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Saturday, November 19, 2011

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust



Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only four days away? November is flying by...

In my family it's a given that I will be bringing dessert to the big meal. Actually, I'm cooking most of the big meal and the desserts. It's practically a law that pumpkin has to be on the dessert table but only a few of my brood will eat pumpkin pie so I wanted to make something this year that kept me in compliance with Thanksgiving Law but more of my family could enjoy.

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake it is. Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust to be exact.

I've been itching to make a crust with Biscoff cookies and it was perfect here. I loved the spiciness of the cookies against the smooth cheesecake. Gingersnaps or a traditional graham cracker crust would be great too. Because the star here is the filling.


I like my cheesecake to be firm, but not dense, creamy, but not spongy. Using a mixture of cream cheese and mascarpone provides exactly the texture I love. A small layer of pumpkin cheesecake is the first layer and then returns to provide the swirl, and the pretty, to the finished cake. The pumpkin is very subtle here and should satisfy the pumpkin lovers and fool the pumpkin haters.

In the spirit of efficiency I made the cheesecake early and popped in the freezer. I couldn't wait that long to taste it though. I had to check to see if it was worthy of serving my guests, didn't I? Mini cheesecake to the rescue. I love this cheesecake and don't know if I can wait four days to have my second serving. I hope you will give it a try and that you and your family love it too!


Here are a few other recipes that are the perfect ending to your holiday feast:

Ginger Custard Pumpkin Pie - a spicy, rich riff on traditional pumpkin pie
Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce - one of my favorite desserts, ever
Apple Pear Cranberry Honey Creme Mini Pies - I will be making these delectable pies too
Sweet Potato Bread with Orange Glaze - so easy and so delicious
Pecan Pie Cookies - addictive, pop-in-your-mouth versions of the classic
Chocolate Pudding - nontraditional, but I need some chocolate this year and these puddings are like chocolate crack

Linking to:

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust
crust recipe via Bakerella
cheesecake recipe adapted via Kokocooks

For the crust:
1 1/2 cups crushed Biscoff cookies, about 27 cookies
3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
6 tablespoons butter, melted

For the cheesecake:
2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, at room temperature
4 ounces mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 large egg yolks
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup pumpkin puree


Prepare a 9-inch springform pan by cover the bottom and up the sides with aluminum foil to catch any drips. Place pan on baking sheet.

Prepare crust by combining cookies, sugar, and butter in a bowl. Press mixture into 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, sugar, and flour in large bowl and beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Scrap down sides of bowl and beat again. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. It helps to scrape down the sides of the bowl often as well to ensure that there aren't any lumps in the batter. Add vanilla and mix until combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk two egg yolks. Add in cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, and pumpkin puree and stir until well combined. Add in about 1 1/2 cups of cheesecake batter and stir until no streaks remain in mixture.

Pour 3/4 of pumpkin mixture over crust. Add cheesecake batter. Dollop on remaining pumpkin mixture. Take a small knife (a butter or paring knife is fine) and gently pull it through the dollops of pumpkin, turning your hand to create a marbled, or swirl pattern.

Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, adjust oven temperature to 300 degrees and cook for another hour. Do not open the oven door during the hour. After one hour, turn off the oven. Open the oven door slightly and leave cheesecake in the oven to finish for another 20 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack.

Once cooled, gently slide a paring knife around the edge of the cheesecake to loosen from the pan. Remove the side of the springform pan and place cheesecake in refrigerator until ready to serve.


14 comments:

  1. Biscoff crust is a great idea - I just recently introduced to my little peeps to the cookie and now they are always asking for them.
    Looks great!

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  2. I hate pumpkin but everyone around me loves it so I make pumpkin pie, pumpkin whatever... and just don't eat it. I love the idea of using Biscoff for your crust - the flavors are perfect for fall.

    I'm addicted to Biscoff spread but don't every have it in my pantry - too dangerous.

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  3. what a beautiful cheesecake! i should get on the biscoff bandwagon... never had it.

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  4. Oh, my! This looks like heaven. I have Biscoff cookies in my pantry... I may have to give this a whirl! Beautiful!

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  5. With Biscoff crust!! Oh, yum! What a splendid idea. Nice job with the swirls too. Thank you for linking this lovely cheesecake to Joy of Desserts. Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving, Candy!

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  6. Oh Biscoff...such a delicious choice and a perfect pairing with pumpkin. Your dessert looks fantastic.

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  7. Goodness - this looks so delicious. Love that biscoff crust too - genius!! What a great combo. of flavors!! Thank you so much for linking it up over at Foodie Friday! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  8. I love to travel, period, but it is a huge bonus when I get Biscoff cookies. :) This cheesecake is outstanding! My kind of dessert!

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  9. Your cheesecake looks divine, Candy! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  10. This recipe looks so delicious. I guess that is why it was selected to be a FEATURED recipe on Foodie Friday! Congratulations!

    You can view the post and pick up your "featured" button here: Congratulations on being a featured recipe at Foodie Friday! http://www.pennysaved-pennyearned.com/blog/2011/12/foodie-friday-link-up-party-3/

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  11. CAN YOU SHARE YOUR RECIPE FOR:
    Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce?
    I am unable to find it on your blog.

    THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Charlotte
    charlovesmark at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. That cheesecake looks amazing! I've been trying to talk my husband into trying pumpkin cheesecake. I can't make one until he agrees because if I make it and he won't eat it, there's a good chance I'll eat the whole thing myself! Thanks for the recipe. :) Perhaps he'll give in soon.

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Tell me what ya think!