I love a good pumpkin cheesecake, and this one is especially good. The recipe comes from Food & Wine’s Best of the Best Cookbook Volume 10. The first thing about this dessert that piqued my interest was the sugared pumpkin seeds. I’ve sugared pecans plenty of times at Christmas (a tradition) but never pumpkin seeds! Why didn’t I think of that?!
Sunflower seeds, you’re next.
I appreciate the nuances of flavor in the crust; slightly nutty with the addition of pecans and just a hint of ginger. Every component of this cheesecake is well composed. It does take a little time to make, but it’s the real deal.
Embrace the beauty of the water-bath method. It’s so worth the effort.
Sugared pumpkin seeds are so easy to make and great for a quick snack!
Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake
with Sugared Pumpkin Seeds
Adapted from Tish Boyle’s recipe in Food and Wine’s Best of the Best Volume 10
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan. Wrap the outside of the pan in an 18 inch square of heavy duty aluminum.
2. Place flour, sugar, salt, pecans and ginger in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the pecans are finely ground. Add cold butter and process until crumbs form. Add water and process in bursts until the dough starts to come together in clumps. Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling:
1 cup pumpkin puree (canned is fine)
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 lbs (20 oz, or 2 1/2 eight oz. bricks) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tbsp cornstarch
4 large eggs
1. In a medium bowl whisk together pumpkin puree, heavy cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon , ginger and salt. Set aside.
2. In a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese at medium-low until creamy (approx. 2 mins). Gradually add sugars and beat until blended. Add pumpkin mixture and beat until blended. Add cornstarch and beat until just combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down bowl as necessary.
3. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the batter onto the cooled crust. Place the aluminum-wrapped pan in a roasting pan or large baking pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come up 1 inch up the sides of the springform pan. Bake 70-80 minutes, or until set and slightly wobbly. The cake will completely set as it cools.
Whipped Cream Topping
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1. In a standing mixer with the whisk attachment, beat heavy cream until it begins to thicken slightly. Add in granulated sugar a little at a time.
2. Beat until stiff peaks form. Use to top cheesecake, or pipe in decorative swirls. You may also serve this on the side.
Sugared Pumpkin Seeds:
1/2 cup hulled raw pumpkin seeds
1 egg white
Pinch of salt
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1. Line a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment, or grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Whisk egg white until frothy. Place pumpkin seeds in another bowl, and pour in just enough egg white to coat the seeds. You will most likely not use the entire egg white. Add salt, sugar and cinnamon. Toss well to coat.
3. Spread seeds on baking pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes until they begin to dry and color. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Note: I broke the sugared seeds into large pieces and used them as a sculptural garnish for the cheesecake. If you do this, be sure to top the cheesecake just before serving so the seeds stay crispy. These can also be served alongside the cheesecake in a pretty dish.
That is spectacular looking and I bet it tastes amazing!
Unknown
13 years ago
I bet this is worth every single ounce of effort. And I LOVE your cake stand. So RAD!
Mary Anne
13 years ago
This looks wonderful and looks like my Thanksgiving Dessert this year! Thanks for posting this one…
Heidi
13 years ago
This is awesome. 🙂 I'm already planning my Christmas cheesecake. We have a big family Christmas party and some of us show off by what dessert we bring. I'm making a lemon raspberry cheesecake topped with lemon curd and raspberry puree. I think I'll win. lol
Heather Baird
13 years ago
You will!!!
Jessica @ How Sweet
13 years ago
i think these are the most gorgeous pictures of any recipe i have ever seen on a blog. GORGEOUS!
Irvin @ Eat the Love
13 years ago
I'm in LOVE with the sugared pumpkin seeds! I recently made pistachio brittle for a project and now I just want to candy anything/everything. Pumpkin seeds sounds like perfect for the upcoming holidays.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
13 years ago
That is gorgeous! I've never seen such a intricate cheesecake.
vanillasugarblog
13 years ago
YES! Girl you done this just right.
Love the addition of the sugary pumpkin seeds.
xoxo!
Rosie @ Sweetapolita
13 years ago
Gorgeous and intriguing, Heather! The cheesecake itself looks incredible, but I also love your Heather-spin on it all. Stunning!
Anonymous
13 years ago
Wooooow it looks amazing!! :O
Glory/ Glorious Treats
13 years ago
This is just so gorgeous!!
Anonymous
13 years ago
Amazing! Can this be made the night before or does it need to be served right after you make it?
Rosa's Yummy Yums
13 years ago
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rosa's Yummy Yums
13 years ago
What a gorgeous cheesecake! I really love the sugared pumpkin seeds.
Cheers,
Rosa
Paula
13 years ago
This is a stunning looking cheesecake and the addition of the pecans in the crust and the sugared pumpkins seeds are a beautiful finishing touch.
Lili
13 years ago
Your images always make me sigh. I just love looking at the styling and the little details that just make me want to jump through the screen and see it all in person. Oh this one is just so very pretty Heather! You know, I didn't even realize there were seeds inside the pumpkin seeds, in fact I think I even ate them whole before…yikes! xo ~Lili
Lora
13 years ago
Outstanding decoration on this beautiful cheesecake. Wow!
Sara
13 years ago
This is such a pretty cheesecake! Looks like it would be a perfect unique dessert for Thanksgiving. Great flavors!
Unknown
13 years ago
Every thing you make is perfection…who eat't these creations?
Valerie Harrison (bellini)
13 years ago
Sugared pumpkin seeds are a stroke of genius!!
Karyn
13 years ago
That is the most beautiful cheesecake I have ever seen! Just amazing! You are a wonderful inspiration and when I grow up, I want to bake just like you!
RedPoppy
13 years ago
oh boy, this looks absolutely scrumptious and delicious. You are amazing! x
redpoppyfashion.blogspot.com
www.you-made-that.com
13 years ago
Lovely cheesecake, I've been craving one and in fact I am making one tomorrow. What a creative way to use the pumpkin seeds.
Zo @ Two Spoons
13 years ago
Wow, looks stunning! I've seen so many pumpkin cheesecakes and been like…bleh! This is the first one that has got me drooling and actually wanting to make and eat one! Maybe because it looks so fluffy and light. Anyway, thanks for converting me 😀
Salomé
13 years ago
Gorgeous! I'm goingo to make it… Besos
il cucchiaio magico
13 years ago
wow! che fantastica ricetta e complimenti per il bellissimo sito
megan @ whatmegansmaking
13 years ago
This is a beautiful cheesecake! The topping makes it stand out especially. I had a pumpkin cheesecake I'd seen in a magazine that I wanted to make, but I think I'm going to switch to this one since it's been tested and approved! 🙂
katarzynka
13 years ago
OMG, sugared pumpkin seeds look just amazing!
Liz
13 years ago
love it, love it, love it . A fan from Germany 😉
Liz
Anonymous
13 years ago
This cake is out of this world beautiful. Great job!
Heather (Heather's Dish)
13 years ago
this looks so dainty and beautiful!
Cookin' Canuck
13 years ago
Oh my, that is a work of art. The sugared pumpkin seeds are a wonderful idea – they look beautiful and I'll bet they taste pretty darn good, too.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
13 years ago
I love pumpkin cheesecake but that addition of sugared pumpkin seeds is such a good idea as a topping. Looks amazing!!
Manding.
13 years ago
um dreamiest cake and DREAMIest cake stand 😀 this would be dangerous to bake though considering i might just eat all the sugared pumpkin seeds before the cake is baked !!!
ps, http://amandamantes.blogspot.com !
emily
13 years ago
another gorgeous dessert! i love pumpkin cheesecake – far more satisfying than pie, in my opinion. you should check out bonnie stern's recipe for butternut squash & bocconcini salad. it's incredibly yummy and comes with a recipe for pumpkin-seed brittle. not a dessert, but a great fall salad and the brittle is heavenly!
Meg @ write meg!
13 years ago
As I'm absolutely addicted to anything pumpkin, this has to be moved onto my "must be created and consumed" list! And your photos are gorgeous.
Kathryn O
13 years ago
What an unbelievably beautiful cheesecake! I am obsessed with pumpkin and I love your addition of sugared pumpkin seeds. Brilliant!
Nic@diningwithastud
13 years ago
Those sugared pumpkin seeds are such a great idea 🙂 perfect for a little snack too
kelsey_the farmer's daughter
13 years ago
This sounds amazing! And is so beautiful. I love the idea of sugared pumpkin seeds…they add such a nice touch!
reyhan kokulu mutfağım
13 years ago
görüntü harika tadıda eminim çok güzeldir ellerine sağlık…
Unknown
13 years ago
Yum! Yum! Cheeeeeesecake. Wait. I forgot that I shouldn't be here due to my need to scale back from vacation eating! I just can never resist coming to your beautiful blog.
Cookbook Queen
13 years ago
Oh this looks almost too good to eat! I mean…I'd manage a piece or three somehow,though 😉 The filling looks so creamy and decadent. And sugared pumpkin seeds? It's like a candy dessert for after dessert.
Laurie {Simply Scratch}
13 years ago
Seriously, I don't think I've seen anything as pretty as this!!
Southern Elle
13 years ago
This is gorgeous! And such a tasty set of flavors. Hope I have the patience to throw it together half as lovely as this.
Unknown
13 years ago
I'm so in love with ur blog 😉 Great!
Sue
13 years ago
Can't get much better than a pumpkin cheesecake, unless you add sugared pumpkin seeds, of course! 🙂
Renata
13 years ago
I don't think I have ever seen such a beautiful pumpkin dessert! I love the idea of the sugared pumpkin seeds.
Irene @ H.V.R.
13 years ago
Great pictures! Very tempting and mouth drooling. The instructions are also easy to follow. I will make my own batches of these and hope that it will also look good and taste good.
Gorgeous! Love the sugared pumpkin seeds!
That is spectacular looking and I bet it tastes amazing!
I bet this is worth every single ounce of effort. And I LOVE your cake stand. So RAD!
This looks wonderful and looks like my Thanksgiving Dessert this year! Thanks for posting this one…
This is awesome. 🙂 I'm already planning my Christmas cheesecake. We have a big family Christmas party and some of us show off by what dessert we bring. I'm making a lemon raspberry cheesecake topped with lemon curd and raspberry puree. I think I'll win. lol
You will!!!
i think these are the most gorgeous pictures of any recipe i have ever seen on a blog. GORGEOUS!
I'm in LOVE with the sugared pumpkin seeds! I recently made pistachio brittle for a project and now I just want to candy anything/everything. Pumpkin seeds sounds like perfect for the upcoming holidays.
That is gorgeous! I've never seen such a intricate cheesecake.
YES! Girl you done this just right.
Love the addition of the sugary pumpkin seeds.
xoxo!
Gorgeous and intriguing, Heather! The cheesecake itself looks incredible, but I also love your Heather-spin on it all. Stunning!
Wooooow it looks amazing!! :O
This is just so gorgeous!!
Amazing! Can this be made the night before or does it need to be served right after you make it?
This comment has been removed by the author.
What a gorgeous cheesecake! I really love the sugared pumpkin seeds.
Cheers,
Rosa
This is a stunning looking cheesecake and the addition of the pecans in the crust and the sugared pumpkins seeds are a beautiful finishing touch.
Your images always make me sigh. I just love looking at the styling and the little details that just make me want to jump through the screen and see it all in person. Oh this one is just so very pretty Heather! You know, I didn't even realize there were seeds inside the pumpkin seeds, in fact I think I even ate them whole before…yikes! xo ~Lili
Outstanding decoration on this beautiful cheesecake. Wow!
This is such a pretty cheesecake! Looks like it would be a perfect unique dessert for Thanksgiving. Great flavors!
Every thing you make is perfection…who eat't these creations?
Sugared pumpkin seeds are a stroke of genius!!
That is the most beautiful cheesecake I have ever seen! Just amazing! You are a wonderful inspiration and when I grow up, I want to bake just like you!
oh boy, this looks absolutely scrumptious and delicious. You are amazing! x
redpoppyfashion.blogspot.com
Lovely cheesecake, I've been craving one and in fact I am making one tomorrow. What a creative way to use the pumpkin seeds.
Wow, looks stunning! I've seen so many pumpkin cheesecakes and been like…bleh! This is the first one that has got me drooling and actually wanting to make and eat one! Maybe because it looks so fluffy and light. Anyway, thanks for converting me 😀
Gorgeous! I'm goingo to make it… Besos
wow! che fantastica ricetta e complimenti per il bellissimo sito
This is a beautiful cheesecake! The topping makes it stand out especially. I had a pumpkin cheesecake I'd seen in a magazine that I wanted to make, but I think I'm going to switch to this one since it's been tested and approved! 🙂
OMG, sugared pumpkin seeds look just amazing!
love it, love it, love it . A fan from Germany 😉
Liz
This cake is out of this world beautiful. Great job!
this looks so dainty and beautiful!
Oh my, that is a work of art. The sugared pumpkin seeds are a wonderful idea – they look beautiful and I'll bet they taste pretty darn good, too.
I love pumpkin cheesecake but that addition of sugared pumpkin seeds is such a good idea as a topping. Looks amazing!!
um dreamiest cake and DREAMIest cake stand 😀 this would be dangerous to bake though considering i might just eat all the sugared pumpkin seeds before the cake is baked !!!
ps, http://amandamantes.blogspot.com !
another gorgeous dessert! i love pumpkin cheesecake – far more satisfying than pie, in my opinion. you should check out bonnie stern's recipe for butternut squash & bocconcini salad. it's incredibly yummy and comes with a recipe for pumpkin-seed brittle. not a dessert, but a great fall salad and the brittle is heavenly!
As I'm absolutely addicted to anything pumpkin, this has to be moved onto my "must be created and consumed" list! And your photos are gorgeous.
What an unbelievably beautiful cheesecake! I am obsessed with pumpkin and I love your addition of sugared pumpkin seeds. Brilliant!
Those sugared pumpkin seeds are such a great idea 🙂 perfect for a little snack too
This sounds amazing! And is so beautiful. I love the idea of sugared pumpkin seeds…they add such a nice touch!
görüntü harika tadıda eminim çok güzeldir ellerine sağlık…
Yum! Yum! Cheeeeeesecake. Wait. I forgot that I shouldn't be here due to my need to scale back from vacation eating! I just can never resist coming to your beautiful blog.
Oh this looks almost too good to eat! I mean…I'd manage a piece or three somehow,though 😉 The filling looks so creamy and decadent. And sugared pumpkin seeds? It's like a candy dessert for after dessert.
Seriously, I don't think I've seen anything as pretty as this!!
This is gorgeous! And such a tasty set of flavors. Hope I have the patience to throw it together half as lovely as this.
I'm so in love with ur blog 😉 Great!
Can't get much better than a pumpkin cheesecake, unless you add sugared pumpkin seeds, of course! 🙂
I don't think I have ever seen such a beautiful pumpkin dessert! I love the idea of the sugared pumpkin seeds.
Great pictures! Very tempting and mouth drooling. The instructions are also easy to follow. I will make my own batches of these and hope that it will also look good and taste good.