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Home » Recipes » Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Gingersnap Crust

November 16, 2021 by brooke 8 Comments

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These pumpkin cheesecake bars with gingersnap crust are the perfect easy to make thanksgiving dessert that doesn't require as much work or time as a large cheesecake, but with all the same perfect taste!

pumpkin cheesecake bars with gingersnap crust all in a row in a pan

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS WITH GINGERSNAP CRUST

One of my favorite ways to get more pumpkin desserts on the table for Thanksgiving without more pumpkin pies is to make these simple cheesecake bars. They are so easy and quick to make and can be cut into small or large squares depending on how many you need to serve. And the best part is you don't need to have a spring form pan to make them. Any square or round pan will work perfectly!

one pumpkin cheesecake bars with gingersnap crust and a fork with one bite

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

  • Gingersnap Cookie Crumbs
  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Cream Cheese
  • Brown Sugar
  • Pumpkin Puree
  • Sour Cream
  • Vanilla
  • Flour
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Cloves
  • Eggs
all ingredients needed to make pumpkin cheesecake bars with gingersnap crust

STEP BY STEP TO MAKE CHEESECAKE BARS

Preheat oven to 325 F. Spray and line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper, allowing some to hang over the edge.

MAKE THE CRUST: Place gingersnap cookies in a food processor and blend until no cookie chunks are left. Add sugar and melted butter and pulse until combined.

Pour into the bottom of your baking pan and press down to create a firm and even crust layer. Set aside.

gingersnap cookies
cookie crumbs with butter and sugar
crust all ready
crust pressed in baking pan

MAKE THE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE FILLING: In a large bowl beat the cream cheese until soft. Then beat in the sugar mixture until completely smooth. 

Add pumpkin, sour cream and vanilla and mix on low until combined.

Add flour and spices and mix again. Beat eggs in a separate bowl and then mix in last. Make sure not to over mix, or your cheesecake might crack on the top.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. 

cream cheese mixed with sugars
pumpkin cheesecake mixture combined
eggs whisked
cheesecake ready to bake in pan

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until there is just a slight wiggle in the middle of the cheesecake. 

Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature, which should take a few hours. Cover the pan, and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight. 

When ready to serve, slice into desired size of squares and serve with whipped cream.

slices of pumpkin cheesecake bars with gingersnap crust cut into squares and topped with whip cream

TIPS FOR MAKING PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS

  • Make sure all the ingredients are room temperature before getting started
  • Use pure pumpkin – not pumpkin pie filling
  • Use full fat cream cheese and sour cream
  • Be careful not to over mix the cheesecake
squares of cheesecake bars scattered around with gingersnap cookies

HOW TO STORE CHEESECAKE

Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours before serving, or preferably overnight. And always store in the fridge when not eating.

Cheesecake bars also freeze well. To freeze, cool the cheesecake bars fully. Place the cheesecake (sliced or whole)  in a freezer safe container.  Freeze for up to 3 months, thaw in the fridge before serving. 

HOW TO KNOW WHEN CHEESECAKE IS DONE

The center of the cheesecake should wiggle a bit when you gently shake the pan.  The top will jiggle as a whole and the center two inches will look soft, and even a slightly different color. Not to worry, the center of the cheesecake will continue to set up as it cools.

Layers of Pumpkin cheesecake bars with gingersnap crust

OTHER PUMPKIN DESSERTS TO TRY:

BEST EASY PUMPKIN PIE

PUMPKIN BARS WITH CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

PUMPKIN TEXAS SHEET CAKE

THE EASIEST PUMPKIN BREAD OR MUFFINS

For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment below if you make them and love them as much as I do.

pumpkin cheesecake bars with gingersnap crust all in a row in a pan.

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust

brooke
These pumpkin cheesecake bars with a gingersnap crust are the perfect easy to make thanksgiving dessert that doesn't require as much work or time as a large cheesecake, but with all the same perfect taste!
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
6 hrs
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 277 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Gingersnap Crust

  • 2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs About 35-40 cookies
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoon butter melted and cooled

Pumpkin Cheesecake

  • 16 oz cream cheese softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 tablespoon sour cream room temp
  • 1½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoon flour
  • 1½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon cloves
  • 2 large eggs room temp

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 F. Spray and line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper, allowing some to hang over the edge.

To Make the Crust

  • Place gingersnap cookies in a food processor and blend until no cookie chunks are left. Add sugar and melted butter and pulse until combined.
  • Pour into the bottom of your baking pan and press down to create a firm and even crust layer. Set aside.

To Make Pumpkin Cheesecake

  • In a large bowl beat the cream cheese until soft. Then beat in the sugar mixture until completely smooth. 
  • Add pumpkin, sour cream and vanilla and mix on low until combined.
  • Add flour and spices and mix again. Beat eggs in a separate bowl and then mix in last. Make sure not to over mix, or your cheesecake might crack on the top.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until there is just a slight wiggle in the middle of the cheesecake. 
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature, which should take a few hours. Cover the pan, and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight. 
  • When ready to serve, slice into desired size of squares and serve with whipped cream.

Notes

Make sure all ingredients are room temperature before beginning to mix the cheesecake filling.
Graham crackers or oreo cookies could be subbed out for the gingersnaps if preferred. Just measure out 2 cups of the crumbs.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
Cheesecake bars also freeze well. To freeze, cool the cheesecake bars fully. Place the cheesecake (sliced or whole)  in a freezer safe container.  Freeze for up to 3 months, thaw in the fridge before serving. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 211mgPotassium: 139mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 2939IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg
Keyword gingersnap crust, pumpkin cheesecake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hope

    November 17, 2021 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely Delicious and EASY!!!!

    Reply
    • brooke

      November 17, 2021 at 3:06 pm

      Thank you so much Hope!!

      Reply
    • R. Court Huish

      November 24, 2021 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      The PERFECT Thanksgiving treat! Remarkably Delicious!!

      Reply
  2. Debbie

    October 04, 2022 at 1:26 pm

    Should I double the recipe for a 9x13 inch pan? If so, how long should I bake it?

    Reply
    • brooke

      October 04, 2022 at 5:25 pm

      Yes, a 9x13 will be perfect. As for the time I would say you'll need to tack a little bit on, but I haven't done them to know exact. I would set the timer for 45 minutes and then keep your eye on them after that. You are watching for a slight joggle in the middle, but not too much.

      Reply
  3. Jess

    October 30, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    5 stars
    I bake a lot, and this was a fantastic combo of easy to make and effusively praised. I cut some pieces in half and everyone who had a half slice went back for the other half and I got two requests to send along the recipe!

    Reply
  4. Cat

    November 11, 2022 at 1:12 am

    5 stars
    Despite my minor difficulties, I'm still giving this recipe 5 stars. They're super easy to make, and they taste sooooo good (though the 15 min prep time is a little short for most bakers unless they're making on a regular basis). These were a big hit at a retirement party I attended.
    I, too, made a double batch and used a 9x13 pan. I used a water bath on the bottom shelf. Baking time was a few minutes longer and I only had one small crack. BUT my bars were taller as surface area of a 9x13 is smaller than 2 8x8 pans (pro tip: the additional height made it easy to set inside a flattened cupcake wrapper for individual servings at the party).
    Here's where I ran into problems: I hoped to use the dental floss cutting method for clean cuts through the cheesecake but ran into a problem: My crust carmelized. It didn't impact the taste, I was unable to pop the dessert out of the pan to cut. So I cut (or rather chiseled) off the edges around the pan and (parchment didn't stick to the cake - yay!) and put some serious muscle using both a professional 3 inch wide metal spatula and a 9 inch butcher knife. I needed both to crack this crust. My metal spatulas have never let me down before but they were no match for this crust. I used Franz cookies (might be a local brand) that did not have sugar on the top. The stats didn't seem too high in sugar but I wondered if you'd recommend cutting the sugar in the crust to see if that solves the problem--your thoughts? Or, perhaps you can recommend a gingersnap cookie recipe? What are your thoughts about baking a giant pan cookie and using that as the cookie crust (or would that be too porous and soak up too much of the cheesecake)?
    But thank you for such a delicious & easy recipe. It was a big hit.

    Reply
  5. Lauren

    November 28, 2022 at 9:28 pm

    5 stars
    These are heaven! The crust is insanely good- I used the triple ginger snaps from Trader Joe’s.

    Reply

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Welcome to the SALTED sweets! I am a self-taught baker, dessert lover, and mom of three. My hope is to share my love language of sweet and simple baked goods with you.

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