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Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

Ingredients

  • Crust:
  • 1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 c. butter melted
  • 1/4 c. granulated sugar
  • Cheesecake:
  • 4 - 8- oz. blocks cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cupsgranulated sugar
  • 1/3 c. sour cream at room temperature
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 c. pumpkin puree*
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
  • topping suggestions: salted caramel and whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Make the crust: Pour the graham cracker crumbs into a medium bowl and stir in ginger, cinnamon, sugar, and melted butter until combined. Mixture will be sandy. Press firmly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan about 1-2". No need to grease the pan first. I use the bottom of a measuring cup to pack the crust down tightly. Pre-bake for 10 minutes. Allow crust to slightly cool as you prepare the filling.
  3. Make the filling: Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sour cream and vanilla extract, then beat until fully combined. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until just blended. After the final egg is incorporated into the batter, stop mixing. To help prevent the cheesecake from deflating and cracking as it cools, avoid over-mixing the batter as best you can.
  4. Scoop out 2 cups of batter and place in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in the pumpkin, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice until combined. Begin adding spoonfuls of each batter, the plain and the pumpkin, on top of the crust. Alternate until all the batter is used and pan is filled. Using a toothpick or knife, swirl the batters together by dragging the toothpick top to bottom, then left to right.
  5. I did not cook my cheesecake in a waterbath; instead I put a pan of hot water on the bottom rack under the cheesecake.
  6. (Note: if you notice the cheesecake browning too quickly on top, tent it with aluminum foil halfway through baking.) Bake cheesecake for 55-70 minutes or until the center is almost set. When it’s done, the center of the cheesecake will slightly wobble if you gently shake the pan. Turn the oven off and open the oven door slightly. Let the cheesecake sit in the oven for 1 hour as it cools down. Remove cheesecake from the oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  7. Use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim. Add toppings, if desired. Using a clean sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean and dip into warm water between each slice.
  8. Cover and store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  9. My cheese still cracked, but when you slice it and put cream on top, no one knows and who would care anyway, it's still delicious.

Recipe Notes

*Refer to https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/pumpkin-cheesecake/ for tips on cheesecake.