This easy Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe is a showstopper during the holidays season. It starts with a gingersnap cookie crust, then a smooth creamy cheesecake filling topped with caramel drizzle.
Take advantage of the pumpkin season and also try my Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, Pumpkin Snickerdoodles or Pumpkin Cake!
Prep Springform Pan: Cover the outside bottom of an 8-inch springform pan with a double layer of aluminum foil, or use a cheesecake wrap.
Make Gingersnap Crust and press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom and half way up the sides of the pan. Bake crust at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
Mix Cheesecake Filling: Add the filling ingredients to a bowl and mix until smooth, but don’t over mix. It’s imperative that the cream cheese is at room temperature, so that there are no lumps in the batter. Pour the batter into the pan,over the prepared crust.
Place in a water bath: Boil a small pot of water. Place the prepared springform pan inside a larger roasting pan. Pour about 1 inch of boiling water into the pan, around the inside edges of the roasting pan. The humidity and bubbling of the water while the cake bakes helps the cheesecake cook evenly and helps prevent cracks in the surface of the cheesecake.
Bake: Carefully place cheesecake, in the water bath, into the oven and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until the sides of the cheesecake have set and the center is just barely jiggly. Lift the cheesecake out of the water bath, remove the foil from around the pan, and allow cheesecake to cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Then. refrigerate the cheesecake for several hours before serving.
Serve: I love to decorate this Pumpkin Cheesecake with a little bit of piped whipped cream and caramel sauce before serving.
To Make Ahead: This homemade pumpkin cheesecake can be made one day ahead of time.
To Freeze: Place the cheesecake onto a cardboard round, or use leave it on the bottom round from the springform pan. Wrap the cheesecake completely in plastic wrap, and then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely in the fridge before serving.
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I originally shared this recipe October 2018. Updated October 2023.
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]]>These easy Pumpkin Bars are moist, flavorful, and topped with the most incredible homemade caramel frosting! They are easy to make and serve enough for a crowd!
Looking for more pumpkin recipes? Try these Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, or Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread!
Mix Wet Ingredients: Add butter and sugars to a mixer and cream together until light and fluffy. Mix in Greek yogurt. Add pumpkin, eggs and vanilla then mix.
Combine: In a separate mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Mix the dry ingredients with the wet.
Bake: Pour batter into a jelly roll pan (10×15 inch) then bake at 350 degrees F for about 27-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Make Frosting: In a medium saucepan, combine butter, cream, brown sugar, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and 2 cups powdered sugar. Mix well (I like to use a hand mixer to remove any lumps). Add a little extra powdered sugar, as needed, until you get a soft and slightly thick, but pourable frosting.
Frost: Gently spread warm frosting over bars then allow to cool before serving.
Serve: Slice into bars and enjoy! I love to take these bars to parties or serve them during the holidays. They are always a hit!
To Store: Keep leftover homemade pumpkin bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: It’s best to freeze these pumpkin bars without frosting. Let cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap then foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw completely before frosting and enjoying.
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Super light and moist Pumpkin Cupcakes recipe topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and a pumpkin candy, for a fun and easy fall dessert!
There’s nothing that brings the Fall spirit quite like pumpkin recipes. Some of my go-to’s include Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Frosting, Skinny Pumpkin Muffins, and a Classic Pumpkin Roll.
Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl combine sugars, eggs, pumpkin purée, oil and vanilla.
Whisk dry ingredients: In separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt. Add dry ingredients to bowl with the pumpkin mixture and stir to combine.
Bake: Scoop the batter evenly into prepared muffin tin. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove cupcakes to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting.
Combine: Beat butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes then add vanilla and cinnamon. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until you reach the desired frosting stiffness that you want. Mix for 2 more minutes.
Frost the Halloween pumpkin cupcakes then top with a pumpkin candy, if desired.
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I originally shared this recipe September 2014. Updated September 2019 and October 2023.
Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious.
]]>This Dinner in a Pumpkin recipe is made with Italian sausage, wild rice, and vegetables – a fun, healthy, and delicious way to celebrate Halloween!
Looking for more pumpkin recipes? Try Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Waffles, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, or Pumpkin Pie!
Prep Pumpkin: Cut the top off of the pumpkin, leaving a large enough opening to fit your hand and a spoon inside to removed seeds (like you would a Jack-o-lantern). Clean out the seeds and insides of the pumpkin until the inner walls of the pumpkin are smooth. Season the inside of the pumpkin with some salt and pepper.
Make Filling: Remove casings from sausage and add to a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking it into small pieces, until browned. Use paper towels to blot out some of the grease, if necessary. Add onion, carrots, bell pepper and celery then sauté for 8-10 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, rosemary, sage and salt and pepper. Stir in cooked wild rice.
Bake: Spoon mixture into pumpkins then place the lid/stem back on top. Place the pumpkin on a lined or greased baking sheet then place it on the lowest rack of your oven (or whatever rack positions the pumpkin to cook in the center of the oven). Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the inside pumpkin flesh is tender when poked with a fork.
Serve: Scoop some of the delicious cooked pumpkin from the sides of the pumpkin as you spoon the sausage dinner in a pumpkin into bowls. Top with hot sauce then additional salt and pepper, if desired. Don’t forget to roast your pumpkin seeds!
To Make Ahead: The meat and rice filling mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead of time, stored in the fridge. Add to pumpkin before baking. The entire pumpkin, with filling could be assembled a day ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
To Freeze: Spoon the mixture in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months.
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I originally shared this recipe October 2015. Updated November 2020, and October 2023.
]]>This Healthy Pumpkin Muffins recipe is made with whole grains, less butter and sugar, and only 160 calories each! They taste just like the bakery and are freezer friendly!
Looking for more pumpkin recipes? Try my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, Classic Pumpkin Roll, or Pumpkin French Toast!
Combine dry ingredients: flour, cornstarch, pumpkin spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl: eggs, honey, butter, and canned pumpkin puree (or homemade pumpkin puree). Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients then pour the wet mixture in.
Stir batter together, being careful not to over-mix it, and then add chocolate chips (optional). Divide batter between the muffin cups.
Bake healthy pumpkin muffins at 350 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!
To Freeze: Allow healthy pumpkin muffins to cool completely, then place them in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
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Recipe inspired by 100 Days of Real Food.
I originally shared this recipe October 2015. Updated September 2018, October 2021 and September 2023.
]]>This easy Pumpkin Snickerdoodle cookie recipe is the perfect seasonal twist on an old classic, with hints of pumpkin spice flavor. They’re thick, chewy and delicious.
Looking for more pumpkin recipes? Try my Healthy Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin French Toast, or a Classic Pumpkin Roll!
Cream Butter and Sugar: Mix together butter and shortening until smooth. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar and cream together until light and fluffy.
Finish Cookie Dough: Mix in eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla. Add the flour, pumpkin pie spice, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt and stir until combined. Cover bowl and refrigerate dough for 20 minutes.
Roll in Cinnamon Sugar: Scoop refrigerated dough into balls and roll balls in cinnamon sugar. Place on parchment or silpat lined baking sheet 2 inches apart.
Press: Using the palm of your hand, slightly press down on each cookie.
Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes (don’t over bake!). Remove pumpkin spice snickerdoodles immediately to a cooling rack to cool completely.
To Store: Keep these pumpkin spice cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
To Freeze: Let cool completely then place them in a freezer safe bag in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
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I originally shared this recipe September 2022. Updated September 2023.
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