Outstanding Pumpkin Walnut Cheesecake Recipes

THE BEST PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the gingersnap cookies, melted butter and salt to a food processor. Process until the crumb mixture looks like coarse sand, about 30 seconds. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until it is fragrant and golden brown, about 12 minutes.
• Remove the crust to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Wrap the bottom and sides of the pan tightly with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the sour cream, vanilla and salt and beat just until combined.
• Scoop 3 cups of the cheesecake filling into a medium bowl. Add the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and 1/4 cup water and stir with a rubber spatula until well combined. Bring a pot or kettle of water to a boil.
• Fill a 1-cup measure with plain cheesecake filling and pour into the center of the cooled crust. Fill a 1-cup measure with pumpkin filling and pour into the center of the plain filling. The batter will spread as you add alternating scoops, widening to form concentric circles. Repeat with the remaining batter in 1/2-cup increments alternating between flavors, until all the batter is used.
• Carefully place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the foil-wrapped pan.
• Bake until the top of the cheesecake is lightly browned around the edges, but the center is still jiggly, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until the center becomes just slightly jiggly, about 1 hour (see Cook's Note).
• Carefully remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a wire rack. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• For the spiced pumpkin seeds: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the pumpkin seeds, oil, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt and cloves in a small bowl. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• For the pumpkin caramel: Melt the sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until caramelized and dark amber (a digital instant-read or candy thermometer should register 245 degrees F), about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally with a whisk. Lower the heat to low. Carefully whisk in the heavy cream and butter and continue stirring until melted, about 1 minute. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, ginger and cloves until combined. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving.
• To serve: Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Unlock the springform pan and remove the ring. Sprinkle the spiced pumpkin seeds around the top outer edge of the cheesecake. Dip a knife in a warm water and wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of the pumpkin caramel.

PUMPKIN WALNUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugars until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin, cream, cinnamon and cloves until blended. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake at 325° for 1 hour. For topping, in a small bowl, combine butter and brown sugar. Stir in walnuts. Carefully sprinkle over hot cheesecake. , Bake 45 minutes longer or until center is just set. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan.

ALMOST-FAMOUS PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Brush a 10-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter with the crumbs, 1/4 cup of the sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the pan, packing it tightly and evenly. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on a rack, then wrap the outside of the springform pan with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Add the remaining 2 1/2 cups sugar and beat until just light, scraping down the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Beat in the sour cream, then add the pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, 1 teaspoon salt and the spices and beat until just combined. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out) and pour the boiling water into the roasting pan until it comes about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake until the outside of the cheesecake sets but the center is still loose, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and open the door briefly to let out some heat. Leave the cheesecake in the oven for 1 more hour, then carefully remove from the roasting pan and cool on a rack. Run a knife around the edges, cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring the cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Unlock and remove the springform ring. To finish, place a dollop of the whipped cream on each slice and sprinkle with the toasted pecans.

PUMPKIN WALNUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Crust: Melt 1 stick butter in microwave. Crush cereal and 1/2 cup walnuts in small food grinder/processor. Place ingredients in bowl and add 1/2 cup sugar. Mix well. Pat into bottom and sides of springform pan.
• 2. Cake: Beat cream cheese with mixer until light. Add 1/3 cup sugar and beat again. add 1 cup brown sugar, add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition. Add canned pumpkin, pumpkin spice, heavy cream and corn starch. Mix well.
• 3. Pour into springform pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour 35 minutes or until firm around edges and still soft in the middle. Cake will continue to cook.
• 4. Topping: Combine 1 stick butter and 1 cup brown sugar. Add 1 cup walnuts. Mixture will be crumbly. Sprinkle over cake and refrigerate overnight.

PUMPKIN-WALNUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9-inch springform pan.
• Mix zwieback crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter in a medium bowl until well combined. Press firmly into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
• Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add 3/4 cup white sugar and brown sugar gradually, until well mixed. Beat in eggs one at a time until mixture is light and fluffy. Add pumpkin puree, cream, and pumpkin pie spice and beat on low speed until incorporated. Pour mixture on top of the chilled crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 35 minutes.
• While the cheesecake is baking, mix brown sugar, walnuts, and butter for topping together in a small bowl until crumbly.
• Remove cheesecake from the oven and sprinkle with walnut topping. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Refrigerate before serving for several hours, or overnight.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH WALNUT AND ROLLED OAT CRUST

Steps:

• CRUST: In a mixing bowl, cream together shortening, water, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar, Slowly add flour, oats and walnuts. Press mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of a greased 9-inch springform pan,. Bake in a preheated 325F oven for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Increase oven temperature to 450°F.
• FILLING: In a large mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese and sugar until fully combined. Add flour, nutmeg and cinnamon and combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing just to incorporated each egg. Do not overmix.
• Fold in pumpkin. Pour mixture into prepared crust. Bake 10 minutes. Lower heat to 225F and bake for 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Turn oven off, slightly opening door to allow for cheesecake to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours. (Cheesecake may crack).

VERMONT PUMPKIN WALNUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Blend Zweiback crumbs, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and melted butter in a med sized bowl.
• Press firmly over bottom and up side of a lightly buttered 9 inch springform pan and chill.
• Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with mixer at medium speed until smooth.
• Add sugars gradually, beating until well mixed.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, until mixture is light and fluffy.
• Beat in pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and heavy cream at low speed.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake at 325* for 1 hour and 35 minutes.
• Remove cake from oven; sprinkle with walnut topping and bake an additional 10 minutes.
• Cool cake on wire rack; refrigerate several hours or overnight.
• Garnish with whipped cream and additional nuts, if desired.
• Walnut Topping: Combine butter and brown sugar until crumbly.
• Blend in walnuts.