Melissas Pumpkin Cheesecake With Vanilla Mousse Recipes

PUMPKIN MOUSSE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and sugar; stir until well combined. Press graham cracker mixture into bottom of prepared baking dish in an even layer; set aside.
• Make the cheesecake: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together cream cheese, eggs, and sugar until fluffy. Spread cheesecake mixture over crust in baking dish. Transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
• Make the mousse: Fill a small bowl or liquid measuring cup with 1/4 cup water; sprinkle gelatin over top and let soften. In a large heatproof bowl, mix together pumpkin, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, milk, salt, and cinnamon. Set bowl over (but not touching) simmering water; whisk pumpkin mixture until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove bowl from heat and whisk in gelatin mixture. Let cool to room temperature.
• In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue whisking until medium peaks form. Fold into cooled pumpkin mixture. Spread pumpkin mixture over cheesecake; Cover and transfer to refrigerator until set, at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• Make the whipped cream: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Spread over cake or serve cheesecake with a dollop on the side.

NO-BAKE PUMPKIN MOUSSE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Spray the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray. Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper.
• Combine the cookie crumbs, pecans, brown sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse until fine. (Alternatively, you can crush the cookies very finely in a resealable gallon-size bag and chop the nuts as finely as possible; combine them in a bowl with the sugar and salt.) Add the melted butter and vanilla and pulse until evenly moistened. Press the mixture about 2 inches up the sides of the springform pan, then press to cover the bottom evenly. Place in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
• For the filling: Pour 3 tablespoons cold water into a small microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Set aside to bloom.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl and beat 1 minute. Beat in the pumpkin puree and vanilla, blending about 30 seconds.
• Place the bloomed gelatin in the microwave and microwave until the gelatin melts and the mixture is clear, 10 to 12 seconds. Stir a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture into the hot gelatin, then add the gelatin mixture to the mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until combined, about 15 seconds.
• Mix in the heavy cream on low speed until combined. Scrape the bowl, then whip at high speed for about 1 minute. Spread over the prepared crust. Smooth the top of the cream, as desired. Refrigerate, uncovered, 8 hours to overnight (or top with a plate, domed-side up, so it doesn't touch the surface of the cheesecake).
• For finishing: Unlatch and remove the sides of the springform pan. Before serving, sprinkle the edges of the cheesecake with the pecans and chocolate chips.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH BOURBON-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray bottom of 9-inch spring form pan with non-stick cooking spray (do not spray sides).
• Wrap outside of pan with heavy duty aluminum foil.
• In medium bowl stir together graham cracker, 1/4 cup sugar, orange peel and 1 teaspoon nutmeg.
• Add 1/3 cup melted butter; stir until crumbs are well moistened.
• Press mixture evenly over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of spring form pan.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
• In large bowl beat cream cheese at medium-low speed until smooth.
• Beat in 1 cup sugar until smooth.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating just until combined.
• Beat in sour cream, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, salt and nutmeg.
• (Do not overbeat) Pour into spring form pan.
• Place spring form pan in large shallow roasting pan or broiler pan.
• Fill roasting pan with enough water to come to 1/2 inch up sides of spring form pan.
• Bake 65 minutes or until edges are puffed and top looks dull and is dry to touch.
• Center should be less set than edges and will move when pan is tapped.
• It should ripple as if liquid.
• Remove from oven; remove from water bath.
• Cool completely on wire rack.
• Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• To make sauce, melt 1/2 cup butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Whisk in brown sugar until mixture is smooth.
• Whisk in cream and bourbon; bring to a boil.
• Pour into medium bowl; cool completely.
• Serve with cheesecake.
• Refrigerate leftovers.

VANILLA MOUSSE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Mix wafers and butter and press into a 9 inch springform pan.
• Beat 3 packages cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla with mixer until combined. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 50-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Run knife around pan and cool completely.
• Beat remaining cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Whisk in cool whip. Spread over cooled cheesecake.
• Refrigerate 4 hours.