This Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan Pie Topping features a gingersnap crust, pumpkin spice flavored filling, and a gooey, pecan pie like topping.
After I published the recipe for my Double Crust Cheesecake a while back, a visitor to the blog left a comment asking about turning the cheesecake base into a pumpkin cheesecake. The idea sounded utterly delicious, so I immediately got to work!
After some serious testing, I present to you my pumpkin cheesecake recipe… Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan Pie Topping. But this isn’t some basic ol’ pumpkin cheesecake with some pumpkin pie spice thrown in. No, ma’am!
I swapped the basic graham cracker crust for one made with gingersnap cookies. Oh, yes I did. And then, I topped that cheesecake with a caramel pecan topping reminiscent of the rich, gooey filling in pecan pie. Mercy!
Do I need to use a water bath to bake my cheesecake?
Water baths are traditional in cheesecake baking as they slow the baking process down, resulting in a slightly different texture and an even top on the cheesecake. Some say the water bath also helps to prevent the cheesecake from cracking.
But here’s the thing… I HATE the fussiness of a water bath. Like literally abhor it. And even when I’ve used a water bath, I’ve still had cheesecakes crack. So I skip water baths entirely.
Yes, sometimes cheesecakes crack, but having a delicious topping to use on them covers those cracks right up.
And having a little lip around the edge of the cheesecake is the perfect way to keep all that delicious topping on the cheesecake.
Can you use a water bath with this recipe? Absolutely! Knock yourself out. Just keep in mind that the water bath slows the baking process down so adjustments may need to be made to the cook time.
Ingredient FAQs
Gingersnap cookies – There are all kinds of gingersnaps out there. From the super thin and crispy, to the thicker, chewier version. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need about 2 cups of crushed cookies. For testing, I used these.
Cream cheese – Go for the full fat. It’s dessert, not health food. And, make sure to get it to room temp before mixing so it incorporates smoothly with the other ingredients.
Pumpkin puree – You’ll need a 15-ounce can of plain pumpkin puree. Don’t use pumpkin pie filling. Really any brand of pumpkin puree will do.
Eggs – 4 large ones. Again, make sure they’re room temperature as they’ll mix in easier.
Corn syrup – This is going to help prevent your caramel topping from crystallizing and is going to give you more of that pecan pie flavor and texture. Either light or dark corn syrup will work.
Pecans – You’ll need 2 cups of coarsely chopped pecans. I like to use the large pecan pieces from Priester’s Pecans.
How to prevent cheesecake and pie crust cracks
There are many things I love about this recipe, but one of my most favorite parts is that it truly doesn’t matter if your cheesecake or pie crust cracks. No one will ever know! This delicious pumpkin cheesecake is topped with lots of chopped pecans and a caramel sauce that truly covers all flaws. So, even if you want to impress your Thanksgiving guests, the cracks truly won’t matter because they will never be seen.
However, if you are absolutely insistent on preventing all cracks, here are two methods you can use:
- Use a water bath – Scroll back up and read my notes about the whole water bath thing. I’ve used water baths in the past and still had cracks, but the additional moisture in the oven that is created and the slower cooking process does help some.
- Avoid sudden changes in baking temperature – Often times, cracks in the cheesecake occur when there is a sudden change in temperature. Two ways to avoid this happening are to allow your cheesecake to cool in the oven and avoid opening the oven door during baking. If you need a sneak peek, just turn on your oven light! Do not open the oven door during baking. And when your baking time is over, turn off the oven, crack the oven door, and leave your cheesecake to cool off in the oven for an hour.
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the cheesecake:
- 4 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 (15-ounce) can plain pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
For the topping:
- 2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup (light or dark)
- â…“ cup heavy cream
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9-inch spring-form pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine the crushed gingersnap cookies and butter. Stir well. Pour the mixture evenly into the bottom of the spring-form pan and press firmly to create a crust across the bottom and partially up the sides.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with a bowl and hand mixer) beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, and brown sugar and mix until well combined. Add the eggs and mix well. Add the pumpkin puree, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice and mix to combine.
- Pour the batter onto the crust. Lightly tap the pan on the counter to get out any air bubbles.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center still has a little jiggle to it. Turn off the heat, crack open the door to the oven, and allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven for about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and cool completely, then remove the outer ring of the springform. Refrigerate overnight to allow the cheesecake to firm up before serving (or at least 3 hours for those impatient folks).
- To make the topping, preheat the oven to 325°F and spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake them for 7 to 10 minutes or until just fragrant. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and heavy cream. Cook until bubbly, then stir in the toasted pecans, salt, and vanilla. Cool to room temperature and thick before pouring over the cooled cheesecake. Store tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Allow to come to room temperature for serving.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
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Hi!! I’m making this for thanksgiving and I was curious if I need to do a water bath while baking it? In the past, every time I made a cheesecake it called for a water bath and I want it to come out perfect!! Thanks!!
Hi there! You do not need a water bath for this one. I actually hate the fussiness of water baths, so I tested and wrote the recipe to bake up rich and creamy without all that extra trouble. Just follow the directions as written and pull it when the edges are set and the center still has a little jiggle. And don’t stress over any little cracks that might happen — I top mine with the topping anyway, and it covers them right up. Hope it’s a big hit on your Thanksgiving table!
Made this and served it at Thanksgiving this year and it went over very well. Everyone who tried it raved about it. That pecan topping is good enough to eat on anything (even by itself)!
It looks perfect! Thanks, Chris!
Disappointed with this recipe. There was not nearly enough caramel for the amount of pecans called for the topping and there was not caramel running down the sides of my cake I probably won’t make again, but my sister really enjoyed the flavor.
I’m sorry to hear it didn’t meet your expectations, but I appreciate the feedback! If you decide to give it another try, you can double the caramel sauce for more coverage and that drip effect. I’m glad your sister enjoyed the flavor, though—that’s a win! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Made it for Thanksgiving, I only have a pie pan, it worked great but was too much filling forced me to make a small second one, we suffered through it. Y’all, this is the best Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake ever. Thank you for sharing, I had to print this one.
I love that you made it work with the pie pan and ended up with a bonus cheesecake—what a delicious problem to have! I’m so glad it was a hit and that you printed the recipe to keep. Thank you for sharing your experience, and I’m thrilled you enjoyed it so much!
This looks amazing, cannot wait to eat!
Looks great! Sure hope y’all enjoy it!
quick question: where i live we do not have corn syrup in the supermarkets. what could be a good substitution for this?
Honey or maple syrup might work in this case.
I’m gonna make the pumpkin cheesecake for thanksgiving
Hope you’ll enjoy it, Gail!
The recipe is great, and tastes fantastic, but the website has way too many ads. Almost unusable on a smartphone without jumping back to the beginning.
Thank you so much for trying the recipe and for your kind words about how it turned out—I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I completely understand your frustration with the ads, though. They help keep the recipes free, but I’m always looking for ways to make the site more user-friendly. I appreciate your feedback and will definitely take it to heart!
I ain’t attempted to make this yet but goodness this looks amazing!! Can’t wait.
Sure hope you’ll enjoy it!
I made the pumpkin cheesecake for my daughter and her Co-workers, they loved it . and she gave a piece to her friend.
She said it was better than the one that she got at a restaurant.
Awesome! It’s beautiful!! So glad they enjoyed it!
This dessert was the best way to end a Thanksgiving fest.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it, Sue!
I made this cheesecake for the first time for yesterday’s Thanksgiving dinner, and it was a HUGE hit! Our hostess graciously provided to-go boxes so people could help themselves to the leftovers, and my cheesecake all but disappeared. This is definitely a keeper!
It’s always fun to have one of your dishes be the hit of the menu! Glad y’all enjoyed it!
Do you put the topping on and then chill it or is it better to put the topping on just before you serve it? I noticed in the picture the topping is dripping down the side of the slice so it seems like it would need to be room temperature to be that runny
I typically add the topping right before serving. Enjoy!
How do you get it from pan to platter?
Once it’s chilled, I just run an offset spatula between the crust and pan and slide it over onto a serving platter.
I love this option for Thanksgiving and also really don’t like to mess with the water bath. Do you it could be frozen with the topping?
It should work just fine frozen, but I’ve not tested that. If nothing else, you could freeze the cheesecake and make the topping when thawing it.
Can this be made in a regular pie tin?
Unfortunately not. This will be too much to fill a pie tin.
I noticed you did not bake the crust. I bake a lot of cheesecakes and have always baked my crust first. Does this recipe produce a crisp crust or does it remain soft?
Normally when you bake a crust its because there is sugar in the crust mixture and that sugar melts and holds it together when baked. With the gingersnaps for this crust being already sweetened we thought it was another step that wasn’t needed. You can absolutely bake it if you prefer!
Does the crust crisp or come out soft soft?
It’s not soft, soft, but it’s not crisp either – I guess. It has the texture of a standard ol’ graham cracker crust.
That looks and sounds delicious
It really is pretty good!