Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with Gingersnap Crust
The perfect two bite Thanksgiving dessert recipe. Creamy spiced mini pumpkin cheesecakes baked on top of a gingersnap crust.
Every year making pumpkin cheesecake feels like a requirement. You’d think it’d be pumpkin pie but no, for some reason I’ve been making my absolute favorite apple pie and pumpkin cheesecake for as long as I can remember. We don’t have a huge Thanksgiving celebration with extended and distant relatives, so two desserts is usually enough. I know that sounds completely insane. One can never have too many desserts, right? I always make sure I save enough room for dessert. A slice of apple pie is an absolute must for me. I’ll forego everything else if it means having a slice of pie. Okay that’s not entirely true. I want rolls and stuffing and mashed potatoes and turkey and corn.
Truthfully, I can’t give up any of it. It’s not possible. I’m the one stuffed when it’s all over. I’m sure you know the feeling.
But back to these mini cheesecakes. I get in trouble when I make full size cheesecakes these days because I don’t eat them. *Gasp* Nope. Remember… I save room for pie. Every other member of my family will and does very happily enjoy the cheesecakes created though, but the little humans in our house are limited in their portions. So this time I opted for mini cheesecakes. Practically a two bite treat which would of course leave you plenty of room for insanely delicious pie. Smaller portions equal more room for variety. It’s worth a try anyway.
So if you want a small version, make these. But if you prefer a full size pumpkin cheesecake, I’ve still got you covered. Both are crowd pleasers.
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with Gingersnap Crust
Ingredients
Crust
- 20 gingersnap cookies
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 C light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 C pumpkin puree
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp cloves
- 1 large egg
Topping
- Fresh whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F°. Lightly grease mini cheesecake pan with baking spray.
- In a food processor, process cookies into fine crumbs. Add granulated sugar and melted butter, combining well. Divide equally among cheesecake pan cavities. Use a small flat bottom item such as a shot glass to press down on cookie crumb mixture. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325F°.
- In a medium to large bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin, sour cream, salt, vanilla and spices. Mix well. Finally, add egg mixing only until completely combined. Do not over mix. Divide among cheesecake pan cavities. *Roughly 6 teaspoons or 2 tablespoons of filling per pan cavity. Using a small cookie scoop, add roughly three scoops per cavity. Do not overfill. There should be a 1/4" gap between cheesecake mixture and top of the pan. Tap pan on counter gently to force any air bubbles to the top.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes in a 325F° oven. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before transferring to the refrigerator to chill overnight.
- Top off with optional fresh sweetened whipped cream prior to serving.
I follow you on Facebook
I pinned the post
Andrea Celesia
I’m thankful for my kids and my better half V! They make life amazing!
I’m a fan of both on Facebook.
I follow both on Twitter.
I tweeted about the giveaway via @MooshuJenne
I am thankful for my cute little house that I bought ALL BY MYSELF after my divorce, and the adorable doggies that live with me.
myfoxypup(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a fan of Baked by Rachel and Butterball on Facebook
Follow Baked by Rachel and Butterball on Twitter
I’m thankful for my husband helping me figure out how to live my life with chronic illnesses. I’m not sure what I would do without him!
I’m a fan of Baked by Rachel already!
I liked Butterball on Facebook!
I already follow you on Pinterest, and I pinned this post! ;)
As I prepare to get in line to receive my graduate degree, I am so thankful for my parents, for working incredibly hard to put me through school so that I can have a good life.
I am thankful for my healthy kids!
I like you both on FB
I follow you both on twitter
I tweeted https://twitter.com/liznelson21502/status/265886835589390336
I follow and pinned: http://pinterest.com/pin/272116002456599380/
I am thankful for my family, good health and being employed.
I am a fan of Baked by Rachel on Facebook
I am a fan of Butterball on facebook.
I Follow Baked by Rachel on twitter @stacyLkurtz
I follow Butterball on twitter @stacyLkurtz
tweet:
https://twitter.com/StacyLKurtz/status/265892548847996928
I subscribe to your email
I am thankful for my family and the friends that God has placed in my life. They are always supportive and the sweetest people!
I’m thankful for the health of my friends and family!
I subscribe to Baked by Rachel via email :)
I’m thankful for my family, friends and health.
I’m a fan of Baked by Rachel and Butterball on Facebook.
I Follow Baked by Rachel and Butterball on Twitter.
@winsome6
tweeted
https://twitter.com/winsome6/status/265908754040639489
Email subscriber of yours.
I follow you on pinterest and pinned.
http://pinterest.com/pin/267893877805839863/
thankful for my siblings!
Tweeted, Pinterest, Facebook…..done! I am thankful for my husband, family, life and finding great recipes online!
i am thankful that my family is healthy and we can do everything for ourselves when there are so many people that have to rely on someone else to do the simplest things.
thanks for the recipe, i would be baking this for my family on Thanksgiving.
I am thankful for my kids! I have 3 biological and 3 stepchildren! So that’s 4 under 10! One of my stepsons is autistic, and he brightens my life every day! But I would never make it without the love of my husband! We don’t have much, but we have love!
I am thankful for America, my favorite country in the entire world!
Liked you both on Facebook :)
What a wonderful giveaway! Those cheesecakes are too darn cute, I love individual desserts! What am I thankful for this year – I have a nice house, a loving family, and a safe place to live. I would definitely be donating this check to someone how needs to for Thanksgiving!
Shared on Facebook here: https://twitter.com/LifesDeepColors/status/265956362255757312
I follow both of you on twitter
Tweeted here: https://twitter.com/LifesDeepColors/status/265956843996708864
Pinned and followed: http://pinterest.com/pin/36028865740444843/
I’m thankful for family, my parents who guided me through life and still lead by example, my husband, my best friend, a son I couldn’t be more proud of, 2 brother’s and a sister who are all amazing people.
Liked both Facebook, and following you on pinterest
I’m thankful for my parents, my boyfriend, my best friend (basically my sister), and the rest of my family and friends!
I subscribe to your feed via RSS.