Description
A dead simple, no-bake pumpkin cheesecake for Harvest Festivals and Thanksgiving alike.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Crust
- 1 250g packet ginger biscuits, blended to yield 2 cups fine crumbs
- Zest of 1/2 small orange (or tangerine)
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 cup (60g) butter, melted
Filling
- 300g light cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups peeled, steamed and drained pumpkin (or other sweet squash), blended to yield 1 cup (240 ml) purée
- 1/4 cup (60g) brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- Pinch allspice
- Pinch ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) double cream
Topping
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) double cream
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1/2 small orange/tangerine
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
Instructions
- Make the crust by mixing the biscuit crumbs with the zest and butter and pressing into a 10-inch (25cm) pie tin. Chill while you make the filling.
- Mix the cream cheese with the pumpkin, sugar and spices until well-blended.
- In a separate bowl, whip the cream with the vanilla into firm peaks, then gently fold into the pumpkin mixture.
- Spoon filling into chilled crust, spread evenly and chill overnight.
- Just prior to serving, whip the cream and vanilla for your topping and pipe it onto the cheesecake to make a decorative pattern. Sprinkle with lemon and/or orange zest and serve.
Notes
- I have been asked if this tastes much like pumpkin pie and the answer is yes.
- It tastes enough like the ‘real’ thing to satisfy traditionalists, but is different enough that I’m happy eating it.
- It’s essentially a fresher, milder and zingier version of what you might be used to. 2.
- If you are lucky enough to live in a country where ‘Speculaas’ (or similar) biscuits are available, use those for the crust instead – amazing.
- If you can’t find them, or ginger biscuits, blend up some gingerbread men, or else use graham crackers and add a pinch of powdered ginger and nutmeg.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 360