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This cheesecake was born 100% out of my love and longing for rich, creamy, pumpkin pie.
Pumpkin pie is one of those foods that just makes me so happy. Are you with me on this? I feel like pumpkin pie is just essential Fall food. And it’s one that we should all try falling in love with at least once a year.
I started dreaming up some crazy pumpkin pie recipes last week, but by the time I hit the grocery store this weekend my brain had zoomed in and locked down on the idea of a pumpkin cheesecake. And of course, not just any pumpkin cheesecake! But one with a brown butter graham cracker crust! One made extra creamy by the addition of fresh, homemade ricotta cheese. One that gets topped with grand marnier whipped cream! And lemme tell ya, the grand marnier whip is not to be missed! That stuff is da-da-daaaaaangerous!
Cheesecake is one of those things that is always a little nerve wracking, but this recipe is actually very simple – most of it comes together in your blender(awesome!!!) – and totally pays off! I highly suggest sticking to the recipe – or at least very, very close to it – if this is your first rodeo with cheesecake, since playing around with ingredients/ratios really can make or break things with this one. And nobody wants a broken cheesecake!
Look at that slice! I wish you could take a bite right now. Mainly because I want you to taste how creamy and rich and not-too-sweet but wonderfully pumpkin-y each bite is, but also because I need some help eating this thang! A girl can only eat so many pieces before… eating more pieces? That’s the logic I’m sticking with until reinforcements get here!
First ones to Brooklyn get dibs on the last 3 slices 😉
See you guys tomorrow for the LAST day of pumpkin week! Bring your spoons (hint hint!).
Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake with Brown Butter Crust and Grand Marnier Whipped Cream
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake Filling:
- (2) 8 oz packages of cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 3 large eggs + 2 egg yolks
- (1) 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Brown Butter Graham Cracker Crust:
- 2 cups graham crackers, pulsed into crumbs
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 7 tablespoons butter, browned
For the Grand Marnier Whipped Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar (plus more if a sweeter cream is desired)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons grand marnier
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).
Make the crust:
- In the body of a blender combine graham crackers, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and sugar. pulse until the crackers have been completely pulsed to crumbs. Add melted browned butter; stir well to combine. Press down into a 9-inch springform pan, pressing the crust down firmly and up the sides. Wrap the pan VERY well in layers of tin foil; set aside.
Make the filling:
- Beat cream cheese and ricotta in a blender until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sugars and spices, pulse until well combined. Add flour and vanilla and pulse for another 30 seconds, or until flour has completely disappeared into the batter. Don't over mix! Pour filling into crust, and spread evenly. Place the springform pan in a large baking pan (with high sides) and fill the pan halfway with hot water; this is your water bath. Place the cheesecake in the oven and cook cheesecake for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Turn oven off and let the cheesecake sit for 45 minutes inside the oven with the door shut. The cheesecake should be still slightly wiggly. Remove cake from oven, run a knife very gently around the edge of the cake, and let it sit in the pan for 15 more minutes before covering loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerating for at least 4 hours. When ready to serve, top with a dollop of whipped cream and enjoy!
Make the Whipped Cream:
- Place the cream in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment and beat on high until stiff peaks begin to form. Add sugar, grand marnier, orange zest, and vanilla, and beat for another 2 minutes. Dollop on top of cheesecake slices, or place in the refrigerator until needed. Keeps for 48 hours.
I love cheesecake but never have made it from scratch, but now that you are throwing pumpkin in there I think I might as well move straight to this version! YUM!
Ashley, this look ah-mazing from top to bottom! I love the sound of it all, and I’m with you on the love for pumpkin pie. I can’t wait for my first slice — I wish it was this!
This cheesecake is the epitome of perfection. Pumpkin is by far my favorite fall flavor. Pinned!
Best. cheesecake. ever.
I’m getting on a plane and coming to New York. Like now.
I love pumpkin cheesecake! This looks heavenly!
Woah, this cheesecake looks incredible!
Well, now I want pumpkin cheesecake AND miss Brooklyn! This sounds so good, & definitely perfect for fall.
That is the most photogenic little slice of pumpkin cheesecake I have ever seen.
HOLY CRAP!! I do not even love cheesecake and this is calling my name! The brown butter crust, the ricotta and the Grand Marnier whipped cream!! It all just screams amazing!! LOVE this!
I can’t wait to make this – I’ve looked at the recipe and the pictures twice now. YUM!
Your cheesecake looks heavenly!
Please, do not let Pumpkin Week end!! Love this.
I just figured out what my husband is baking me for my birthday!! He is the cheesecake master!!
This looks amazing- I’m such a cheesecake FREAK!
Are. you. kidding. me?!!! This thing is perfect!! I’ve never used ricotta in a cheesecake and now I’m anxious to try it out. This looks amazing. Grand marnier whipped cream? BEST use for GM ever!!
I’m so glad to have found your blog this morning through Kristen at Dine and Dish. What a generous gesture for her to feature bloggers on her Facebook page. And what a delicious sounding cheesecake! It’s definitely on my must-make list.
you need to really start a cookbook. im not kidding. your recipies are amazing! xO!
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I know it’s gonna taste awesome just by looking at it, but great pics too!! The perfect slice…
OMG I share the same love for rich, creamy, pumpkin pie!!! This looks beyond amazing, Ashley! I’d do anything if I can even get a bite of this. I’ll be thinking about this all day, seriously.
WHOA BABY!!! I don’t even know where to begin. I want it all!! Gorgeous!
Mmm, this looks so yummy! Love that you added ricotta for more creaminess. And brown butter in the crust?!…girl, you’re so smart 😉
Awwww thanks babe! xo
Ricotta cheesecake has been on my to-do list forever. Love your pumpkin version and the brown butter crust!
I was wondering how much moisture you leave in your ricotta for this cheesecake recipe. I do make homemade ricotta, and there can be quite a lot of whey left in the cheese for a wet ricotta or very little for a dry one. I don’t want the cheesecake to be a flop.
Hi there! I used the ricotta I linked to in the post, which is a whole milk homemade version. It certainly isn’t overly wet, but also not at all dry; you could perhaps use the photos in the post as a reference? I suppose I would lean toward a drier ricotta – or one resembling the same amount of moisture found in a store bought container. Please let me know if you have more questions, and good luck! xo Ashley
I’ll check the ricotta link, thanks. This is on my holiday menu this year.
That truly is a beautiful slice of cheesecake. I have to admit, I’m not a huge lover of pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake, but because it’s such a big Fall tradition, and because I adore Fall SO much, I always eat at least one slice of the stuff at Thanksgiving. However, with the addition of a brown butter graham crust and grand marnier whipped cream, I might be changing my tune! Oh how I wish I could make it to Brooklyn!
Ashley, LOVE that you used part ricotta and part cream cheese in your version of pumpkin cheesecake! I admire how you put your Italian twist into all you do. Grand Marnier makes everything better, doesn’t it? Beautiful photography, too. Love that first shot. It sold me! Thanks for sharing, girl. Pinning!
WOW. This looks like the PERFECT pumpkin pie. Truly!
I love using ricotta cheese in my desserts! This sounds phenomenal. Thank you so much for sharing!
Looking forward to making this and I want to get it right right down to the presentation. Would you tell me what is drizzled on the plate? Thanks!
Hi Margaret! It’s just a little honey 😉
Would it be ok to mix the pumpkin cheesecake in a 12 cup Food Processor instead of a blender? Can’t wait to make this looks so YUMMY!!!! an I love cheesecake and pumpkin whats not to love
Hi Debi! I’m so happy you’re excited to make this 🙂 I think a food processor will work just fine. Good luck!
Do you think that there could be a gluten free version of this? Do you think Almond flour could be substituted instead of regular flour and the graham crackers? We have some gluten intolerant people in our household.
Thanks!
Hi Caylie! I think just leaving the flour out of the batter, or substituting it with a GF all-purpose flour would work. As for the crust, I think hunting down some GF graham crackers may do the job? Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Looks delicious! I’m planning on making it for Thanksgiving, but…we’ll be traveling across the state. Would it keep in a cooler with ice for, say, 3 hours in a car? Or should I just make it when I get to my destination…in your opinion?
Thanks!
Hi Sarah! I would definitely recommend making if once you’ve reached your destination. Cheesecakes are so temperamental as it is, you don’t want to take any chances 😉 happy baking!
Is there a preferred pan size for this recipe?
Did you use a springform pan?
Cheers!
Hi Lisa! I used a 10 inch springform pan. Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
No Grand Marnier when I made it, but Amaretto worked very nicely. As I had used half almond meal with the graham crackers, the flavors were very complimentary.
The cheese cake came out so light and fluffy! It was fantastic. But I had to cook it quite a bit longer than the recipe. Had to have a trial run which I did a couple weeks ago. Definite go for Thanksgiving.
1. You should tell people to use room temp ingredients
2. It does not work blending cream chz and ricotta alone in a blender, it should be a mixer
3. You ALWAYS need a water bath with cheesecake
Hi! Thank you for your input. However I did in fact bake this cheesecake with no water bath and it turned out perfectly. Also, the ricotta and cream cheese came together in my blender just fine.
Have a great week!
I have made this cheesecake twice and each time the middle was still liquid after the recommended cook time. Do you have any recommendations as to what I may be doing incorrectly or a new cook time? I’m not the best at guessing on time and I think I’ve over-cooked it both times (although it was still DELICIOUS!!).
Hi Sarah! Do you let the cheesecake stand in the hot oven with the door closed for the instructed time? I would add no more than 30 minutes of baking time. The cheesecake will be wiggly in the middle, but after the cooling (at least 4 hours in the fridge) it will firm up but remain creamy. Since every oven is different, I can’t say for sure that will work, but I think it will. Add the 30 minutes and let me know how it comes out 🙂 happy thanksgiving!
I can’t find the oven temperature to cook the cake??????
Hi Eileen. The first section of the instructions notes to set the oven to 325 degrees (F). That is the temperature you bake the cheesecake on.
Happy thanksgiving!
made this for thanksgiving and everyone loved it! It made so much that i was able to split it in two pie crust. I bought the pre-made pie crust and they worked out great! will make again next year!
Hi Melissa! I’m so happy you loved this recipe! Hope your holiday was wonderful 🙂
Everyone at Thanksgiving loved this, thanks for sharing!
Hi!
Just want to confirm the tin foil wrapping is for the exterior of the spring form pan to protect against the water bath?
Thanks!
Yes! I suggest wrapping it well to ensure no water no leaks in 🙂
I love your gorgeous site! Your recipes looks amazing! I would love to put this on my menu for TG this year ( planning early!). Do you think making it the night before would be ok? Thank you!
Yes, definitely! You could even bake, chill, wrap, and freeze for up to two months!
I love this recipe and make it every fall! Have you ever adapted it for mini sizes in a regular muffin tin? I’m wondering if it would do OK without the water bath and just need less time, or if it wouldn’t translate. THANK YOU!
This looks amazing! Do you have a link to the baking dish you used for the water bath?
My family loves real, old fashioned style cheesecake made with ricotta – like my mom and grandma used to make. I only have the recipe for plain cheesecake though so when I came across this recipe is sounded good but I was skeptical because there are no reviews. Well, I am so glad that I tried this – it is by far the BEST pumpkin cheesecake we have ever had…everything is just perfect about this recipe! I messed up on a couple of the steps but it still turned out great and I cannot wait to make it again this Thanksgiving to share with the entire family that is coming over – I think I will need to make two of them, LOL. Oh, and the Grand Mariner topping…out of this world with flavor and a perfect match to the cheesecake.
Do you have a Chocolate Cheese Cake recipe?