Description
A rich and creamy cheesecake with a stunning pumpkin swirl that captures the cozy flavors of fall. This foolproof recipe combines classic New York-style cheesecake with spiced pumpkin for a festive dessert perfect for Thanksgiving or any autumn celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup sour cream (room temperature)
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Optional: Whipped cream, caramel drizzle, chopped pecans or walnuts for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Press into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 8–10 minutes and let cool.
- Beat softened cream cheese until smooth, about 3–4 minutes. Add sugar and vanilla, beating until creamy. Mix in eggs one at a time on low speed. Fold in sour cream until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, flour, and brown sugar until smooth. Fold in 1 cup of the cheesecake batter to create the pumpkin swirl mixture.
- Pour plain batter over crust. Drop spoonfuls of pumpkin mixture on top and swirl gently with a knife to create marbled effect.
- Place pan on baking sheet and pour hot water halfway up sides for a makeshift water bath. Bake 55–65 minutes until edges are set and center slightly jiggles.
- Turn oven off, crack door, and let cheesecake cool 1 hour inside oven. Then cool fully on rack and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
Notes
Use room temperature ingredients to ensure a smooth batter. Don’t overmix to avoid cracks. Allow full chill time for best texture. Perfect for make-ahead holiday entertaining!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: pumpkin swirl cheesecake, fall dessert, thanksgiving cheesecake, creamy pumpkin cheesecake, autumn baking
