This pumpkin pecan cheesecake is the ultimate festive dessert for your holiday table. It has a graham cracker crust, creamy baked pumpkin cheesecake filling, and caramel pecan topping.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Line a springform pan with parchment paper, set aside.
Graham Cracker Crust
Stir graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Pour in melted butter and stir.
200 grams graham cracker crumbs, 56 grams unsalted butter, 50 grams brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt
Firmly press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the lined springform pan. Bake for 5-8 minutes.
Remove the crust from the oven and lower the temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius).
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Place a roasting pan on the bottom rack and fill with 4 cups of hot water. This is a water bath that keeps the cheesecake from cracking.
Beat cream cheese and sugars together in a large bowl with an electric mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until creamy and lump-free. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
Add the sour cream, mixing on low speed until smooth. Then beat in the vanilla, cornstarch, pumpkin spice, and salt.
120 grams sour cream, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, ½ teaspoon salt
Mix in the eggs one at a time on low speed. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl after eggs 2 and 3.
3 large eggs
Mix in the pumpkin puree on low. Once it's mostly mixed in, fold with a rubber spatula to pop air bubbles.
318 grams pumpkin puree
Pour the cheesecake filling on top of the crust. Smooth it out, then place the pan in the oven directly above the water bath. Bake for 60-70 minutes until the edges are set and the center is puffed and jiggles stiffly like Jell-O.
Turn off the oven and crack open the door. Cool the cheesecake inside for 1 hour. Take it out of the oven and cool on top of it to room temperature.
Cover the cheesecake with aluminum foil and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight.
Caramel Pecan Topping
In a medium bowl, stir the pecan halves into the caramel sauce.
100 grams pecans, 200 grams caramel sauce
Release the sides of the springform pan and transfer the cooled pumpkin cheesecake to a cake stand. Spread the caramel pecan mixture on top of the cheesecake, slice, and serve!
Notes
You can use store-bought or homemade salted caramel sauce for the topping.Storage: Store the whole cheesecake in a large airtight container, like a cake carrier, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.Freezing: Freeze the cheesecake without the caramel pecan topping. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze in a large freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.