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Caramel Topped Pumpkin Cheesecake

posted by Liz Berg on October 27, 2015 (updated 10/27/23)

Pumpkin Cheesecake is the perfect autumn indulgence! This creamy, dreamy spiced homemade cheesecake with a swirl of caramel is the best cheesecake for Fall!

A Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake makes a beautiful presentation, plus it’s a nice change of pace from pumpkin pie for a Thanksgiving dessert.

A slice of Caramel Topped Pumpkin Cheesecake on a white dessert plate

Why You’ll Love Pumpkin Cheesecake

It had the classic flavors of a pumpkin pie but in a rich cheesecake!
The simple caramel garnish makes it company-worthy, and you won’t break a sweat adding it.
It’s super creamy and delicious!

The picky hubby is a huge fan of the classic pumpkin pie. It’s a must-make for Thanksgiving. But no tweaking allowed. Pumpkin chiffon pie is a no-go and, heaven forbid, no substitutions like this outrageously delicious pumpkin cheesecake recipe.

He also won’t touch pumpkin bread, Easy Pumpkin Fudge, pumpkin bars, or any other of my favorite pumpkin recipes. Well, it’s his loss. Though I really don’t get his logic, I was A-OK with more of this dessert for myself.

Ingredient Notes

Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Butter
Graham Cracker Crumbs – Grind graham crackers in a food processor or buy a box of prepared crumbs
Cream Cheese – Full fat. Have at room temperature for the smoothest results.
Eggs – Have at room temperature for easier incorporation.
Canned Pumpkin – Should be pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix which has spices, etc.
Whipping Cream – Look for heavy cream, 36% butterfat
Allspice – A ground spice that tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Vanilla Extract – Use real vanilla extract not artificially flavored
Caramel Sauce – Optional Garnish. Homemade is great or buy a high-quality brand like Sanders or Graeter’s.

Caramel Topped Pumpkin Cheesecake on a white serving plate.

Recipe Tips

My two top tips for making perfect cheesecakes never change. First, have your ingredients at room temperature, mainly the eggs and cream cheese. This makes a world of difference in how they incorporate into the batter. You want a smooth, lump-free batter for the silkiest cheesecake.
Second, use the paddle attachment for mixing. A whisk will incorporate too much air into the batter and the texture will reflect that.
I’d never used this combination before, but drizzling caramel sauce over pumpkin cheesecake turned out to be one stupendous idea! You could drizzle and swirl or just pour some caramel sauce over the top of each slice.
But I piped a spiral of caramel over the cream cheese topping, then used a skewer to make this starburst design. I’m not too artsy, so don’t worry, this is an easy technique.
PRO-Tip: Bring the cheesecake out of the refrigerator about an hour before serving. This will make the texture ultra-creamy when you’re ready to slice it.

I’ve made pumpkin cheesecakes before, but this one trumps any previous versions. The texture is light and luscious, and oh, so creamy. I’d pick a slice of this beauty over pumpkin pie every time!

How to Make a Pumpkin Cheesecake

Preheat the oven and prep the springform pan.
Make the crust and press into the pan.
Beat together the cream cheese and sugar, remove ¾ cup, and chill to use later.
Using a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add and combine the remaining ingredients with the rest of the cream cheese mixture, in the order listed. Mix to combine.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan.
Make a water bath in a large pan or roaster, place in the oven, and add the cheesecake to the pan.
Bake until the cheesecake is almost fully set.
Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then run a knife or offset spatula around the perimeter.
Allow to finish cooling, then cover and chill overnight.
Remove the cheesecake from the pan and place it on a serving plate.
Let the reserved cream cheese mixture warm to room temperature, add more cream as directed, then spread over the top of the cheesecake.
Garnish with a swirl of caramel sauce using a piping bag, then make “spokes” by running a skewer across the caramel and topping from the middle to the edge at slice-sized intervals (see the overhead photo of the cheesecake below).

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Key to Making the Best Cheesecake?

There are a few general tips for making nearly all cheesecakes. First, have all your ingredients at room temperature, especially the eggs and cream cheese. This ensures they will blend in smoothly. You don’t want little white bits of cream cheese in the batter.
Also, bake your cheesecake in a water bath so that the heat stays at an even temperature which prevents cracking across the surface. Plus, you don’t want to open the oven door for the same reason until the end of the baking time when you’ll want to check for doneness.

Why Do Cheesecakes Need a Springform Pan?

A springform pan has a removable ring that creates the sides of the pan. Since a cheesecake is more custard-like than cake-like, it would be difficult to cut and remove slices if it was baked in a traditional cake pan. The removable sides make it easy!

Why Do You Have to Wrap the Springform Pan in Aluminum Foil?

Since most cheesecakes are baked in a water bath, the foil ensures that no water can creep inside the pan making the crust soggy.

How Do You Know When a Cheesecake is Done?

Use the recipe as your guide, and when it’s near the end of the baking time (about 10 minutes early), carefully give your pan a little jiggle. If only the very center moves, it can be pulled from the oven. If the whole surface jiggles, continue baking and recheck every 10 minutes or so. The heat of the surrounding baked cheesecake will help the middle finish cooking.

How Can You Cut Nice Clean Cheesecake Slices?

I like using a dry, hot knife. Pour hot water from your teapot over both sides of your knife (or dip it into a pan of boiling water), then dry it and slice. Repeat heating and wiping the knife as needed.