Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with an Oreo crust are a creamy fall dessert baked in a muffin pan. Serve this black and orange dessert for Halloween or as a Thanksgiving For Two dessert.
When it comes to decorating desserts for the holidays, well, let’s just say I know my weaknesses.
Some bakers are a natural at decorating. They can pipe buttercream roses, turn cupcakes into pumpkins, and flawlessly pipe royal icing onto mini gingerbread cookies.
Mine usually look like a five-year-old made them.
With Halloween coming up, I wanted to share something festive.
I am not a spooky Halloween kind of girl. I don’t like gore. I don’t like fright. I like cute black cats that like to cuddle and rice krispie pumpkins. Certainly no spiders.
I’ve attempted candy corn cupcakes and candy corn popcorn.
This time I decided to stick with my baking strengths and make Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with an Oreo crust.
This mini pumpkin cheesecake recipe is very creamy and taste like pumpkin pie in cheesecake form. I really like how they turned out black and orange because not many foods can give you that natural black look.
I’m not opposed to food coloring, but my hands get very, uh, colorful when I do use it.
Not only are they black and orange for Halloween, they’re small batch pumpkin cheesecakes, which make a great Thanksgiving for two dessert.
Oops did I say the T-word before November? Ahh well hopefully you can forgive me after you eat a few of these mini pumpkin cheesecakes.
Ingredients for Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Mini Oreo Pumpkin Cheesecakes are made up of a few easy ingredients:
- Cookie crumbs: I used Oreo to make it black and orange for Halloween, but you can also use graham cracker or gingersnap crumbs. I use a food processor to crush into crumbs.
- Butter: Needed to bind the crust
- Cream cheese: It’s not cheesecake without cream cheese! Make sure you’re using full-fat cream cheese. The low fat and fat free versions have more water in them and may be too watery after baking.
- Granulated sugar: Adds a bit of sweetness to balance out the tanginess of the cream cheese
- Egg: As with all baking recipes, use a large egg.
- Canned pumpkin: It wouldn’t be pumpkin cheesecake without the pumpkin! I use canned for the most consistent results. Make sure it’s plain and not pumpkin pie flavored.
- Vanilla: Adds flavor to the batter
How To Make Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
To make your mini pumpkin cheesecake recipe, start with your crust.
Mix together your cookie crumbs and melted butter. Then add roughly 2 tablespoons to each paper liner and press down to form a bottom crust.
Bake for about 10 minutes or until the crust no longer looks wet. This will help crisp up the crust before the cheesecake filling is added.
While the crust cools, make the pumpkin cheesecake filling.
Beat together the cream cheese and sugar until super smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed.
Then beat in the egg, being careful not to overbeat the batter.
Finally, add the pumpkin and vanilla for flavor.
Transfer the batter to your cookie crust. Bake at 325F degrees for 20-25 minutes.
How do you know when a mini cheesecakes are done?
Mini pumpkin cheesecakes are done baking when the edges are set, the center doesn’t look wet and is mostly set with some wiggling, and internal temperature reaches 150F degrees.
They’ll puff up a bit but will deflate and flatten when cooling.
Do you need a water bath for mini cheesecakes?
Oreo pumpkin cheesecakes do not need a water bath because they’re small enough to evenly bake in the middle without overbaking the top.
How To Garnish Pumpkin Cheesecake
The best garnish for this mini pumpkin cheesecake recipe is homemade whipped cream.
If you’re feeling really decorative, you can make little jack o’ lantern faces or chocolate spider webs on top for Halloween.
How long do mini cheesecakes last in the fridge?
Cheesecake can last up to 5-7 days in the refrigerator. Although with this small batch recipe, they’ll likely be gone before then.
Can mini cheesecakes be frozen?
Yes, mini cheesecakes can be frozen before you garnish them.
First place them in a single layer on a baking sheet or plate then freeze until firm, about 1 hour. This prevents them from sticking to the plastic wrap and to each other.
Next wrap each cheesecake individually in plastic wrap then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 1-2 months.
Why do mini cheesecakes sink in the middle?
Chances are if your mini cheesecakes sunk in the middle after cooling, the middle is underbaked. When it’s underbaked, it’s not strong enough to support the top.
Another possible reason is you overbeat the batter especially after adding the egg, incorporating more air than needed.
This air will cause the batter to rise too much then sink as it cools.
More Mini Cheesecake Recipes
Looking for more flavors? Check out my Easy Mini Cheesecake Recipes post where I list all of my recipes for mini cheesecakes in one spot.
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with an Oreo crust are a creamy fall dessert baked in a muffin pan. Serve this black and orange dessert for Halloween or as a Thanksgiving For Two dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs (such as Oreo)*
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted*
- 8 ounces (1 block or 8 tablespoons) full-fat cream cheese, room temperature and not cold to the touch (do not sub fat free)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature and not cold to the touch
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 recipe Small Batch Homemade Whipped Cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Line a muffin pan with 6 paper liners. If not using paper liners, grease with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix together the cookie crumbs and melted butter until moistened and clumpy.
- Press roughly 2 tablespoons crumbs into the bottom of each paper liner. Bake 10 minutes or until set and no longer looks wet. Cool while you make the filling.
- In a large mixing bowl on high speed (with paddle attachment if using a stand mixer), beat together the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
- Beat in the egg for 1 minute or until smooth (do not overbeat). Beat in the pumpkin and vanilla.
- Divide the filling among the paper liners. They should be filled to the top. Bake 20-25 minutes or until tops and edges are firm, the center slightly jiggles when moved, and internal temperature is 150F.
- Cool for 1 hour at room temperature then cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight before garnishing
and serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.
Notes
- Don't want to use Oreos for the crust? Substitute graham cracker or gingersnap crumbs. You will need to add an extra 1 tablespoon melted butter because Oreos have cream filled centers which help with binding.
- Looking for more recipes like this? Check out my full list of Easy Mini Cheesecake Recipes.
- Want to bake this recipe in a different pan? Check out my 6 inch pumpkin cheesecake recipe and 9 inch pumpkin cheesecake recipe.
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Oh, man, do these look DELISH! And so easy to pop in my mouth, one after another!!! Perfect Halloween treat.
They’re so dang cute, almost to cute to eat! (Almost.)
I am piping and decorating challenged too. Glad there are recipes like this to make. This would be awesome at T- (or dare I say Thanksgiving either??)
You’re just like me, I don’t do cute food either. Practical yes, delicious absolutely, cut no. These cheesecakes are right up my alley!
I couldn’t resist reading this post. What special charming Halloween treats. Waaaaaay too good to waste on a kid. I am laughing here. This is an adult treat!!!!!
So cute. I just want to pop one in my mouth. And then another. And another…
Carla, we’re totally the opposites when it comes to Halloween ‘n skeery stuff (you’ll see what I mean if you read my post). I looooooooooove this time of year so much. And yup, I’m totally challenged in the dessert-decorating department. Like, laughably bad. But so long as we have fun and make something that’s delicious to eat, who cares? These mini cheesecakes are adorable and dangerously easy to eat. Each one is basically a mouthful ;)
You are the cheesecake queen!!
I love me some mini Oreo cheesecakes as it is, but this pumpkin variation is totally spectacular. This actually makes me happy the husband doesn’t eat cheesecake, for a change… that way, I won’t have to share these with anyone else. :)
So there is really no problem with removing the paper liners from the cheesecakes? I want to try this, but I can picture the mess if the liners stick!
Nope, no problems for me! I used paper liners (I believe from Reynold’s Wrap) and nothing stuck. It might depend on the quality of the liners too. If you think they might stick, you can (very very lightly) spray the liners before filling.
These look dangerously delicious!
I don’t mind a little scariness but I don’t like gore. But as far as I am concerned, i would much rather be in the haunted house than walking though it!
Love your mini pumpkin Oreo cheesecakes, Carla! Perfect for a Halloween party or, yes, I’ll say it too, Thanksgiving. #teamspoon has to stick together. And that’s what I’d be eating these with.
What size can of pumpkin did you use?! I am looking forward to making these lovely treats!
I didn’t use a whole can of pumpkin. I opened a small can (15 ounces I believe) and just measured out 1/2 cup. If you’re worried about leftover pumpkin, I have plenty of other pumpkin recipes you can try: https://www.chocolatemoosey.com/tag/pumpkin/
Duh! For some reason I just read 1/2 of a can, not 1/2 cup! My bad, thanks for the quick response !
No problem! It happens :)
could you just lay the oreos in the bottom
Do you mean as whole cookies instead of crumbs? I haven’t personally tried it, but I don’t see why not.
I couldn’t tell if anyone actually made these. I have made individual key lime pies in silicone cupcake liners, and instead of having crumbs on the bottom, I put them on top of the filling. I am thinking about trying your recipe that same way. Then just turn them upside down on the plate and peal off the silicone liner and wash for another day!
I also am thinking about making a small pumpkin cheesecake and cooking it in my crockpot! I still wish some people had actually made it and would rate it.
You’re not the only one! I wish more people would leave reviews as well, but I can tell you I’ve gotten emails and social media comments about people making and enjoying the recipe.
Do you have nutritional info for these mini pumpkin cheesecakes or your 6” pumpkin cheesecake for 2? They both sound so, so good!
No, I do not have that since I’m not a nutritionist (liability issue). You can use a calorie calculator such as My Fitness Pal for the info.
GREAT RECIPE, CARLA! I’m going with letting everyone get their cheesecake out of the cupcake liner. That way, no kitchen catastrophe needing a “CLEAN UP ON AISLE ONE!” :0)
Ha great idea! Let everyone make their own mess to lick up.