Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with Pecan Praline Topping are your favorite pumpkin cheesecake (but better!) in easy, portable, handheld hero sizes โ€“ and theyโ€™re make ahead friendly!

These Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes will be the hit of Thanksgiving and everyoneโ€™s new favorite fall dessert!  They combine both lusciously creamy, warmly spiced pumpkin cheesecake with tantalizingly sweet and crunchy brown sugar pecan praline topping, all crowned with pillowy whipped cream.  These mini pumpkin cheesecakes are also fabulous because they are easier to make than traditional cheesecake (no water bath or cracking), feed a crowd (they make 24), are fun to serve (and eat!) and they are make ahead friendly which eliminates all of that last-minute stress/hassle.  You can even add the adorable whipped cream topping ahead of time with my trick for stabilized whipped cream. In this Min Pumpkin Cheesecake post, Iโ€™ve included step by step photos, tips and tricks and everything you need to know to make these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes the hit of the season, even if youโ€™ve never made cheesecake before!   

Fall โ€˜tis the season for everything pumpkin!  If youโ€™re a pumpkin lover, donโ€™t miss all of my pumpkin recipes!  Pumpkin Nutella barspumpkin Bundt cake, pumpkin roll and Nutella pumpkin roll, pumpkin breadpumpkin bread puddingpumpkin spice cake and pumpkin muffins are all fabulous!

Watch: How to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

up close view of mini pumpkin cheesecake on a plate


 

My Famous Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

Do you have a must-make annual pumpkin dessert?  For decades my mom would bring her famous pumpkin pie to every Thanksgiving, and then one year she brought her famous pumpkin pie AND a pumpkin cheesecake.  We all agreed the pumpkin cheesecake stole the show, I mean, it is cheesecake AND pumpkin! Since that love-at-first bite years ago, Iโ€™ve made several adaptations of pumpkin cheesecake such as my double layer pumpkin cheesecakepumpkin cheesecake bars and now Iโ€™m ecstatic to share these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with you! 

These Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes instantly have become my must-make dessert of fall. They are luxuriously creamy, bursting with warm pumpkin goodness complimented by tangy cheesecake and the crunchy candied pecan praline elevates them to the best Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes, in my humble opinion.  Once you sink your teeth into these bites of bliss, you will never go back to traditional pumpkin pie again!  

These Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes are the best because:

  • The cheesecake:  the addition of sour cream and an extra egg yolk make the cheesecake extra creamy and the additional lemon juice brightens the flavor.
  • The pumpkin: generous shakes of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger combined with the pumpkin puree translate into warm pumpkin pie flavor that cuts through the rich cheesecake.
  • The pecan praline:  the praline topping is the icing on an already delicious but would-be-one-note-creamy cheesecake.  The crunchy pecans bathed in brown sugar with a hint of vanilla add the satisfying crunch you didnโ€™t know you were missing. SO addicting!

Why you’ll love these Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bites

You will also love that these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes look impressive and adorable, but are actually easy to make!

These Mini Cheesecakesโ€ฆ

  • are easy to make in a muffin tin and donโ€™t require a water bath
  • are easy to bake in muffin wrappers and donโ€™t require a spring pan
  • bakeย faster than a whole cheesecake
  • wonโ€™t crack on top because they bake so quickly
  • require less cooling time than a whole cheesecake
  • are the perfect transportable party size without having to slice a whole cheesecake or even use forks
  • Are fun to eat!

    To make these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes, you will whip up an easy graham cracker crust and bake for 5 minutes while you beat the cheesecake ingredients together, then bake the cheesecakes for 20 minutes, add your pecan praline topping and bake another 5-10 minutes. Viola! 

    So, if youโ€™re looking for a make ahead, stress free, show stopping dessert that everyone LOVES, look no further than these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes!  Be the hero of Thanksgiving with this new twist on the comforting classic!

    a plate of mini pumpkin cheesecakes
    ingredient icon

    Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Ingredients

    Let’s take a closer look at what you need to make this recipe (measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

    THE CRUST

    • Graham crackers:ย  Iโ€™ve stuck with honey graham crackers to keep the crust delish but neutral so the cheesecake and pecan praline topping remain the star of the show.ย  You will need 14 graham cracker sheets.
    • Butter:ย ย use unsalted butter so we can control the salt in the recipe.ย 
    • Sugar:ย brown sugar as opposed to granulated sugar adds richer, slight molasses flavor.ย  I use light brown sugar but you can use medium or dark if thatโ€™s what you have on hand.

      THE CHEESECAKE

      • Cream cheese:ย I used full fat cream cheese but it will also work with less fat, but remember less fat = less flavor and creaminess. Please do NOT use nonfat cream cheese.
      • Sour cream:ย ย full fat please!
      • Sugar:ย ย granulated sugar will do the trick.
      • Egg:ย ย use 3 large eggs and one large egg yolk (so you will need a total of 4 eggs).ย  The eggs bind the cheesecake together and the extra yolk makes it extra creamy.ย  Take care your eggs are at room temperature.
      • Lemon juice:ย ย bottled or fresh is fine.ย 
      • Vanilla extract:ย ย use quality extract for best results.
      • Pumpkin puree:ย  use pure pumpkin puree NOT Pumpkin Pie Filling.ย ย Pumpkin Puree is 100% pure pumpkin that has been cooked and pureed.ย  Pumpkin Pie Filling, however, is sweetened and seasoned with spices and will not work in this recipe.
      • Seasonings:ย  ground cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, ginger infuse the mini pumpkin cheesecakes with that warm fall goodness.

        THE Pecan praline

        Pecan praline is a southern tradition of candied pecans, commonly made with sugar, corn syrup, milk, butter, and pecan halves dating back to the 17 century.  We are taking the essence of pecan praline to make this tasty topping. You will need:

        FOR THE OREO CRUST: 

        • Pecans:ย use plain, unsalted, raw pecans.ย 
        • Dark brown sugar:ย contains more molasses than light brown sugar for a richer flavor with more pronounced caramel undertones.ย  You may use light brown sugar if thatโ€™s all you have on hand.

        • Granulated sugar:ย is sprinkled on the top for a candied affect. Combining granulated sugar and brown sugar gives you the bests of both sugars.ย 
        • Corn syrup: is commonly used in candy making and is the glue that holdsย pecans topping together. ย You may substitute with pure maple syrup but it will affect the flavor.
        • Vanilla extract:ย  adds an extra oomph of flavor.
        • Salt:ย  enhances the flavors and balances out the sweetness.
        top view of mini pumpkin cheesecakes in a muffin tin

        Stabilized whipped cream (optional)

        • Heavy cream: labeled โ€œheavy whipping creamโ€ at the grocery store.ย  You must use heavy cream โ€“ no other substitutions will work.ย  Take care that your heavy cream is very cold, remove it from the refrigerator just when ready to use.
        • Unflavored gelatin:ย  is a common baking ingredient and can be found next to the packages of Jell-O and pudding at your grocery store. It is what makes this โ€œstabilizedโ€ whipped cream and not just whipped cream.
        • Unflavored gelatin:ย  is a common baking ingredient and can be found next to the packages of Jell-O and pudding at your grocery store. It is what makes this โ€œstabilizedโ€ whipped cream and not just whipped cream.
        • Powdered sugar: ย also known as confectionerโ€™s sugar interacts better with the gelatin than granulated sugar.
        • Vanilla extract:ย ย use quality extract for best results.
        • Water:ย  cold tap water please. ย 

          Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites Recipe Variations

          I donโ€™t recommend straying too far from the cheesecake recipe as baking is science and can go wrong very quickly, but you can make adjustments to the topping or the crust.ย  You can omit the topping altogether, go with a streusel topping, gingersnap topping or even crushed Oreo topping.

          For the crust, you may also substitute with your favorite cookie (1 ยพ cup) to create:

          • shortbread crust
          • gingerbread cookie crust
          • Oreo crust
          • cinnamon graham cracker crust
          • vanilla wafer crust

            If using shortbread cookies or gingersnap cookies, combine them with the sugar and butter per recipe instructions.  If using Oreos, combine them with sugar but reduce the butter to 3 tablespoons because the Oreo filling creates the same binding effect. 

            GLUTEN FREE CRUST

            To make a gluten free crust, simply use your favorite gluten free cookie such as gluten-free graham crackers.

            up close of mini pumpkin cheesecake topped with whipped cream

              How to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

              Let’s take a closer look at how to make this recipe with step-by-step photos Now onto the main event โ€“ How to make Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes.ย  There are a few steps, but each one is very simple and you can make them at different stages/parts of the day if you wish:

              STEP 1:ย  CRUST

              • First, youโ€™ll melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl.ย  I use a large bowl so I can add the Graham crackers and sugar directly to it and donโ€™t have to dirty one more dish.ย  You can grind the crackers in your food processor in a sealable bag with a rolling pin.ย  Youโ€™ll want very finely ground crumbs because they stick together better.
              process shot showing how to make mini pumpkin cheesecakes by mixing graham  cracker crumbs with  butter and sugar
              • Distribute the crumbs between lightly greased cupcake liners in TWO muffin tins (for a total of 24) and firmly press the crumbs down on the bottom of the pan into an even layer.ย  You can use the back of a spoon or the bottom of a lightly greased cup to press the crumbs.ย 
              • Bake the crust at 325 degrees F for 5 minutes then allow to cool while you make the pecan praline topping and the cheesecake. ย Baking the crust before adding the cheesecake allows it to seal together and cooling the crust before adding the cheesecake prevents it from becoming soggy.
              process shot showing how to make mini pumpkin cheesecakes by filling 12 muffin tins with graham cracker crumbs to make a crust

              STEP 2:  PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

              For the easy, crazy delicious topping, we combine chopped pecans, brown sugar, vanilla and a small amount of corn syrup.  This super easy, simplified approach to the praline adds a brown sugar crunch without all the work of boiling pecans with corn syrup for a sticky topping that is too sweet for this dessert.  This praline topping, however, is perfection.

              a collage showing how to make mini pumpkin cheesecakes by adding brown sugar and salt to pecans, followed by corn syrup and vanilla and mixing until combined in a glass bowl

              STEP 3:  MAKE CHEESECAKE

              Cheesecake might sound intimidating but that usually is because it involves a spring form pan, a water bath, not knowing exactly when itโ€™s done, fear of cracking, etc. โ€“ but not these mini pumpkin cheesecakes!  Making these cheesecakes is so easy, the mixer literally does all the work!!  Youโ€™ll simply beat cream cheese and sugar together until fluffy, mix in the eggs, sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla and then the pumpkin puree cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.  Next, evenly distribute the gorgeous cheesecake filling between the 24 cupcake liners.

              a collage showing how to make mini pumpkin cheesecakes by mixing cheesecake batter with pumpkin puree,  cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and  ginger until smooth
              process shot showing how to make mini pumpkin cheesecakes by adding cheesecake to muffin tins

              STEP 4:  bake cheesecake

              Bake cheesecakes at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes, remove muffin tins from the oven and sprinkle the pecan praline topping evenly over each cheesecake, gently patting it down with your hands, followed by a sprinkling of granulated sugar.  Return the cheesecakes to the oven and bake another 5-10 minutes, just long enough for the pecans to roast and the topping to clump as the buttery browns sugar and corn syrup melt and coat the pecans.

              process shot showing how to make mini pumpkin cheesecakes by adding pecan praline topping to mini cheesecakes

              STEP 5:  COOL cheesecake

              Remove the muffin tins from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack at room temperature for 90 minutes (no less!), then cover and transfer to refrigerator and chill at least 3 hours (best if 24). 

              process shot showing how to make mini pumpkin cheesecakes by cooling cheesecake in muffin tin

              STEP 6:  stabilized whipped cream (optional)

              Making stabilized whipped cream is like making traditional whipped cream, just with the easy added steps of combining gelatin with water and letting it sit for 5 minutes, then microwaving for 10 seconds.

              While youโ€™re waiting for the gelatin to cool, youโ€™ll mix heavy cream, sugar and vanilla in a bowl until it thickens and forms soft peaks (the whipped cream folds over when you lift the beaters out of the bowl).  Once youโ€™ve reached the soft peak stage, youโ€™ll slowly pour the cooled gelatin mixture in as your mixing the whipped cream and continue to mix until the whipped cream forms stiff peaks (the whipped cream stands straight up and doesnโ€™t fold over when you lift the beaters out of the bowl).

              You can pipe the stabilized whipped cream onto the room temperature cheesecakes before you pop them into the fridge or any time after that.  The beauty of stabilized whipped cream is it will hold its shape indefinitely.  If using regular whipped cream, top just before serving.

              up close of mini pumpkin cheesecake with whipped cream

              Tips For Making Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

              Although this Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe is simple, there are a few proper techniques that ensure the perfect cheesecakes. Hereโ€™s what to pay special attention to:ย 

              • Use the correct pan size.ย  This recipe is for REGULAR muffin size/cupcake size tins โ€“ not mini muffin tins.ย 
              • Grease cupcake liners.ย ย Donโ€™t forget to lightly spray the cupcake liners with cooking spray or your cheesecakes wonโ€™t peel away cleanly.ย ย 
              • Use food processor.ย ย The easiest way to make graham cracker crumbs is in your food processor โ€“ it literally takes seconds!ย  If you donโ€™t have a food processor, you can crush the crackers in a plastic bag with a rolling pin or side of a can.
              • Use fine crumbs.ย  The finer the crumbs, the more cohesive the crust and less crumbly it will be when baked.
              • Press crumbs firmly into pan.ย  Use the bottom of a cup or measuring cup to get the crust layer nice and compact so it doesnโ€™t crumble later.ย 
              • Use soft cream cheese. ย The cream cheese should be soft enough that it can easily beat into a creamy consistency.ย  If it is not soft enough, then it will yield lumpy cheesecake and will leave white specks in the pumpkin puree (see three methods to soften cream cheese below).
              • Beat cream cheese until fluffy.ย  The most important part of making your Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes is to beat the cream cheese and sugar until light and fully with your paddle attachment โ€“ about 4 minutes. Four minutes can seem like a long time, so set your timer and donโ€™t stop early!ย  Beating the cream cheese creates lusciously smooth and creamy cheesecake.
              • Donโ€™t overbeat eggs.ย Once you add the eggs, beat as LITTLE as possible, beating just until combined after each egg addition.ย  Overbeating eggs can lead to the cheesecake cracking and not as creamy cheesecake.
              • Use room temperature ingredients.ย  Use room temperature eggs, egg yolks, and sour cream.ย  This allows you to beat as little as possible when adding the eggs.
              • To quicklyย bring eggs to room temperature: Fill a bowl with warm water (not hot) and addย eggsย and let sit 10-20 minutes.
              • Donโ€™t skip the lemon or sour cream!ย The both add just the right tanginess to offset the sweetness and cut through the richness.ย ย 
              • Donโ€™t overbakeย cheesecakes.ย Over baking the pumpkin cheesecakes means less creamy pumpkin cheesecakes. You want the edges to be firm but the center to wobble slightly when shaken.
              • Cool pumpkin cheesecakes to room temperature.ย Cool the Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes on the counter to allow them to cool gradually. If you transfer warm cheesecakes to the refrigerator, they wonโ€™t firm up completely and can even crack.
              • Chill pumpkin cheesecakes long enough.ย Donโ€™t rush the chilling process as it allows the flavors to build, and marry. You may serve the Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes 6 hours after chilling, but I suggest allowing them to chill for a full 24-48 hours for the best flavor – you will be amazed at the difference it makes!
              • Use the stabilized whipped cream.ย  If you want to prep the Mini Cheesecakes 100% in advance, stabilized whipped cream is the way to go. You can pipe on the whipped cream days ahead of time them just pull out your gorgeous pumpkin cheesecakes when you’re ready to serve.
              • Chill bowl and beaters.ย  Itโ€™s best to chill your bowl and beaters for about 15 minutes before making the whipped cream.ย  Itโ€™s not essential, but chilling helps your whipped cream thicken more quickly and increases the volume.
              • Chill gelatin.ย  Make sure to let your gelatin cool slightly before mixing it into the whipped cream, you donโ€™t want it to be too hot when you add it to the bowl.
              • Donโ€™t overwhip whipped cream.ย Stop mixing as soon as stiff peaks form because over-whipped cream becomes grainy.ย  If youโ€™ve accidently reached the grainy stage, you can try and salvage the whipped creamy by adding a few tablespoons of fresh cream and gently mixing it in by hand using a wire whisk.ย If the whipped cream is separated, then unfortunately it canโ€™t be fixed.
                top view of mini pumpkin cheesecakes on a white plate

                  Make These Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bites in Advance

                  Let’s take a closer look at how to make them:

                  These mini pumpkin cheesecakes are very best if allowed to chill at least 24 hours, making them the perfect make ahead dessert.ย  I would say they are at their prime 24-48 hours after making, but are still scrumptious if you make them even farther ahead of time.

                  My goal for this mini pumpkin cheesecake recipe was to create a dessert that was 100% make ahead friendly – that includes the whipped cream. ย If you make traditional whipped cream and pipe it onto the cheesecakes, it will be deflated, or even worse, weeping within the hour.ย  ย 

                  This is where miraculous stabilized whipped cream saves the day.
                  Stabilized whipped cream is simply heavy cream that has been whipped with gelatin in order to give it structure but it doesn’t alter the flavor.

                  To use this stabilized whipped cream, youโ€™ll pipe it onto the mini pumpkin cheesecakes any time after theyโ€™ve cooled to room temperature, then refrigerate until ready to serve.ย 

                  The whipped cream will hold its shape long after the last cheesecake is gone (it holds indefinitely). ย This mean your adorable desserts can be 100% ready to serve days before Thanksgiving!ย  And bonus, they taste even better the second day.ke this recipe with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

                  mini pumpkin cheesecakes with whipped cream on a platter
                  up close of mini pumpkin cheesecake with a bite out of it

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                  ยฉCarlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

                  Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bites

                  These Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes will be the hit of Thanksgiving and everyoneโ€™s new favorite fall dessert! They combine both lusciously creamy, warmly spiced pumpkin cheesecake with tantalizingly sweet and crunchy brown sugar pecan praline topping, all crowned with pillowy whipped cream. These mini pumpkin cheesecakes are also fabulous because they are easier to make than traditional cheesecake (no water bath or cracking), feed a crowd (they make 24), are fun to serve (and eat!) and they are make ahead friendly which eliminates all of that last-minute stress/hassle. You can even add the adorable whipped cream topping ahead of time with my trick for stabilized whipped cream. In this Min Pumpkin Cheesecake post, Iโ€™ve included step by step photos, tips and tricks and everything you need to know to make these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes the hit of the season, even if youโ€™ve never made cheesecake before!
                  Servings: 24 pumpkin cheesecakes
                  Total Time: 1 hour 44 minutes
                  Prep Time: 45 minutes
                  Cook Time: 35 minutes

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                  Ingredients

                  Crust

                  • 1/2 cup (8 TBS) unsalted butter
                  • 14 full sheets graham crackers finely crushed (1 ¾ cups)
                  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

                  Cheesecake

                  • 3 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese (24 ounces total), softened
                  • 1 cup granulated sugar
                  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
                  • 1 egg yolk at room temperature
                  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
                  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
                  • 1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
                  • 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
                  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
                  • 1/2 tsp EACH ground cloves, ground nutmeg, ground ginger

                  Praline Topping

                  • 2 cups raw, unsalted pecans finely chopped
                  • 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar (may sub light)
                  • 2 tablespoon dark corn syrup (may sub light)
                  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
                  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
                  • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar

                  Stabilized Whipped Cream (optional)

                  • 1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
                  • 2 tablespoons water
                  • 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
                  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
                  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

                  Instructions

                  Crust

                  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two REGULAR SIZE muffin tins with cupcake liners and spray with cooking spray; set aside.
                  • Melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Add finely ground graham crackers and sugar and stir until well combined. Evenly divide mixture between cupcake liners, about 1 ½ tablespoon each. Firmly press the crumbs down on the bottom. Bake at 325 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool while you make the praline topping and cheesecake filling.

                  Pecan Praline Topping

                  • Add pecans, brown sugar and salt to a bowl and stir until evenly combined. Add corn syrup and vanilla and mix until evenly combined; set aside. (Youโ€™ll top the praline with the granulated sugar later.)

                  Cheesecake filling

                  • Add cream cheese and sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (may use hand electric mixer) and beat on medium speed 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
                  • With mixer still running, add the eggs one at a time, then the egg yolk, mixing just until the yellow disappears after each egg.
                  • Add the sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla and mix until well incorporated.
                  • Add the pumpkin puree cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger and mix just until combined.

                  Bake

                  • Evenly distribute the filling between the 24 cupcake liners, about ยผ cup. Donโ€™t fill the liners all the way up to the top (leave ยผ-ยฝ-inch) because they will puff when baked. You may have a little extra cheesecake filling.
                  • Bake cheesecakes in preheated oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove muffin tins from the oven and sprinkle praline topping evenly over each cheesecake, gently patting it down with your hands. Evenly divide and sprinkle praline with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. (If your cheesecakes have puffed up too much to add the topping, wait a couple minutes and they will deflate.)
                  • Return muffin tins to the oven and bake an additional 5-10 minutes, until nearly set (no longer very jiggly in the middle).

                  Cool

                  • Remove muffin tins from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack at room temperature for 90 minutes (no less!), then cover and transfer to refrigerator and chill at least 3 hours (best if 24).
                  • You can pipe the stabilized whipped cream onto the room temperature cheesecakes before you pop them into the fridge or any time after that. The beauty of stabilized whipped cream is it will hold its shape indefinitely. If using regular whipped cream, top just before serving

                  Stabilized Whipped Cream

                  • Add unflavored gelatin to a microwave safe bowl then pour the cold water over top; let stand for 5 minutes.
                  • Transfer the gelatin mixture to the microwave and microwave for 10 seconds. Stir the mixture, then set aside to cool.
                  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, combine the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Whip the mixture just until it forms soft peaks.
                  • Turn the mixer to low and slowly pour in the gelatin mixture. Mix until well combined then increase the speed to medium and continue mixing until stiff peaks form. Pipe onto the mini cheesecakes.

                  Video

                  Notes

                  *Don’t miss the “how to make video” at the top of the post (under the first photo)

                  Make ahead & Storage

                  • These mini pumpkin cheesecakes are very best if allowed to chill at least 24 hours, making them the perfect make ahead dessert.ย  I would say they are at their prime 24-48 hours after making, but are still scrumptious if you make them even farther ahead of time; they are good for up to 7 days.ย  ย Let them sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.
                  • I like to use a cake container to cover the pumpkin cheesecakes so I can pipe on the whipped cream and cover them without smooshing them.ย  If you donโ€™t have a cake container, you can use a large inverted bowl or tent with foil.ย 

                  TIPS and tricks

                  • Use the correct pan size.ย  This recipe is for REGULAR muffin size/cupcake size tins โ€“ not mini muffin tins.ย 
                  • Corn syrup: is commonly used in candy making and is the glue that holdsย pecans topping together. ย You may substitute with pure maple syrup but it will affect the flavor.
                  • Unflavored gelatin: is a common baking ingredient and can be found next to the packages of Jell-O and pudding at your grocery store. It is what makes this โ€œstabilizedโ€ whipped cream and not just whipped cream.
                  • Gluten free: To make a gluten free crust, simply use your favorite gluten free cookie such as gluten-free graham crackers.
                  • Use fine crumbs. The finer the crumbs, the more cohesive the crust and less crumbly it will be when baked.
                  • Use soft cream cheese. ย The cream cheese should be soft enough that it can easily beat into a creamy consistency.ย  If it is not soft enough, then it will yield lumpy cheesecake and will leave white specks in the pumpkin puree (see three methods to soften cream cheese below).
                  • To quicklybring eggs to room temperature: Fill a bowl with warm water (not hot) and addย eggsย and let sit 10-20 minutes.
                  • Donโ€™t overbeat eggs.Once you add the eggs, beat as LITTLE as possible, beating just until combined after each egg addition.ย  Overbeating eggs can lead to the cheesecake cracking and not as creamy cheesecake.
                  • Use the stabilized whipped cream. If you want to prep the Mini Cheesecakes 100% in advance, stabilized whipped cream is the way to go. You can pipe on the whipped cream days ahead of time them just pull out your gorgeous pumpkin cheesecakes when you’re ready to serve.
                  • Chill bowl and beaters. Itโ€™s best to chill your bowl and beaters for about 15 minutes before making the whipped cream.ย  Itโ€™s not essential, but chilling helps your whipped cream thicken more quickly and increases the volume.
                  • Donโ€™t overwhip whipped cream.ย Stop mixing as soon as stiff peaks form because over-whipped cream becomes grainy.ย  If youโ€™ve accidently reached the grainy stage, you can try and salvage the whipped creamy by adding a few tablespoons of fresh cream and gently mixing it in by hand using a wire whisk.ย If the whipped cream is separated, then unfortunately it canโ€™t be fixed.

                  how to freeze

                  • Line chilled cheesecakes in their cupcake liners on a baking sheet or tray without touching.
                  • Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze until solid (about 1 hour); this prevents the cheesecakes from freezing together later when stored.ย  Alternatively, you can skip this step and freeze cheesecakes individually in their own plastic bags.
                  • Transfer mini pumpkin cheesecakes to a freezer safe airtight container; place parchment paper in between each row if stacking.
                  • Freeze for up to 3 months.
                  • When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

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                  34 Comments

                  1. Naomi says

                    Jen, these look delicious! I love the fact that you can make them a couple of days ahead. I think I will be making these for Thanksgiving. Thanks for all of your great recipes. I know that when I make one of your recipes that it will be good!

                    • Jen says

                      Thank you so much Naomi I am excited you might make them for Thanksgiving, I think everyone will love them! Happy Thanksgiving!

                  2. Cambria says

                    A lady from my job made these and OH MY GOSH they were AMAZING!! Everyone was asking her for this recipe!

                    • Jen says

                      It’s so nice of you to take the time to comment Cambria! I’m thrilled they were such a hit, thank you!

                  3. Timma Wilson says

                    Question…
                    Step 1 says heat oven to 325.
                    Step 2 says bake Crust at 350.
                    Is that a typo? Do the crusts bake at 350 but the cheesecakes at 325?

                    • Jen says

                      Thanks for catching that, just fixed! The crust and the cheesecake bake at 325 degrees F.

                      • Timma Wilson says

                        These turned out fantastic! Big hit! Thank you for sharing!

                        • Jen says

                          Thanks for reporting back Timma, I’ so pleased they were a hit! Happy Thanksgiving!

                  4. MARGIE says

                    Can I use pumpkin pie spice and if so, how much?

                    • Jen says

                      Hi Margie, I haven’t personally tried it but I’m sure it would work just fine.

                  5. Gloria says

                    Made it today for church tomorrow of course had a taste test soo good I can hardly wait to share it

                    • Jen says

                      YAY! I’m so pleased you loved them!

                  6. Cheryl novosel says

                    how many calories in each?

                  7. Bethany says

                    Made these yesterday for company today but couldn’t resist eating a couple last night and they are delicious! Love that they can be made ahead.
                    I did have a LOT of batter left – any suggestions? I’m going to try to freeze it for now and maybe make a batch of 6 at some point in the future.

                    • Jen says

                      Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Bethany! Yes, you can absolutely freeze the batter. I would suggest freezing them in the cupcake liners.

                  8. Laura says

                    These look like the perfect size dessert so as not to have a whole cheesecake when there are lots of other desserts to try. Can the recipe be halved? If so, how would you divide the eggs?

                    • Jen says

                      Yes! I would use 2 large eggs and omit the egg yolk.

                  9. Jenny says

                    Hello!
                    Just a doubt,in recipe it says
                    โ€œ 3 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese softenedโ€
                    Just to be sure, Iโ€™ll need 38 oz? Asking because of the space between 3 and 8.
                    Is that 1000 grams aprox?
                    Thank you!

                    • Jen says

                      Hi Jenny, you will need 3×8=24 ounces. Enjoy!

                  10. Marian says

                    I made these but in mini cheesecake pan. Now I see I was suppose to be for regular cupcakes size. I had alot of cheesecake left. Had to make more crust. Turn into big job.

                    • Jen says

                      Hi Marian, sorry you missed it. It is in all caps in the first step.

                  11. Sandy says

                    I made this recipe last year at Thanksgiving and they were pretty delicious. But there was sooooo much cheesecake filling leftover even after over filling the cupcake liners. I bet it wouldโ€™ve been enough to make another 12 cupcakes. I think Iโ€™d reduce the filling ingredients by at least 1/3, or maybe 1/4. Or perhaps cut the recipe in half then make extra crust and topping to get like 18 cupcakes?
                    Tasteful recipe but we ended up tossing the leftover filling because my daughter didnโ€™t want to save it and we didnโ€™t have enough of the other ingredients. If I were home I probably wouldโ€™ve kept it and made more but this recipe already made quite a lot.

                    • Jen says

                      Did you use regular cupcake tins?

                  12. D says

                    If I made in a silicone muffin pan could I not use liners?

                    • Jen says

                      I would still use liners to be safe, but your call!

                  13. Bee says

                    What adjustments are needed if I just want to make a regular sized pie and not mini ones? Thank you!

                  14. Jean Swain says

                    Jen, I am making these, again , but for an elderly group, which some people cannot have nuts. I am planning to make a gingersnap topping instead of the pralines. Would there be an adjustment to baking them with the alternate topping?
                    I absolutely LOVE your recipes!
                    Thank you,
                    Jean

                    • Jen says

                      Thanks so much for making my recipes Jean! I think your gingersnap topping sounds delicious. The baking time should be about the same. Happy Thanksgiving!

                  15. Carol says

                    I love your website! You are my go to site for great recipe ideas. Thank you!

                    I would like to make the Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with Praline topping but one of my family members is allergic to nuts. Do you have a suggestion for another topping? He can eat seeds if that helps.

                    • Jen says

                      Hi Carol, another reader suggest gingersnap cookies! I think that could be tasty, otherwise, an oat streusel topping would be great as well.

                  16. Mary says

                    Muffins are in the OVEN. In your decription steps the oven is 350 but in the recipe it is 325 degrees. Also is there something I can do with the extra batter. Hope they turn out.
                    Regards

                    • Jen says

                      My apologies, just updated the recipe! 325 is correct.