Desserts in Jars are Easy to Make and Easy to Serve
Pumpkin desserts abound throughout the fall and winter and cheesecake is a perennial favorite, so its no surprise that pumpkin cheesecake recipes are adored. This version is portable, which we really like because we can have it anytime, anywhere. This recipe is from Shaina Olmanson’s Desserts in Jars, which contains dozens of fabulous, easy desserts.
Recipe © 2013 Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine
When the seasons start to shift and the warm air turns brisk, the world explodes in a fury of pumpkin madness. Whether you’re carving them up or baking them into pies, you can’t escape the orange orbs of autumn.
Pumpkin Cheesecakes with a Gingersnap Crust (in jars)
Author: Shaina Olmanson
Makes: Makes 16, 4-ounce cheesecakes or 8, 8-ounce cheesecakes
Ingredients
Crust:
- Oil for greasing the jars
- 3 cups gingersnaps, ground into crumbs
- 6 tablespoons (¾ stick) unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake:
- 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1½ cups pumpkin purée
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Pinch of cardamom
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup sour cream or Greek-style yogurt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Topping:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
- Cinnamon, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Grease the bottoms and sides of 16 4-ounce jars or 8 8-ounce jars. Make the crust: In a medium-size bowl, mix together the gingersnap crumbs and melted butter until all of the crumbs are coated. Divide the crumb mixture evenly among the jars and use a wine cork or other small, flat-bottomed object to press down into the bottoms of the jars to form the crusts. Set aside.
- Make the cheesecake: In a large bowl or in a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin puree. Add in the sugar and spices, and beat for 1 minute until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla. Spoon or pour the cheesecake filling over the crusts in the jars to ½ inch from the top.
- Arrange the jars 2 inches apart in high-sided baking pans, such as 9- by 13-inch cake pans, with each pan lined with a clean kitchen towel. Place the pans with the jars in the oven and carefully add hot water to the pans to come halfway up the sides of the jars.
- Bake the cheesecakes for 25 to 30 minutes, or just until their centers are almost set. Turn off the oven and allow the cheesecakes and water to cool slowly in the oven for 20 minutes. When the cheesecake and water have cooled slightly, remove them carefully from the oven and remove the cheesecakes from the pans. Allow to cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Before serving, whip together the cream and confectioners’ sugar in a bowl until stiff peaks form. Spoon over the tops of the cheesecakes and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Serve cold.
These look spectacular, I love the cute presentation! x
Thank you! Check out Shaina Olmanson’s book, Desserts in Jars, for more just like it. She not only developed the original recipes but did the photography too! Great book.
I love your recipe, combining warm spices and gingersnap crust – Delicious! Love your photography and presentation is spot on!
cute idea. they look yummy!
Wow – gorgeous pics!