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Craving pumpkin pie and cheesecake but don’t want to make both? This no-bake pumpkin cheesecake is for you! It’s creamy, pumpkin-y, and the perfect fall dessert! Not to mention that the graham cracker crust is homemade and tastes just like the ones from your favorite bakery. And the best part is that this no bake pumpkin cheesecake recipe is it only takes a few minutes to put together. So go ahead and indulge in your pumpkin cravings without even having to touch your oven!
Fall is in the air, and that means one thing: pumpkin season! This year, skip the traditional pumpkin pie and try this delicious no-bake pumpkin pie cheesecake recipe. It’s easy to make and tastes like a cross between a cheesecake and pumpkin pie had a baby pie! Plus, it has a homemade graham cracker crust that takes it over the top. So why not give it a try? Your taste buds will thank you!
This was SO easy to make. It was nice to make one dish that didn’t make the day more hectic. 5 stars for the easiness of it but also for the taste! My whole family thought it was delicious!
–Kristin
Table of Contents
- Recipe at a glance
- Summary
- Ingredients You’ll Need For Your no bake pumpkin cheesecake pie
- How to make A no-bake pumpkin cheesecake
- Tips for making the best no-bake pumpkin cheesecake
- Substitutions & Additions
- How to Store No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Frequently asked questions
- More dessert recipes to try:
- No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe
Recipe at a glance
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: No-bake
Dietary Info: Vegetarian
Key Flavor: Creamy pumpkin with a hint of cinnamon
Skill Level: Intermediate
Summary
- Real pumpkin! This recipe uses real pumpkin puree, not the pumpkin pie filling in a can that is often cloyingly sweet with a bunch of extra additives that really take away from the flavor of the pumpkin.
- So easy! This no-bake cheesecake comes together quickly and easily, without having to turn on your oven. The hardest part is letting it set and then trying not to sneak a piece before you serve it to your guests!
- The perfect fall dessert! This no-bake pumpkin pie cheesecake is perfect for all your fall celebrations! Halloween, Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, you name it! It’s also great for taking to potlucks and parties. Just make sure you have a few extra copies of the recipe on hand because everyone is going to want it!
- Can be made ahead of time. This cheesecake can be made a day or two in advance, which is great if you’re entertaining or short on time. Just make sure to keep it covered tightly in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Ingredients You’ll Need For Your no bake pumpkin cheesecake pie
This recipe does have two parts, the buttery graham cracker crust, and the creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling. You can choose to modify where you need to. For example, I like to make my graham cracker crust from scratch, BUT if you want to skip that part and use a store-bought crust, that’s totally fine. Just make sure to use a deep dish crust, so everything fits!
For the no-bake filling you’ll need:
- Cream cheese: Full-fat cream cheese works best for this recipe because it’s nice and creamy.
- Pumpkin puree: You can either make your own pumpkin puree or use the canned stuff. Just make sure to get 100% pure pumpkin, not the pie-filling mix!
- Sugar: This recipe uses white granulated sugar. You can use brown sugar if you like a stronger molasses flavor.
- Heavy cream: Ever made your own whipped cream? If not, then get ready to! It’s so easy! If you prefer to skip making your own, you can use 8oz of store-bought whipped cream.
- Spices: A pinch of salt and cinnamon is really all you need. If you’re a fan of pumpkin spice, you can replace the cinnamon with a blend. You can also add other specific spices like ginger, nutmeg, all-spice, etc., to taste.
For the Graham cracker crust, you’ll need:
- Graham crackers: You can use either the regular or honey graham crackers for this recipe.
- Butter: Unsalted butter works best, so you can control the amount of salt in the recipe, but salted butter will work in a pinch.
- Sugar: Brown sugar goes extremely well with the graham cracker flavor, but you can use white granulated sugar if that’s all you have.
- Spices: A pinch of salt and a sprinkle of ground ginger give the crust a little extra flavor.
How to make A no-bake pumpkin cheesecake
- Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the sugar, pumpkin puree, salt, and cinnamon. Whip smooth.
- Beat the heavy cream to form stiff peaks and add to the cream cheese.
- Fold in gently.
- Place all of the ingredients for the graham cracker crust in a food processor.
- Blitz until combined.
- Press into a prepared springform pan.
- Add on the pumpkin pie cheesecake topping.
And that’s it! Just set it in the fridge and let it set, so the mixture holds well together. And then, carefully remove the springform pan and transfer the pumpkin cheesecake to a serving dish.
I made this last year, and it was PHENOMENAL! My husband and I looked forward to it for dessert for as long as it lasted after Thanksgiving, which was not long😅 I’m most excited about this for the meal this year! –Joan
Tips for making the best no-bake pumpkin cheesecake
- Use a flat-based, round measuring scoop to help compact the sides and base of the crust. This will also help reduce the crumbs in the corner.
- Don’t use pre-whipped cream cheese. It’s best to use brick cream cheese rather than whipped cream cheese, as it will not hold its shape when cut. You can, however, soften the cream cheese before whipping it to reduce the possibility of clumps and lumps in the final product.
- Add gelatin for a more firm structure. Unfortunately, without gelatin or a very large amount of powdered sugar, no-bake cheesecake is not going to be stable out of the fridge for long. In a no-bake cheesecake, you have to rely on the fats and sugars – which are very sensitive to temperature changes. If you’d like to add gelatin, you’ll need 1 envelope (.25 oz each) of unflavored gelatin added in step 4 with the pumpkin puree.
- Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan gently. Go very slowly when removing the outside, and rotate gently to keep the crust from crumbling. Remember, the cheesecake is not baked, so it’s more fragile.
Substitutions & Additions
- Crust Variations: Instead of the specified crust ingredients, you can use Biscoff cookies, ginger snap cookies, or even chocolate cookie crumbs for a different flavor profile.
- Dairy-Free Options: Use dairy-free cream cheese and whipped topping to make this cheesecake suitable for those with dairy restrictions.
- Sweetener Swap: If you prefer, substitute the granulated sugar in the filling with a sweetener like maple syrup or honey for a different taste.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of nutmeg, ginger, or allspice to the filling for extra warmth and spice.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: For a more complex flavor, replace the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice in the filling.
- Topping Choices: Garnish with chopped nuts, caramel sauce, or a sprinkle of cinnamon for added texture and flavor.
How to Store No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
This no-bake cheesecake recipe is best served the day after you make it, but if you do have leftovers, they will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Keep the cheesecake covered so that it doesn’t dry out.
If you are not planning on enjoying this pumpkin cheesecake straight away, freezing is a great option. Let it chill in the springform pan, covered with plastic wrap as per the recipe. Once solid, wrap again in foil and place in a freezer bag. It will keep well for up to 3 months and can be thawed in the fridge overnight before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Ensure your whipped cream is beaten to stiff peaks, and avoid over-mixing when folding it into the cream cheese mixture. Also, chilling the cheesecake for at least 8 hours or overnight is crucial for it to set properly.
It’s best to use store-bought pumpkin puree for this cheesecake. Homemade puree can often have too high a water content, so your cheesecake won’t be firm. Be sure to buy pure pumpkin puree, not one with and spices or sugar added.
A springform pan is ideal for easy removal of the cheesecake, but if you don’t have one, you can use a regular pie dish lined with parchment paper.
Dip a sharp knife in hot water, wipe it dry, and then slice. Repeat this between cuts for cleaner slices.
This pumpkin cheesecake that you don’t have to bake is so perfect for all the fall holidays. It has all of those spiced pumpkin pie flavors, and I love that you can make it ahead of time without using the oven. We all loved this, and I’m pretty sure you will too!
More dessert recipes to try:
- Cranberry Almond Cake
- Cranberry Cheesecake
- Easy Pecan Pie
- Vegan Pumpkin Pie
- Apple Bread Pudding
- No Bake Cheesecake Cups
- Vegan Pudding
- Easy Apple Pie
- Vegan Lemon Pudding
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
Video
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 7 tablespoons butter melted
Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling
- 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 15oz can pumpkin puree
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup granulated sugar divided
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place a sheet of baking parchment over the base of a 9” springform pan. Place the open exterior ring around the base and close it so the parchment is sealed in the ring. Trim the excess from around the outside.
- In food processor, combine all crust ingredients and blitz 2-3 times until crumbs are all moistened.
- Press the crumbs into the springform pan and up the sides to a bit over ¼” thick. Press the mixture along the base, thinning out the corners. Freeze the crust while you prepare the filling.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a handheld electric mixer on med-high speed until light and fluffy. Add ½ cup sugar, pumpkin puree, salt and cinnamon. Whip until smooth and there are no chunks of cream cheese. Beat on low until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, beat the heavy cream to soft peaks on medium speed. Add remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar and beat to stiff peaks.
- Fold whipped cream into cheese and pumpkin mixture gently so that you deflate as little of the air as possible.
- Remove the crust from the freezer. Scrape the pumpkin mixture into the crust and level.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight to set. Remove from springform pan and serve with whipped cream, if desired.
Notes
- Instead of cream cheese, you can substitute up to 4 ounces of it for full fat sour cream or Greek Yogurt.
- I don’t recommend using your own pumpkin puree because the water content is too high for the no-bake structure of this cheesecake.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
I followed this recipe carefully, and it came out too runny. 🙁
So sorry to hear this didn’t come out as expected. Was your whipped cream beaten to stiff peaks? Also, it’s important to avoid over-mixing when folding it into the cream cheese mixture. Also, chilling the cheesecake for at least 8 hours or overnight is crucial for it to set properly.
I make this WONDERFUL no bake cheescake every Thanksgiving. I just finished making 3 of them. It is the best recipe I have found. I do 1 tsp. Cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice. Never needs the gelatin it sets up perfectly. My family raves about it. Thank you!!! Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving! So glad you love this recipe!
How much gelatin to add to make it remain stiff when not in the fridge?
If you’d like to add gelatin, you’ll need 1 envelope (.25 oz each) of unflavored gelatin added in step 4 with the pumpkin puree.
Hello! Just curious, do you have to mix the gelatin with water or do you just put it in as powder? I’ve seen other cheesecake recipes that involve mixing gelatin powder with water, and I was wondering if this was the case!
There is no need to add liquid here since we’re adding it to the pumpkin puree.