Name: Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 825 min
Ingredients: 2½ cups graham cracker crumbs; ¼ cup brown sugar; ¾ cup salted butter (melted); 32 ounces cream cheese (room temperature); 1½ cups sugar; pinch of salt; 6 large eggs (room temperature); ½ cup heavy cream; ½ teaspoon vanilla; 1 cup pumpkin

Jump to Recipe

The simplest Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake that’s definitely inspired by the Fall/Autumn weather change. This super easy cheesecake is made from a few simple ingredients that become two ultra creamy fillings and a delicious graham cracker crust! A perfectly sweet vanilla base that gets swirled with an ultra smooth and creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling. Its’s a beautiful light cream color with bright pops of orange swirl running through the top. Enjoy each slice of this cheesecake with a dollop of Chantilly Cream, and homemade vanilla ice cream for that extra special touch that we all need this Fall season. This creamy, seriously rich, extra delicious, pumpkin and vanilla flavored dessert is really not like any other cheesecake you’ve had before. The best part? It’s actually SO simple and will be the star of your Thanksgiving or just your every-night dinner table!

cheesecake on white plate with a slice next to it, flowers, pumpkin, milk glass, and plates behind

→ This post is also available as a Web Story: Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

About The Recipe

The Fall/Autumn season needs homemade pumpkin bakes! Other than just being a classic combo, there is actually just something comforting about the temperatures dropping and the smell of pumpkin bakes in the oven.

This cheesecake is definitely no exception!

My mom has been baking up cheesecakes for 30 years, but I have to say…this is the best one yet.

The classic vanilla filling is elevated and somehow made so much better when you mix in some pumpkin and swirl it all together. It’s light and fluffy, yet creamy, smooth, and just SO good.

cheesecake on a white plate and napkin with flowers, pumpkin, and plates behind

cheesecake slice on a white plate with flowers and milk glass behind

My mom used to sell hundreds of cheesecakes when she owned her restaurant. It was = probably one of the most popular desserts…for good reason! But, this pumpkin swirl cheesecake triumphs all.

Even if you aren’t a pumpkin lover, you will fall for this cheesecake!

three slices of cheesecake on plates with flowers and white pumpkin behind

Equipment Needed

Ingredients

For The Crust:

Graham Crackers
Brown Sugar
Butter

graham crackers, brown sugar, and butter on marble counter

For The Cheesecake:

Cream Cheese
Sugar
Salt
Eggs
Heavy Cream
Vanilla
Pumpkin

sugar, cream cheese, pumpkin, cream, salt, eggs, and vanilla on a marble counter

Instructions

In the largest bowl of the food processor, place in graham crackers and pulse until crumbly.

graham crackers crumbs in a food processor

Add in melted butter and brown sugar. Pulse until combined.

melted butter and brown sugar added to the food processor

graham cracker mixture in food processor

Dump the crumbs into a 10-Inch springform pan. Press the sides and bottom down evenly. Set aside.

In the mixer with the beater attachment, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.

cream cheese and sugar beaten in a mixer

Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Stir in the cream and vanilla.

vanilla and cream added to cheesecake mixture

Pour 2 1/2 cups of batter into a medium bowl and whisk in the pumpkin.

With the remaining vanilla batter, pour into the graham cracker crust. Pour the pumpkin batter over the top and swirl through with a toothpick or cake tester.

vanilla cheesecake poured into the crust

Place the cheesecake on a roasting pan and set on an oven rack. Carefully pour in boiling water until the water reaches about 1/2 way on the springform pan.

water being poured into pan with cheesecake inside

Bake for 75-80 minutes. Take out of the oven and carefully remove the springform pan from the roasting pan. Remove the foil and set on wire cooling rack to let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours, or overnight.

After the cheesecake has been refrigerated and is thoroughly set, remove from the springform pan, and serve!

cheesecake on a plate with a knife, napkin, flowers, plates, milk, and white pumpkin behind

What To Serve With This Cheesecake…

For me, this cheesecake is the pinnacle Thanksgiving dessert. So, I always recommend to serve with Thanksgiving goods…but here are a few recipes to give a try!

How To Store

You can keep this cheesecake in a covered container in the fridge for about 4-7 days. You could also freeze individual slices (or just the whole cheesecake!) to keep it good until the big day.

pumpkin swirl cheesecake with three slices

Expert Tips

25 sheets of graham crackers is basically the whole box, minus 2 or 3!
Make sure you have full fat cream cheese. No spreads, no reduced fats. You can’t make this with anything but actual cream cheese.
Don’t be afraid of the water-bath! It’s actually really easy and isn’t as scary as you may think.
Make sure all the ingredients are room temperature!
To make un-molding the cheesecake easier, run a thin-bladed knife around the edges before it cools completely.

When you make this Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.