Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does pumpkin cheesecake taste like pumpkin pie? ›

Pumpkin puree is featured prominently in the cheesecake batter, rather than merely spices. The texture of the cheesecake is fluffy and soft, but dense enough to feel substantial. There's sufficient pumpkin taste to be distinct, but not so much that it turns into a pumpkin pie.

Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special. It also includes extra eggs and egg yolks to provide and smooth consistency.

The addition of cream gives a velvety, smooth texture, but too much of it and you begin to mask the cream cheese flavor. Sour cream supports the underlying tang of the cream cheese, but, if overdone, it takes over as the dominant flavor. You need a little of each -- cream for texture and sour cream for flavor.

When the batter is overmixed, too much air is added and will cause your cake to rise in the oven and then collapse and crack when being removed. Don't overbake your cake.

This is a “Kirkland Signature” (store brand) bakery item.

The key difference between baked and no-bake cheesecakes is the former's superior texture. Baked cheesecakes have a dense, fluffy, moist and smooth texture, which is not possible with the recipe for no-bake cheesecake.

Go with speculoos or crisp ginger snaps for a spicy kick that works well with cheesecake or cream pies, vanilla wafers or animal crackers if you want something more subtle, or chocolate wafers or even Oreo cookies for something dark and chocolate-y.

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

Eggs and milk have high protein and moisture content, and they're the primary ingredients in cheesecake, so when cheesecake is left at room temperature, conditions are ripe for bacteria to multiply. According to the USDA's Food Keeper App, cheesecake should be consumed within 5 to 7 days of refrigeration.

To prevent serious cracking, cheesecakes should always be baked in a moderate (325 to 350 degrees) oven. Thick cheesecakes (greater than 1½ to 2 inches deep) bake more uniformly at the lower end of this temperature spectrum.

Can I use half-and-half in cheesecake instead of heavy cream? ›

To substitute for 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream, combine 7/8 cup (232 grams) of half-and-half with 1/8 cup (29 grams) of melted butter. This substitute works in virtually any recipe, including those that require whipping.

Luckily, there are other ingredients you can use to substitute for sour cream, from plain yogurt to evaporated milk to cottage cheese.

Cheesecake is clearly a different animal from bundts or cupcakes, but sour cream has a place here too! Combined with even more densely rich cream cheese, sour cream actually tempers the star ingredient a touch, softening its texture. It also adds another layer of tangy flavor and moisture to a cheesecake.

By Merriam-Webster's definition, cake is a bread-like dessert that's baked from a thick batter. And cheesecake's qualities don't fit that bill. On the other hand, while cheesecake is closer to a pie given its crust and filling structure, it doesn't quite fit alongside those types of flaky desserts either.

The flavor is pumpkin-forward with a subtle, if not slightly too subtle, spice.

Cheesecake has a rich and creamy flavor with a slightly tangy and sweet taste. The texture is smooth and dense, often with a buttery graham cracker crust, making it a decadent and indulgent dessert.