Pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere! You know it’s time to start baking when you start seeing mums and pumpkins on everyone’s front steps. Yearning for even more fall spirit, I’ve combined two of my favorite things, pumpkins and cheesecake, to create pumpkin cheesecake bars! The only way to make cheesecake even better is to make it handheld, so you don’t want to miss this on-the-go dessert.
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how to: Make Shortbread Crust
First, let’s start with the crumbly, sugary crust. A graham cracker crust can be used, but I love the simplicity of shortbread.
Begin by beating the butter, sugar, and vanilla until it’s light and airy.
Slowly incorporate the flour until the dough is formed.
Pour the dough into a lined 9×13 baking dish and cook until firm, about 10-12 minutes. Set aside to cool.
How to: make pumpkin Cheesecake Filling
A creamy pumpkin layer meets a sweet cream cheese topping to create an unbelievable pumpkin cheesecake filling!
Beat the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. If you have an electric mixer use it here! The cream cheese and eggs really need to be mixed thoroughly.
In a separate bowl, combine the pumpkin, heavy cream, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Whisk well until combined.
how to: assemble pumpkin cheesecake bars
Your baked shortbread crust should be slightly cooler at this point, but still be cautious when handling the warm pan.
Spread the pumpkin mixture evenly onto the crust.
Pour the cream cheese mixture over the pumpkin mixture.
If you’re feeling creative, swirl the end of your knife through the mixtures but be sure not to overdo it!
Ingredients Needed
Shortbread Crust
Pumpkin Filling
Cheesecake Topping
Materials Needed
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 heaping cup flour
Pumpkin Filling
- 15 oz pumpkin puree (1 can)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cloves
Cheesecake Topping
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For the shortbread crust, beat butter, sugar, and vanilla until well-mixed, about 3 minutes. Slowly add in flour until fully incorporated. Press the dough into a 2-quart (7×7) baking dish lined with parchment paper. Bake for 14-15 minutes and remove from oven.
- While the shortbread is baking, create the pumpkin filling and cheesecake topping. Whisk pumpkin puree, heavy cream, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- For the cheesecake topping, beat cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla in a separate bowl until light and creamy.
- Spread the pumpkin filling evenly onto the shortbread crust. Carefully pour the cheesecake topping overtop the pumpkin filling. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the middle is set. Cool and store in the fridge.
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What are some of your favorite pumpkin desserts to make in the fall? Share in the comments below!
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Oooh these look and sound really interesting! I’ve never tasted anything pumpkin flavoured before but I’m going to attempt a pumpkin soup this weekend. Pumpkin is so versatile!
Pumpkin soup sounds so tasty right now!!
Oh yummy!!!!!!! I never tasted pumpkin cheesecake before. This is good to try. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Pumpkin cheesecake is one of my favorite sweet combos!
Mmmh this looks so delicious and simple, just
love pumpkin season…
Unfortunately you cant buy pumkin puree over here, or at least I’ve never seen. Wish you could because this looks totally scrumptious.
No way! They can’t keep it on the shelves here in the US! I believe you can make your own from fresh pumpkins but it might be a lot of work
Pumpkin season is one of my favorites!
These look very yummy, and I am normally not a pumpkin person, but these I would like to try out. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I never had pumpkin cheesecake or anything similar, but your recipe sounds delicious. I will definitely try to make it.
It’s such a great combination!
That’s great! Thanks for reading
This looks utterly incredible! I have never tried pumpkin before but these cheesecake bars look so so delicious!
Thanks so much, I love a good dessert bar 🙂
My family will love this recipe with fall now here! Thanks fo sharing and cant wait to bake these!
I hope it’s a hit with the family!
Looks really yummy. Would definitely be good with a cup of coffee. How sweet is this? Is it something that kids can take to school as snacks?
They’re definitely not super sweet and would be good treats for after lunch maybe!
This looks so delicious! I love pumpkin so I’m going to be making these!
Great, I hope they turn out well!
wow these look absolutely delicious! I love autumn for baking! I’m sharing this with my sister who is an incredible baker!
Rosie
Thanks so much, I appreciate it!
fab blog
Thank you for reading 🙂
These sound amazing! I’m going to bookmark this and make it over the weekend. Thank you so much for sharing this comprehensive cooking guide.
That’s so sweet, thank you!
I have to be honest, I’m not a fan of pumpkin but I’ve never tried it in a sweet treat before – we’re going to be carving ours shortly so this year will be the year I try pumpkin again but not in soup!
I’m a much bigger pumpkin fan in sweet things compared to savory!
I love shortbread crust. That sounds perfect with pumpkin cheesecake bars. And your recipe sounds easy enough that I can make it with my kids.
I love a good shortbread crust!
These look delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
I absolutely love a good cheese cake, but I’ve never tasted pumpkin in my life, I don’t think it’s a common item we eat in the UK. I’ll have to see if it’s even possible to get pumpkin puree in the UK
So interesting! I hadn’t realized it wasn’t as prevalent in the UK as it is in the US!
I’m a huge pumpkin fan, especially in the autumn, so this is totally a recipe I want to try! I love the idea.
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
Me too! Thanks for reading!
Oh I love anything pumpkin for fall! I will have to try these out! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Thanks for reading! I hope they’re tasty for you!
Shortbread crust? Wow! It looks so appetizing, and I would love to try it even though I am not a huge fan of pumpkin. Do you think the recipe would work with any other variations besides pumpkin?
I’m not sure but could see myself trying it with fruit pie filling, maybe blueberry or cherry!
yum yum need to make this
Thanks 🙂
Omg these look amazing! Can’t wait to try them out! Also your blog looks great, I’m off to pin some more recipes 😊
Aww thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
I’m not a huge pumpkin lover but these sound delicious.
Thank you!
These look good, Kalin! I love it that pumpkin can be used in recipes as either a fruit or a vegetable, even though it is technically a fruit. It’s delicious in desserts and still fabulous in savory dishes like curry.
It’s so versatile! I love that about pumpkin
Pingback: 50 Best Pumpkin Recipes of 2020 to Make This Fall
I love this time of year with all the pumpkin-based recipes — this sounds delicious!
Ooooh these look amazing! Since I live in a place that doesn’t have fall, but fall is my favorite season, I have to eat my way to fall. 😉 Thanks for this!
Haha that sounds like a great plan!
Me too, I love pumpkin sweets!
Great post! These look super yummy and very easy to make!
They really are! Thank you
Yum! These look amazing! My husband loves cheesecake, so we will have to try this recipe!
I hope he loves these! They’re not quite as sweet as actual cheesecake but still taste nice 🙂
Yum! I love pumpkin and cheesecake, so this is the most perfect combination. I cannot wait to try this recipe out! I think it will be perfect for Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing!
I can’t wait to make them for Thanksgiving too!
Oh wow those look amazing!
Thank you!
I’ll be honest, I’m not always the biggest fan of pumpkin – but that’s primarily because all of the US has labeled everything “pumpkin spice” during the autumn season and only like… 2% of it is actually made with pumpkin haha! However, this sounds delicious. ACTUAL pumpkin and cheesecake combined? Yes please! I’ll have to try them soon!
Yeah I’m not a fan of all the PSL things but love actual pumpkin!
OMG your recipes make me so hungry they all sound so good! I have to try this out. Thank you so much for sharing all of these amazing recipes!
Thank you so much, that’s so sweet!
These look and sound delicious! 🙂
thank you!!
This looks so delicious 😍 the perfect fall snack 👌🏻
I agree!!
Awesome recipe! These look super yummy!! And they’re great for the fall season ❤️
Fall is great for pumpkin everything!
I can’t believe I have never tried pumpkin before! These look utterly delicious! I really need to give them a go!
Pumpkin desserts are my favorite in the cooler months!
This would be a perfect dessert for thanksgiving! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Thanks for reading!
This will easily be a holiday favorite. I love how easy it is to veganize as well.
That’s great, thank you!!
Hmm… this looks great. I love everything with a shortbread crust. I will give it a try.
You can’t go wrong with a shortbread crust!
whether its a dessert or a soup I love Pumpkin because it is so healthy and some can‘t really recognize the pumpkin in there. 🙂 This looks really delicious and thank you for another option of making shortbread crust.
Thank you! I need to work on more savory pumpkin recipes like soup
These look absolutely fantastic! Pumpkin is one of my favourite ingredients to bake with. So many possibilities!
It’s so versatile and I love using it all through the holiday months.
This sounds so easy to make and delicious! I love pumpkin in just about anything, including cheesecake. Thanks for sharing this sweet treat!
Thanks for checking it out – cheesecake is a favorite of mine!
I think my favorite pumpkin recipe is pumpkin bread with cranberries and pecans. However, my husband absolutely loves cheesecake so this now is his favorite! Great flavor and texture in these bars.
Yum that bread sounds amazing! I recently bought cranberries and am looking for new ways to use it!
These look super yummy! I like desserts with pumpkin. Pinned for later.
Thanks for checking it out!
My sister loves anything pumpkin related so I am sure she will appreciate these for sure! They look absolutely delicious and easy to make, thanks for sharing x
Yum! These pumpkin cheesecake bars are delicious! I ate them all in one day!
These pumpkin cheesecake bars are a little bit of heaven! I love pumpkin everything in the fall… especially treats like this. Thank you for the wonderful recipe.
These look SO good! 😋🤩I can’t wait to try them! Thank you so much for sharing!
I’ve never tried pumpkin cheesecake before and these look delicious… thanks for sharing
looking forward making this where pumpkin is the main ingredient!
Absolutely divine! What a great recipe. All my favorite autumn flavors, and that shortbread crust layer is truly inspired.