar and press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake for just under 10 minutes or until the crust begins to brown and is fragrant. Let cool on a wire wrack for a half hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat 24 ounces of full fat cream cheese until fluffy and smooth. Beat in 1 cup granulated sugar, then the pumpkin puree. Beat in the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl after each addition.
- Pour the filling over the cooled crust and bake for 35 minutes or until the edges of the cheesecake are firm and the middle still has a jiggle to it. Leave it in the oven with the door closed for an hour. Remove from the oven, run a thin knife between the cheesecake and the pan. Let the cheesecake come to room temperature before covering in plastic wrap and refrigerating overnight.
- Before serving the cheesecake, pour the chocolate into a bowl. Heat the milk in the microwave until almost boiling – about 45 seconds. Pour over the chocoalte and let sit for two minutes. Then whisk until smooth.
- Before pouring the chocolate over the cheesecake, place a paper towel lightly over the cheesecake. If the cheesecake was at all hot before going in the refrigerator, there will likely be a little bit of moisture on top. The towel will take care of this.
- Pour the chocolate ganache over the cheesecake. Allow the ganache to cool and firm.
- Slice and serve.
Mir says
Why do people have to be a$$holes online? Are they that bored or unhappy? Ick.
Those quizzes are totally addictive. I took one recently to find my best FB friend. Every time I took it, different result. Super accurate.
This cheesecake is superb. So stop listening to all the haters!
Mir recently posted…Pumpkin Crumb Cake (Gluten-Free!)
Eileeny6 says
I don’t understand all the negativity on social media. If someone hates you so much, why are they reading your blog? (Coming from someone who stalks an old boyfriend on Facebook.). Why are they wasting their time?
Since I found out yesterday that I have the education level of PhD (according to a Facebook quiz), you can believe me.
Thanks for your blog, I enjoy reading it.
Lisa Longley says
Eileen, you win! This comment made me snort laugh and totally made my day. Thank you!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
This pumpkin cheesecake is what dreams are made of!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting recently posted…Snickers Peanut Butter Oreo Pie
Lisa Longley says
Thanks Julianne!
Michele says
Hi Lisa this review calls for pumpkin purée what is that exactly? I usually use fresh pumpkin from a pie pumpkin for baking
Lisa Longley says
You could definitely use fresh pumpkin, Michele! It would be delicious. Pumpkin puree is basically the same thing, but just found in a can in the baking aisle. I wanted to make sure that those making this used 100% pumpkin vs. pumpkin pie filling.
Melissa says
Lisa, I have shied away from making real cheesecake because of the whole water bath thing. But now that you’ve given me permission not to bathe my cheesecake, I feel such relief! 🙂 Also, who cares about a crack on top when you are just going to cover it with sinful ganache? Am I right? Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Melissa recently posted…Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Soup
Lisa Longley says
That’s exactly how I feel about cracks too!! Thanks Melissa!
Gale says
For the genache, can i use coconut milk or almond milk instead of heavy cream?
Lisa Longley says
You can try it Gale, but I would do some reading on it first. Google has all the answers. My guess is that you are going to have to alter the ratios if you don’t use heavy cream because the fat content will be different.
Karen says
I Once read, (Don’t remember where, long time ago) to throw 2 or 3 ice cubes in the bottom of your oven, right after you put your cheesecake in to bake to prevent cracks. I do this and most of the time it works for me. Hope it works for others.
Lisa Longley says
I’ll have to try that!
Rebecca B says
Do I need to adjust the recipe if I only have a 10 in springform pan?
Lisa Longley says
No, just the baking time will be a little less because it is thiner.
Jacque says
It doesnt matter which way with or without bath.I just prefer to bath because I alway s get a perfect cheese cake and that how I learnt it originally.
Sue Turnbeau says
Am making tonight for Thanksgiving meal tomorrow….and have a question. I am not much of a baker so really appreciate your tips. However in the ingredient break down, you have 1/4 tsp ground ginger, but in the instructions, you don’t refer to it, instead you refer to nutmeg (which isn’t in the ingredient list). Please advise which it is …thanks.
Lisa Longley says
I’m so sorry Sue! Good catch! It’s both! I just updated the recipe.
Joyce M Barnes says
Okay Lisa, my Thanksgiving is in your hands! First, I made your Pumpkin Cheesecake ALMOST EXACTLY like you said. My family isn’t fans of gingersnap cookies, so I made the crust with Sandie Cookies…but that was the only change I made! It came together easily and looks awesome! Then I made your Pecan Pie with the vodka crust. This recipe I made EXACTLY as your recipe said. I took pictures of them both and they lay in wait for dessert for tomorrows Thanksgiving dinner. I wanted to let you know that I totally appreciate all your directions and helpful tips! If I can figure out how to do it, I will post the pictures for you! Thank you for such great recipes!
Lisa Longley says
I hope your family loved it!
Ellen Hixenbaugh says
I made this for our thanksgiving dinner. I think it’s the best cheesecake I ever made. However, I had one bar full fat cream cheese and 2 bars low-fat. To firm it up I added a 3rd egg, yolk only, and one tablespoon of cornstarch. For the ganache I used one cup of heavy cream and a whole bag (12oz.) of chocolate chips. Creamiest cheesecake ever! Rereading the directions I realized I forgot the nutmeg. Oh well! Thanks for the recipe! I’ve already passed it on.
Lisa Longley says
I’m so glad you all liked it!
Anna M says
This looks so yummy yet very simple to mae!