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Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake {healthier}

pie server lifting pumpkin cheesecake slice
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★★★★★

4.5 from 2 reviews

A healthier and easy pumpkin cheesecake recipe made with cream cheese, Greek yogurt and pumpkin, of course. No one will know this flavorful dessert has been lightened up! It’s a seasonal classic that is perfect for the holidays. Gluten-free friendly recipe.

Ingredients

Scale

CRUST

  • 1 cup graham cracker* crumbs (about 9 sheets – see notes for gluten-free options)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

FILLING

  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (2% or full-fat is best)
  • 2/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup cane sugar 
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 tablespoons flour  (whole wheat white, all-purpose or a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free blend)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease 8″ springform pan with butter; set aside.
  2. In medium bowl combine graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar; stir until thoroughly mixed. Press evenly into bottom of springform pan, use back of measuring cup to flatten. Bake for 8 minutes; remove from oven to cool before wrapping edges/bottom tightly in foil. Reduce oven temperature to 325ºF.
  3. Meanwhile prepare the cheesecake filling; using paddle attachment of stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat together cream cheese until smooth for about 2 minutes. Add in granulated sugar, greek yogurt, pumpkin and vanilla, beating again until completely smooth.
  4. Add in eggs one at a time, mixing on low-medium speed. Then add in flour and pumpkin pie spice. Use large rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Try not to overmix here. Stop mixing as soon as last egg is incorporated. 
  5. Pour cheesecake filling onto pre-baked crust in foil-wrapped springform pan; place pan in bottom of roasting pan with 1″ hot water. Carefully transfer to oven and bake at 325ºF for 45-55 minutes or until middle has just set. The middle should jiggle slightly (like jell-o) but look firm. If you skip the “water bath” step the cheesecake may crack, but you could also cover with a chocolate ganache if you’d like.
  6.  Turn off oven, crack door, and allow cheesecake to cool in oven for 1 hour before covering and transferring to fridge and chilling for 8 hours.
  7. Keep cheesecake chilled just before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

CRUST OPTIONS – You can use honey graham crackers, chocolate graham crackers (gluten-free options work), or Simple Mills makes a great grain-free crunchy cookie that can be used. Just grind up enough cookies for 1 cup crumbs.

SUGAR – you can use a granulated sugar substitute like Swerve. 

MAKE AHEAD – Cheesecake can be prepped a day in advance. Keep chilled just before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: greek yogurt pumpkin cheesecake, healthy pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cheesecake recipe

Find it online: https://www.fitmittenkitchen.com/healthier-pumpkin-cheesecake/