How to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake

Chef John's spiced pumpkin cheesecake takes time, but the fluffy texture and rich flavor is worth the wait.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 45 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 893 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs
• canola oil cooking spray
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese at room temperature
• 2 (15 ounce) cans pure pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon bourbon whiskey
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.25 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 0.5 cup white sugar
• 0.25 cup butter, melted
• 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger
• 0.5 cup brown sugar
• 0.25 teaspoon ground allspice

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Stir gingersnap crumbs, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, and melted butter together in a bowl until mixture resembles sand. Stir 1 egg yolk into crumbs until thoroughly combined and crust mixture holds its shape when pressed.

Step 2

Move a rack to the center position in oven. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Step 3

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray, spread crumbs into pan, and press crumbs into a firm crust going about 1 inch up the side of the pan. Place the pan on a heavy sheet of aluminum foil and bring the foil up the sides of the pan to the rim, crumpling it close to the pan and making a barrier to prevent water from leaking into the cheesecake. Place the foil and springform pan into a large roasting pan.

Step 4

Place cream cheese, 1 cup brown sugar, and white sugar into the work bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment; mix low speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Raise speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 3 more minutes.

Step 5

Place pumpkin puree in a separate large mixing bowl; stir in cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, salt, vanilla extract, and bourbon whiskey until combined. Whisk 1/4 cup flour into pumpkin mixture, followed by eggs and yolks. Whisk cream cheese mixture into pumpkin mixture until filling is completely smooth and free of lumps. Pour filling into crust; use a spatula to lightly and rapidly jiggle the filling in the center of the cheesecake to help shake out any bubbles.

Step 6

Carefully place cheesecake in roasting pan onto center rack of oven and fill roasting pan with enough very hot (almost boiling) water to reach halfway up the side of springform pan.

Step 7

Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the filling reads 155 to 160 degrees F (70 degrees C), about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Check temperature after 1 1/2 hours. Filling will still be slightly jiggly in the center.

Step 8

Turn off oven heat and open oven door for a few seconds to let out most of the hot air. Use a thin knife to separate cheesecake edge from inside of pan to help prevent cracking. Close oven door almost all the way, leaving a small opening (about 1 inch) to release additional heat. Let cheesecake cool in warm oven for 1 hour to finish setting. Remove cheesecake from water bath and let cool to room temperature on a counter, 2 to 3 more hours. Cover cheesecake with aluminum foil and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 3 hours but preferably overnight.

Step 9

Use a folded paper towel to remove any moisture that has formed on top of the cheesecake before releasing and carefully lifting the pan from the cheesecake.