Harvest Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipes

THE BEST PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the gingersnap cookies, melted butter and salt to a food processor. Process until the crumb mixture looks like coarse sand, about 30 seconds. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until it is fragrant and golden brown, about 12 minutes.
• Remove the crust to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Wrap the bottom and sides of the pan tightly with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the sour cream, vanilla and salt and beat just until combined.
• Scoop 3 cups of the cheesecake filling into a medium bowl. Add the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and 1/4 cup water and stir with a rubber spatula until well combined. Bring a pot or kettle of water to a boil.
• Fill a 1-cup measure with plain cheesecake filling and pour into the center of the cooled crust. Fill a 1-cup measure with pumpkin filling and pour into the center of the plain filling. The batter will spread as you add alternating scoops, widening to form concentric circles. Repeat with the remaining batter in 1/2-cup increments alternating between flavors, until all the batter is used.
• Carefully place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the foil-wrapped pan.
• Bake until the top of the cheesecake is lightly browned around the edges, but the center is still jiggly, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until the center becomes just slightly jiggly, about 1 hour (see Cook's Note).
• Carefully remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a wire rack. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• For the spiced pumpkin seeds: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the pumpkin seeds, oil, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt and cloves in a small bowl. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• For the pumpkin caramel: Melt the sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until caramelized and dark amber (a digital instant-read or candy thermometer should register 245 degrees F), about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally with a whisk. Lower the heat to low. Carefully whisk in the heavy cream and butter and continue stirring until melted, about 1 minute. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, ginger and cloves until combined. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving.
• To serve: Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Unlock the springform pan and remove the ring. Sprinkle the spiced pumpkin seeds around the top outer edge of the cheesecake. Dip a knife in a warm water and wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of the pumpkin caramel.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press into the bottom of a 9-in. springform pan; chill. , For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in the pumpkin, spices and salt. , Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes. , Meanwhile, for topping, combine the sour cream, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over filling; return to the oven for 5 minutes. Cool on rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. , Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Top with chopped pecans. Refrigerate leftovers.

HARVEST PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in the butter.
• Press onto the bottom and 2 inches up the sides of a greased 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
• Add eggs, pumpkin and spices; beat just until combined.
• Pour into crust.
• Place cheesecake/pan in a large rectangular baking pan filled with 2 inches of hot water; place in a 350 degree oven and bake for 1 hour or until center is almost set.
• Remove cheesecake from oven and water-filled pan and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.
• Refrigerate until completely cooled (center will fall).
• Remove sides of pan just before serving.
• Garnish with whipped cream.

PUMPKIN HARVEST CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Pre heat oven to 350°F.
• CRUST:.
• Combine first 3 ingredients and press onto bottom of a 9 inch springform pan and bake for 10 minutes.
• FILLING:
• Whisk together pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, and spices in medium bowl
• In larger bowl with electric mixer beat cream cheese, sugar and cornstarch. Blend in pumpkin mixture and stir well.
• Pour over crust and bake 50 - 55 minutes or until centre is just set.
• Remove from oven and run knife around rim of pan. Cool thoroughly at room temperature. Refrigerate overnight.
• Can be drizzled with some melted semi sweet chocolate . Just pipe a random pattern on top of cake using a baggie with a small hole in corner to pipe out and sprinkle with some crushed pecans on top. Around cake sides you can line up whole pecans.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter and dash of salt in a large bowl; stir until all crumbs are moistened. (If making the crumbs from whole crackers, use a food processor to pulse the crackers to a fine consistency, then add the sugar, melted butter and salt, and pulse again to combine.)
• Add the crumb mixture to the springform pan and use the bottom of a measuring cup to press it in an even layer and up the edges of the pan by about 1 inch. Bake until the crust is set, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• As the crust cools, make the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar. Beat on low until smooth and combined, about 1 minute.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Continuing to mix on low speed, add the spice mixture, pumpkin purée and vanilla to the filling. Mix until smooth, about 1 minute, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
• Increase the mixer speed to medium-low. Add the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating until mostly mixed in before adding the next. Be careful not to overmix!
• Grease the sides of the springform pan again with cooking spray. Pour the filling into the pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Gently tap the bottom of the pan against the counter to release any air bubbles.
• Bake on the middle rack at 300 degrees for 1 hour, or until the sides of the cheesecake are set and the middle jiggles slightly when shaken. To keep from overbaking, look for a 2- to 3-inch round in the center of the cheesecake to jiggle. Try not to open the oven door more than absolutely necessary to check the doneness! The change in temperature can cause the cheesecake to crack.
• Turn the oven off and keep the oven door shut. Keep the cheesecake in the warm oven with the door closed for 1 hour.
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven and carefully run an offset spatula or butter knife along the edge of the pan to loosen. Allow the cheesecake to sit at room temperature on a wire rack until no longer warm, about 1 hour. Transfer the cheesecake to the refrigerator and let rest until completely chilled, about 4 hours or until ready to serve.
• Serve as is, or make the optional whipped cream: Combine the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Serve each slice of cheesecake with the cinnamon whipped cream, if using, and a grating of nutmeg, if desired.

PECAN PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Wrap a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square) around a greased 9-in. springform pan. Mix cracker crumbs and granulated sugar; stir in butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan., Beat cream cheese, sugars and maple syrup until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low just until blended. Whisk in pumpkin, cornstarch, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice; pour over crust. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 70-80 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled., For topping, combine whipping cream and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 15-20 minutes. Stir in toasted pecans. Refrigerate until cold., Remove rim from pan. Stir topping; spoon over chilled cheesecake. If desired, top with whipped cream.

HARVEST-TIME PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place cookies in bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Beat cream cheese and brown sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over cookies.
• Bake 50 to 55 min. or until center is almost set. Meanwhile, mix sour cream and granulated sugar. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Spread sour cream mixture over warm cheesecake. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours. Sprinkle with cinnamon just before serving.

HARVEST PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Combine crumbs, nuts and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• 2. Combine softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, mixing on electric mixer until well blended. Blend in egg; pour over crust.
• 3. Combine remaining ingredients; mix well. Carefully pour over cream cheese mixture. Bake at 325, 1 hour and 30 to 35 minutes or until set. Loosen cake from rim of pan. Cool; remove rim. Chill