Description
This Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake delivers a creamy, spiced cheesecake with a marbled pumpkin swirl. It’s rich, visually stunning, and surprisingly simple to make, giving your holiday table a showstopping dessert that tastes as good as it looks.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
A pinch of salt
For the Cheesecake Filling:
4 packages (8 oz each) full-fat cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
1. Prep and Crust: Preheat oven to 325°F. Wrap bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with heavy-duty foil. Mix crust ingredients and press into pan. Bake 10 minutes and cool.
2. Master Batter: Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix until just combined.
3. Incorporate Eggs: Add eggs one at a time on low speed until just incorporated. Divide batter in half.
4. Create the Swirl: Fold pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice into one half.
5. Layer and Swirl: Alternately dollop plain and pumpkin batters over crust. Swirl gently with a knife or skewer.
6. Bake Smart: Place springform on a baking sheet. Place oven-safe pan of hot water on bottom rack. Bake 60-75 minutes until edges are set and center slightly jiggles.
7. Crucial Cool Down: Turn off oven, crack door, cool inside for 1 hour. Cool completely, then refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Notes
Use full-fat, room-temperature ingredients for best results.
Do not overmix eggs into batter.
Avoid rushing the cooling process to prevent cracks.
Optional: swap crust with gingersnap crumbs for spice.
Add a sour cream topping: mix 1 cup sour cream, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, spread on warm cheesecake and bake 5 more minutes.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60-75 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Holiday
- Method: Baking, Swirling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 240 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg