This rich and creamy pumpkin cheesecake has a layer of tangy sour cream topping, which makes it the ultimate pumpkin cheesecake recipe!
Fall is my favorite season, and every year, I like to make lots (and lots!) of fall desserts.
Some are alternatives to the traditional Thanksgiving pumpkin pie like pumpkin spice cake and chocolate pecan pie. Others are just really tasty fall desserts - like this pumpkin cheesecake!
This pumpkin cheesecake is a rich and creamy pumpkin spice cheesecake that's covered with a layer of tangy sour cream topping. It is crazy good, and, as far as cheesecakes go, pretty simple to make. Check out the step-by-step photos and tips below.
How to make pumpkin cheesecake
To make the crust, stir the graham cracker crumbs and sugar together in a medium bowl. Stir in the melted butter until combined.
Press the graham cracker crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Place in the fridge while you make the filling.
To make the filling, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, and beat until well-combined.
Mix in the eggs and vanilla until combined.
Stir in the pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and salt just until combined. Pour the filling over the crust.
Place the springform pan on a baking sheet. Bake.
To make the topping, stir the sour cream, sugar, and vanilla together until combined. Spread the topping over the cheesecake.
Return to the oven, and continue to bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Let cool to room temperature. Place in the fridge, and chill overnight (for about 8 hours). Remove the sides of the springform pan, and cut into slices to serve.
Tips
- Graham cracker crumbs: You can either finely crush graham crackers, or you can purchase boxes of pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs.
- Cream cheese: I recommend using full-fat cream cheese in this recipe.
- Pumpkin puree: Be sure to use sold-pack pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix.
- Pumpkin pie spice: If you want to make your own pumpkin pie spice blend, you can use this recipe.
- Sour cream: I recommend using full-fat sour cream in the topping.
How to store
How to storeStore the cheesecake, covered, in the fridge. The cheesecake will keep for up to 1 week in the fridge.
More pumpkin recipes!
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ cup butter (melted)
Filling
- 2-8 ounce packages cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 2 cups sour cream
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- To make the crust, stir the graham cracker crumbs and sugar together in a medium bowl.
- Stir in the melted butter until combined.
- Press the graham cracker crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Place in the fridge while you make the filling.
- To make the filling, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the sugar, and beat until well-combined.
- Mix in the eggs and vanilla until combined.
- Stir in the pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and salt just until combined.
- Pour the filling over the crust.
- Place the springform pan on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 50 minutes.
- Toward the end of the baking time, make the topping.
- To make the topping, stir the sour cream, sugar, and vanilla together until combined.
- Spread the topping over the cheesecake.
- Return to the oven, and continue to bake for an additional 5 minutes.
- Let the cheesecake cool on a wire cooling rack for 10 minutes.
- Run a thin knife around the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan.
- Let cool to room temperature.
- Place in the fridge, and chill overnight (for about 8 hours).
- Remove the sides of the springform pan, and cut into slices to serve.
Notes
- Graham cracker crumbs: You can either finely crush graham crackers, or you can purchase boxes of pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs.
- Cream cheese: I recommend using full-fat cream cheese in this recipe.
- Pumpkin puree: Be sure to use sold-pack pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix.
- Pumpkin pie spice: If you want to make your own pumpkin pie spice blend, you can use this recipe.
- Sour cream: I recommend using full-fat sour cream in the topping.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Penny
In testing new dessert recipes for Thanksgiving I tried this pumpkin cheesecake. We loved it. I’m glad I have a reason to make another one so soon. Lol