Pumpkin Cheesecake
How To Make Cheesecake - Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Never again have to make a pumpkin pie for the holiday. This cheesecake is absolutely wonderful. Let your family be the judge! I usually make this cheesecake ahead of time and freeze it. Learn How To Freeze Cheesecakes.

Photo by my sister's, Carol Arroyo, baking web site called The Baking Pan

Please read Linda's tips on Baking A Perfect Cheesecake before making and baking your cheesecake.

Check out more of Linda's Cheesecake Recipes. Don't forget to check out my Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Menu which includes this delicious Pumpkin Cheesecake.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Recipe Type: Cheesecake, Eggs, Cakes, Squash, Pumpkin
Yields: 10 to 12 servings
Prep time: 20 min
Crust cook time: 7 min
Cheesecake cook time: 90 min

Ingredients:

Graham Cracker Crust (see recipe below)
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature*
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup whipping cream
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon ground ginger
1/3 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree (either canned or homemade)

* To quickly bring cream cheese to room temperature, place unwrapped packages in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 30 to 45 seconds or until slightly softened. Do not let it melt or get warm. Refrigerate if it does.

NOTE: Use a conventional oven rather than a convection oven in baking your cheesecake. The forced hot air from the convection oven causes too much browning and can often cause  the center of the cheesecake to collapse.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and position rack in center of oven (too high or too low of rack placement will cause baking problems). Lightly grease (butter) a 9-inch springform pan.

Prepare Graham Cracker Crust; set aside to cool before using.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add sour cream and whipping cream; beat, on low speed, just until smooth. Mix in cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and flour. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition; beat in pumpkin puree.

NOTE:Do not over beat the mixture. You want to avoid beating air into the mixture. Too much air will make the cheesecake fall.

Pour pumpkin mixture into prepared graham cracker crust, using the back of a spoon to spread evenly over the crust (this helps get rid of any extra air bubbles).

Place cheesecake in center of middle oven rack. Position a baking pan filled halfway with hot water on lower rack.

Bake 15 minutes, then lower oven temperature to 300 degrees and bake approximately another 70 minutes or until edges are light brown and center is almost set. NOTE: There should be no wet spots or liquid areas in the center of the cheesecake. Remember that a cheesecake continues to cook when it is removed from the oven.

How to tell when cheesecake is done cooking: The cheesecake is done when center is almost set, but jiggles slightly when gently shaken. For a perfect cheesecake, use a cooking thermometer and take it out of the oven when the cheesecake reaches 150 degrees F. at the center to avoid over baking. Expect a slight shrinkage as it cools. If there is great shrinkage, you have baked it at too high a heat.

When the cheesecake is done cooking, turn the oven off. Let cake stand in oven, with door ajar, approximately 30 minutes or until center is completely set.
 

How to prevent cracks in your cheesecake: When the internal temperature of a cheesecake rises beyond 160 degrees F. while baking, it will always crack. To prevent this from happening, use an instant-read cooking thermometer to test its doneness. Take it out of the oven when the  cheesecake reaches 150 degrees F. at the center to avoid over baking. This is the type of cooking and meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking. I get many readers asking what cooking/meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use the Thermapen Thermometer shown in the photo on the right. Originally designed for professional users, the Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer is used by chefs all over the world. To learn more about this excellent thermometer and to also purchase one (if you desire), just click on the underlined: Thermapen Thermometer.

NOTE: A wonderful looking baked cheesecake (with no cracks), can crack as it sits on the cooling rack because the cake shrank during cooling and clung to the sides of the springform pan. To avoid this from happening, cool the cheesecake for only a few minutes, and then, using a paring knife, free it from the sides of the pan before allowing it to cool completely. If a crack should appear, simply blend together some sour cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract; spread over the top of the cooled cheesecake when ready to serve.

Cool cheesecake completely on a wire rack before refrigerating. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 to 24 hours before cutting (the cheesecake will solidify to a perfect consistency during this time). To serve, slide a small knife around edges of cake to loosen it and remove sides of the springform pan; transfer onto a cake plate.

Learn How To Freeze Cheesecakes.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Graham Cracker Crust:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs*
1/3 cup ground toasted hazelnuts (any type of nut may be used - your choice)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted

* Finely ground ginger cookies may be substituted for all or part of the graham cracker crumbs.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and position rack in center of oven (too high or too low of rack placement will cause baking problems).

Lightly grease (butter) a 9-inch springform pan.

In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, hazelnuts, sugar, and butter. Mix well and press firmly onto bottom of prepared springform pan. Bake 7 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from oven and cool crust completely on a wire rack. Maintain oven temperate.

 

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More Delicious Cheesecake Recipes:
Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Cheesecake This cheesecake is for serious chocophiles. Imagine the hazelnut spread on a bed of crunchy nuts and a piping hot cup of coffee - it's a sweet temptation.	Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Peanut butter and chocolate! This delightful combination of flavors will remind you of one of your favorite childhood candy bars.	Perfectly Plain Cheesecake This is just a basic cheesecake recipe, but it can be used as the base for many other varieties.  Change the crust, add some chocolate, or just get creative!	Pumpkin Cheesecake Never again make a pumpkin pie for the holiday. This cheesecake is absolutely wonderful. Let your family be the judge!	Sweet Potato Cheesecake A wonderful cheesecake with a light sweet potato taste.