In all of the cashew cheesecake experimentation I’ve done so far on the blog, I haven’t touched on pumpkin yet. Things had to change!
These pumpkin cheesecakes were the first thing that came to mind when I thought of creating a simple-yet-decadent fall dessert.
I mean, who doesn’t love cheesecake? And pumpkin? And coconut whipped cream?
(If you’re raising your hand at this point, you can just leave.)
This recipe is simple, requiring just 10 ingredients and no special springform pans or gadgets.
If you have a blender, parchment paper (or cupcake liners), and ramekins (or muffin tins), you can master these decadent vegan cheesecakes!
I think you all are going to love these gems. They’re:
Creamy
Rich
Pumpkin-infused
Subtly spiced
Not too sweet
& Satisfying
These would make the perfect dessert for holiday parties and fall gatherings. They’re super versatile with the ability to be made in muffin tins for a single-serving size, ramekins for 3-4 small cheesecakes, or a round cake pan (or springform pan) for one large cheesecake to feed a crowd. Top with coconut whipped cream and brown sugar pecans (recipes below) for a finishing touch.
If you try this cheesecake, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram! We’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!
Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
Ingredients
CRUST
- 1 cup packed medjool dates (pitted // about 20 dates per 1 cup or 275 g // pitted before measuring)
- 1 1/2 cups raw walnuts
- 1 pinch sea salt
FILLING
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews (soaked in very hot water for 1 hour)
- 1 lemon, juiced (1 lemon yields ~2 Tbsp or 30 ml )
- 1/3 cup light or full-fat coconut milk (or sub unsweetened almond milk)
- 3 Tbsp olive oil (or sub melted coconut oil, though it will add coconut flavor)
- 1/2 cup grade A maple syrup* or light agave nectar (plus more to taste)
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
FOR SERVING optional
Instructions
-
Cover cashews with boiling-hot water. Let rest, uncovered, at room temperature for 1 hour. Then drain thoroughly and set aside.
-
In the meantime, add dates to a blender and blend until small bits remain, or it forms a ball. Remove and set aside.
-
Add walnuts and salt to blender and process into a meal. Then add dates back in and blend until a loose dough forms - it should stick together when you squeeze a bit between your fingers. If too crumbly, add a few more dates. If too sticky, add more crushed walnuts. Set aside.
-
If using a springform pan, line with parchment paper. If using ramekins or muffin tins, cut parchment paper into circles the size of the base of your ramekins or muffin tins. Also, cut out two long strips of parchment paper per ramekin and lay them in an "X" shape at the base. Top with circle shape. This creates little tabs that make removing the cheesecakes easier to pop out once set. (For muffin tins, you can also just use cupcake liners.)
-
Divide crust evenly among ramekins or tins (or springform pan), and press down with fingers to evenly distribute. Use a small glass wrapped in parchment paper, or the back of a spoon, to press down firmly, allowing some crust to come up the sides. Set in freezer.
-
Once cashews are soaked and drained, add to blender with remaining filling ingredients and puree until very smooth - 2-3 minutes. If it has trouble blending add a touch more coconut milk (or almond milk). Taste and adjust flavor/sweetness as needed.
-
Divide filling evenly among the ramekins or tins (or pour into a parchment-lined springform pan). Tap a few times to release any air bubbles, then cover loosely with plastic wrap and freeze until firm - about 4-6 hours, depending on size of dish.
-
Once set, run a butter knife along the edge and gently remove by tugging on the tabs in an upward motion. They should pop right out. If they aren't quite set, pop them back in the freezer until firm. If using a springform pan, simply pop open and remove cheesecake.
-
Serve with a touch of coconut whipped cream and brown sugar pecans (optional | recipe links above).
-
Store leftovers in the freezer for 7-10 days, though best when enjoyed within the first 3-4 days. Let thaw at room temperature 15-20 minutes before serving for best texture.
Notes
*Grade A maple syrup is best in this recipe - I didn't prefer Grade B, as its flavor was a bit too intense and overwhelmed the pumpkin.
*Prep time includes soaking cashews and freezing.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated using medium-sized ramekins and does not include additional toppings.
Nutrition Per Serving (1 of 8 one-half mini cheesecake servings)
- Calories: 434
- Fat: 29.6g
- Saturated fat: 4g
- Sodium: 72mg
- Carbohydrates: 40.1g
- Fiber: 4.3g
- Sugar: 26.7g
- Protein: 9.6g
I am not so used to really healthy eating but am making changes and trying. Many recipes leave me feeling….well that was edible but not that good. This one was very tasty and is a “keeper!” Very pleased. May be due to the maple syrup but if you buy organic syrup, you can still feel good about it!
Can soaked almonds be used in the filling instead of cashews?
We haven’t tried, but if you give it a go, report back on how it goes!
It curded! How come you could add lemon and coconut milk and not curd the mix?
It never curds for me. Did you blend it well?
This is so delicious and super simple! All in a blender – can’t get any better than that.
Some tips after making:
Adjust the lemon and maple syrup to your taste before adding it all. I found there were too much of both.
Double the recipe if you’ll be making a pie
I made this for Thanksgiving and loved it. I made it in a regular round cake pan and used the criss-cross parchment paper technique (genius!) and it worked out great. It was a hit. Thanks MB!
I’ve loved making these the past couple years. Last year i took the easy route and put them on top of ginger snap cookies, which was fantastic. This year I wanted to make the actual crust. While I think I learned my crust might have been too thick, I also found it overwhelmingly sweet. Any suggestions? Perhaps I didn’t add enough walnuts or something to cut back on the sweetness of the dates?
Try this crust next time! Bake it ahead of time, then add the filling: https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-baked-cheesecake-vegan-gf/
I love minimalist baker and have had success with the majority of recipes I’ve tried on this site. While the flavor of this cheesecake is great, the consistency is not. Unfortunately, the cheesecake melted into a soupy mess while sitting on a dessert table at a party. I had the same problem with another minimalist baker cheesecake recipe. If you eat it right out of the freezer, this will work. However, it won’t hold up long at room temperature. I hope you’ll take this recipe down or modify it. It isn’t quite ready for publication and I hate for other people to have to deal with a melting cheesecake.
Gwen, so sorry you had a less than perfect experience with this recipe. I do try and iterate that this is a chilled dessert and it does do best chilled, not at room temperature for long periods of time. To help with this issue, you can try something more similar to this Easy Baked Cheesecake recipe, or this recipe which utilizes cocoa butter, which doesn’t soften much at room temperature.
Made these for thanksgiving dessert this year. Delish. Here’s a hot tip, though, if you don’t want to fuss with parchment paper: I filled and froze them in large silicone baking cups. When it’s time to defrost, they pop right out, and you have convenient individual servings. Easy. I agreed with another reviewer that the color wasn’t really a pumpkin pie hue. I’m sure you could add more pumpkin purée to compensate?
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve always wanted to try making a vegan cheesecake but was too intimidated. This recipe was so easy and turned out perfectly! We’re celebrating Thanksgiving in Maine with my friend who is gluten-free, so this recipe is perfect. She only has mini-muffin tins, so I used those (and the crossed parchment strips covered the bottom of each cup so I didn’t have to cut circles). I put them in a cooler outside overnight and we ate a few this morning. They are the perfect size for nutty pumpkin bites! Even the non-vegans like it. 😊
Thanks, Tyler!
Hi, Im confused do you use canned coconut milk for cheesecake?
Yep!
Had one other question for you. How do you get coconut milk from a can to whip up? lately the coconut milk I’ve been getting hasn’t been very thick.
Thank you!
Hmm what brand of coconut milk are you using, Lisa?
Hi there minimalist Baker! In answer to your question it’s the Whole Foods 365 coconut milk. Put one can in the refrigerator overnight and it’s still feels liquidy when I shake it. the quality is really good. The taste is always good. But not thick enough to whip up.
The Thai Kitchen cans are pretty small aren’t they? I know that that’s a recommended brand but then also just read some negative feedback that their consistency hasn’t held up lately.
Used to buy the brand with forest in the name. Consistency not always great.
What do you recommend?
Thanks so much!
Lisa
Are you just using the coconut cream portion? We usually recommend Whole Foods 365 and are not sure why it isn’t thickening for you.. Check the comments here for tips!
Thanks for your reply. Sorry for the delay. I did try 365 again, but there was still a lot of cream at the bottom of the can after refrigerating it over night, upside down. However I did manage to get more of the solid part at the top out which I then whipped.
So I did make this cheesecake for Thanksgiving. Took quite a while to make. The filling I liked a lot, although ended up over freezing it, so that when it came time to eat it we had to soften it up a bit by putting it in the oven for a few minutes. It still wasn’t thawed out. Probably should have used the microwave on defrost.
Found the crust was too sweet. Normally I steer clear of sugar, so the dates made it super sweet, and they do have a kind of a sugar. What else would you recommend other than dates? And do you have a baked version of this, since the consistency was challenging and I was looking for it to really have a cheesecake consistency. Frozen it’s more like an ice cream. Thawed, softer than a cheesecake.
I’m now looking into a different kind of a crust which I can make out of homemade sugar free graham crackers (found one online, looks good). Then I will be trying that with a baked vegan sugar free version of a pumpkin cheesecake.
Regarding the coconut milk, I am having better success with the 365 again, although on Thanksgiving we used the organic Thai Kitchen.
Can you recommend a thickener to add to make the whipped coconut close to whipped cream in consistency? Would cream of tarter work?
Thanks!
Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Lisa:)
One other thing I wanted to add was that I think the spring form pan was too large because I ended up with too thin a cheesecake and way too thick a crust.
Hi Lisa. To thicken your coconut whipped cream, I’d say tapioca starch can sometimes help. Otherwise, buy a can of coconut cream, refrigerate overnight, then whip. As for a more savory crust and baked cheesecake inspo, try this one! https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-baked-cheesecake-vegan-gf/
Thank you for the recipe! Can you substitute stevia for the agave. Sugar free options are always appreciated. I look forward to hearing back. Thanks again
Yes, that should work! Another reader had success with it. Let us know if you give it a try, Lisa!
This looks delicious! What size springform pan should I use?
Can I bake this instead of putting it in the freezer?
Not this recipe, Autumn!
Could you use pecans instead of walnuts for the crust?
We haven’t tried but I think that should work!
Hi Nina
I’ve made vegan cheesecakes many times and always use pecans with the dates because I don’t like walnuts. It’s always yummy! I’m making this one today for some friends that are coming over tonight so I’ll post to share how it came out.
Hi! I want to make these for an event where I won’t have freezer access. If I keep them in my cooler beforehand, and have them sitting at room temp on a plate for 2-3 hours, will they melt? How do they hold up at room temp?
Thanks so much <3
Omgosh your recipe allows me to modify the servings?!?!?!?!?!?! You’re a doll!!! About to try this but had to share my excitement at not having to do math;-)
We’re so glad you are finding that feature helpful!
OH MY-YUMMMMMM! And KETO too with one modification!
I made only the filling part and wow, so good!! (the crust looks good too but was just looking mainly for the cheesecake ish part.
I just have a regular bosch blender so it was a bit tricky getting it all to blend properly, but it did turn out great!
I needed mine to use only stevia as sweetener so I used green powdered stevia. I added some extra pumpkin and upped the spices a bit too. Keto here we come!
It isn’t exactly cheesecake texture, likely due to my using a regular blender, but it’s in the fridge now and we’ll see what the texture does once it’s COLD. I am guessing the hardening of the coconut oil (no coconut flavor was imparted) will contribute well to the final texture.
Thanks for a great recipe and definitely adding this my KETO and dairy free dessert list :)
My colleague made this recipe and brought it to us at the office. She reduced the oil by one Tbsp., and used the light coconut milk.
I must admit, this was absolutely delicious!! I am a big lover of authentic cheesecake, and often decline to eat anything else, but this recipe is outstanding. I plan to make it for my gluten sensitive friends!
Whoop! Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Dee!
Before I try this – I am new to vegan baking and live at high altitude, so have many cooking challenges – do you think this will work in mini pie plates with no parchment to just serve directly? Thank you!
Thank you for this info. I’ve been looking for a proper grater for my cheese for awhile now. I’ll definitely try out this product.
This was beyond amazing! I want to make another one immediately. Seriously, it’s the best cashew cheesecake I have ever had.
Woot woot!
I made this this past weekend for company and it turned out spectacularly!! It has a very “fancy” feel to it but is very easy to make. Served it with So Delicious Coco Whipped Topping because I didn’t have time to make homemade coconut whipped cream. Excellent all around. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe! Will try a chocolate cheesecake version next time around!
I made this for Thanksgiving, using a muffin tin and cupcake liners.
To start, I was skeptical of putting the dates in my blender (I have a Vitamix). I was right. The motor overheated and stopped. Getting the date puree out was tough. After waiting for the motor to come back on, I ground the nuts (I used pecans rather than walnuts). They stuck to the date residue. Why not grind the nuts first? It would save a lot of trouble.
There was no way I was going to put the dates back in my blender, so I kneaded the nuts and dates together by hand. That worked well.
I froze the cheesecakes overnight, then took them out when I went for Thanksgiving dinner at 4pm. When I took one at 6pm for dessert, I was disappointed at how runny they were. I ate mine with a spoon out of the cupcake liner, but the non-vegans we’re really interested in a runny mess when they could eat slices of non-vegan pie.
My husband and I ate the leftovers straight from the freezer, and those were great. But I wouldn’t recommend defrosting these at all.
Pretty good! Seemed a little bland though. After Freezing a few and pulling them out a week later, it tasted like slightly flavored coconut milk on top of date paste. Maybe it just hold its flavor well in the freezer. I prefer the other no bake cheesecake bite recipes to this one. The candied nuts were delicious!
Hi Dana!
Have you tried this recipe (or any of the cashew cheese cake recipes) with adding a tablespoon or two of nutritional yeast? When I’ve done cashew cheesecake they’ve been good, but still missing a certain element of tangy-cheesiness of a traditional cheesecake.
Hi Mallory! We actually have not tried and cannot say, but if you give it a try, report back on how it goes. Good luck!
I made this at thanksgiving & it was a total hit. However, I used a standard springform pan and it came out thin. If I were to double the recipe, would there be any negative effects?
Hi! That should be fine!
I made this with high hopes and I wasn’t disappointed! Although it wasn’t as sweet as I normally make my desserts, it was definitely worth the effort! Especially the crust, I’ve never thought walnuts and dates could work so well together!
Can this be made as one big pumpkin cheesecake? If yes, do I have to do anything different?
Yes you can make in a large pan!
I made this and it turned out wonderful! Very delicious! Will definitively make this again! Thank you for the recipe!
I made these and added all the optional ingredients, highly regret it. I wish I had laid the cashews out flat after draining. The bottom half in the bowl was warm-ish and when I was blending everything (without the optional additions) it tasted good but as with other clean, gluten free recipes the flavors come through most when the desserts cool. I added the other items and even a little salt and it made the flavors messy. I really wish I had stuck to the original recipe and stuck a quarter cup in the freezer to do a taste test. I tasted one this morning after letting it thaw and its still a solid no. I think me adding the vanilla just made everything muted and messy. Id love to hear if anyone had success with the additions. I’m also curious if most of you used the whole lemon or measured the table spoons. My lemon was very big so I measured but eventually added a tiny bit more to taste. I have a back up cake for Thanksgiving but was really hoping to wow with this.
Update** If I let it sit for a little longer than suggested (my freezer really works hard) but so its still cold and stiffer than the fridge would have it the flavors are a little sharper and my younger sister had a whole one and so did my dad. We’ll see! For me I’d rather stick to regular raw vegan cheesecake.
This is amazing! Easy and so good. I will definitely be making it again. Thank you!
How long before serving do I️ take out of the freezer? There’s no thickener so I️ wonder how this sets up.
just made this! the color kind of looked like vomit but it tastes good! i added more pumpkin and more spices too.
Can I substitute cashews for a ready made vegan cream cheese?
I have the same question. I was thinking about using TJ’s vegan cream cheese instead. Or perhaps using the vegan cream cheese to make a topping instead of the whipped cream?
Hi! We have not tried it and cannot say for sure, but if you do, report back on how it goes!
The cheesecake is delish, but the crust is adictive. The left over cheesecake, in the freezer is calling to me…I—MUST— RESIST.
I would like to try replacing the pumpkin and lemon in this recipe with sweet potatoe and orange. Have you ever tried this / would it alter the consistency too much? I plan on boiling then mashing the sweet potatoes.
Thank you for the great recipes in advance!
Hi Alyssa! We haven’t tried it, but if you do let us know how it turns out!
Do you taste the olive oil?
Hi Kate! You don’t notice the taste!
Hello,
I was wondering if this recipe would make enough for a 6 inch cheesecake?
Thanks! xx
Hi! Yes it should!
I made this and it was absolutely delicious. The only adjustment I made was that I doubled the filling to give it extra thickness like a real cheesecake (since I made it in a spring form pan). The one batch of filling just felt too sparse. Definitely impressed my guest though!
I’m trying a variation of a strawberry cheesecake. Today I’m substituting pumpkin purée for strawberries. It seems that only a 1/4 C of pumpkin isn’t quite enough. Any harm if I make it 1/3 C? Also although I would have preferred to use pecans I only had almonds on hand. Trying that combo (almonds & dates) for crust. I’m using 3 small spring form pans. Will post my results & maybe photo.
I am thinking of making these this week. I am surprised that the recipe only uses 1/4 cup plus 1 TBSP of pumpkin puree. That seems like so little. But, apparently it is enough?
Hi! I plan on making these soon and I already have a package of pitted dried prunes at home. Would that be an o.k. substitution for dates?
Thank you!
Hi Candace! Yes you can!
I have to say that I absolutely love this recipe. It has that slight tang that a cheesecake normally has. I added double the pumpkin by accident and so I found it quite soft if it wasn’t kept in the freezer. But it’s on my list once again to make this week.
Hello!
I’m introducing in the vegan cheesecake world recently, but I have a little problem with cashews, at least where I live… I find them a little expensive and I wonder if they have a cheaper and easy to find substitute that works well… Do you know this? For example, could peanuts work well? Thank you!
Hi Alba! A seed butter may work, such as sunflower seed butter, but we haven’t tried that so we can’t say for sure and I don’t think it has the same mild flavor of cashews that works so well as a cheese substitute. I’d say you could certainly sub in sunflower seeds for the nuts in the crust, though. If soy isn’t a problem for you, you could try finding a tofu-based pumpkin cheesecake recipe. Hope this helps!
For us Brits, what does pumpkin pie spice entail..? Can I mix it up myself?
Hi Jo! Yes you can! (3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg, 1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice and 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves. Mix the spices together in a small bowl). Hope this helps!
Hi Dana!
This looks so good! Can you replace the walnuts with a different type of nut? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Hi Amanda! Some readers have used pecans or sunflower seeds and have had success with it, almonds would work as well!
Hi! I love your recipes and this one looks amazing, but I can’t have a lot of these ingredients (I’m on a special low-FODMAP diet), is there any way you could make a cheesecake recipe without nuts or dairy? I love all that you do and your recipes are amazing ?
Hi there –
To clarify, how long did you leave the cashews boiling in the hot water? It says you’ve sent it aside for an hour but I don’t know if I’m just reading this wrong..
Thank you!
(I’m making this right now so a quick reply would be amazing if you could lol )
What size of springboard pan would be good for the quantity of this recipe?
Hi Emily! If I recall correctly a standard springboard pan is 9×9 and that should work!
I can’t understand why there is so little pumpkin purée in a recipe that serves so many?? 1/4. C pumpkin is not very much. I’m I reading this amount wrong??
Hi Catrina! You are correct, there is also 3/4 tsp of pumpkin pie spice as well!
So I tried this recipe for the first time since I am lactose intolerant-cheesecake lover and ‘ve been dying for something that won’t kill me.
Overall it’s pretty easy to make but I am a little disappointed. Turns out my cheesecake batter was yellow-ish, I couldn’t taste the pumpkin and it melts like a snowman in summer time! As for the crust, I couldn’t find dates anywhere so went with figs instead -it’s so good! also, my experience with the coconut whipped cream was TERRIBLE; I used Thai coconut cream -chilled overnight and blah blah blah but a soon as I mixed it with the powder sugar it turned gray and no matter what I did or how long I beat it, I couldn’t make it work.
I’m gonna give this recipes another chance but I think I’ll have to make a few adjustments -like more puree, less syrup and some agar.
Hi! What does it take to put this kind of cheesecakes junt in the fridge? What is the required condition? I’m kind of familiar with this cheesecakes know but I always have this doubt. Thanks a lot for the help!
Can this cheesecake go just to the fridge, instead of going to the freezer? Sets well? Doesn’t melt? Thanks!
Hi Mafalfa! I would recommend storing leftovers in the freezer as it’ll become quite soft when stored in the fridge (and won’t last as long)
What it takes to put this kind of cheesecakes junt in the fridge? What is the required condition? I’m kind of familiar with this cheesecakes know but I always have this doubt. Thanks a lot for the help!
Will make again, yummy! Th color was abit off, maybe due to almond milk, will try coconut next time, so, so good. Amazing, one of our favorites.
Made this recipe for Thanksgiving and they turned out great! I got four 6 inch mini cakes from this recipe. This was my first time making a vegan cheesecake and I will definitely make it again!
will roasted cashews work?
No, I don’t think so. Sorry!
Hi!
I have to work tomorrow and am wondering, if I make this tonight would I just leave it in the freezer all night and all day tomorrow until I get home?
Thanks!
Angela
Yes!
Thank you!
I just made this and it is sitting in my freezer. I’m planning on bringing this to Thanksgiving and not telling anyone its vegan until after they have eaten it! I haven’t tried it all put together, but each component tasted awesome! I cannot wait to try the finished product. This was also super easy to make, Kudos to you!
I made this in a springform pan and was disappointed by how thin the overall cheesecake turned out. After I poured in the batter it only came up less than a half inch from the crust:( I was making this for my boyfriend’s birthday and now am stressed about having to do something else. So you should double the recipe if making it in a springform pan.
What size pan did you use?
I just made this pumpkin cheese cake because my mom is making a “real” one for thanksgiving but my sister and I are lactose intolerant and she is allergic to eggs as well. I have a friend with a gluten intolerance who will love some of these as well. I am freezing them right now and am exited to try them. I did add the juice of a whole lemon and it was too sour for my taste. It may have been a big lemon. I added more pumpkin to even out the flavor. I hope they still set okay. Guess we will know in 4 hours or so. :)
Thank you for your great recipe,
From all of us with Allergies
Can I use deglet noor dates?
Yes! Just try to make sure they’re as fresh as possible.
Thank you!
hey! i am wondering how long in advance this may be made and still taste wonderful? if I make it on Tuesday before Thanksgiving will it keep for thursday?
I think it will be fine long in advance. Just keep it in the freezer until a few hours before serving. Then transfer to the fridge. Good luck!
I’m going to make this in a springform pan and freeze it overnight and bring with me on a flight up to Portland for Friendsgiving.. it will be about a 2 hour flight. Any suggestions on how to keep it safe? Should I just immediately put it in the freezer when I get to my friend’s house? Thank you!!
This looks delish! However I’m not a huge fan of coconut, does the flavour come through with using the milk in the recipe?
Thank you xo
I think pumpkin is the most pronounced flavor, so don’t shy away from this recipe even if you’re not a fan of coconut!
Wow! This is the first vegan cheesecake I have ever tried making and it was very simple and amazingly delicious so I just had to comment. Will definitely make this again and again!
Lovely – thanks!
This cheesecake looks so yummy AND the fact that it’s vegan makes it so much more appealing. Great recipe for vegans who need a sweet treat!
I don’t like cheesecake. But don’t worry – cause I DO like vegan cheesecake. Very much so.
It looks absolutely amazing! So sad I am intolerant to coconut. Is there any alternative to the whipped fluffy coconut cream?
Just made this in a 9″ cake pan using the parchment paper circle and x technique and now it’s in the freezer. I agree that a high speed blender is the key to getting a smooth, cheesecake-y texture on the filling. I have yet to taste the finished cheesecake, but I tasted the filling and, whoa, is it good. The only recommendation I would make is to possibly make the crust in a food processor and only the filling in a high speed blender. While it technically makes for an extra appliance to clean out, I had to clean out the blender after the crust anyway. And the date/walnut mixture got a little sticky in my Vitamix, so a good food processor might make the crust a little quicker (I was doing a lot of cautious poking around to loosen up the sticky layer below the blender blade). Besides that, this is an excellent recipe! Love that the pumpkin is not overpowering or too sweet – just the perfect amount of pumpkin flavor. I can’t wait to bring over a few pieces to share with family and friends. Thank you!
My question is: nowhere in the instructions does it say to put in the coconut milk. Also, do we mean the tinned can coconut milk, full fat, and if so do we leave in refrigerator overnight? Or are u referring to coconut milk unseettened, like for cereal? The recipe instructions only say to “add more for cashew base, if____…”
Add the coconut milk when blending the cashews. I use light or full fat tinned coconut milk straight from the pantry (room temp).
You’re amazing. Only one of these incredible chefs that responds to the paying civilians. Well done! Now I am a fan and will buy the cookbook. (Was a fan of the food, regardless, but now… ;)Way to work your ass off. I am a screenwriter in tinsel town, so if you ever need some celeb endorsements I can connect you.
Just a litle question, wanting to make this recipe for a friend, but she’s allergic to walnuts. Any ideas on which other nuts I could use instead of them?
Thank you!
Almonds should work well!
Can I use butternut squash instead of pumpkin?
Yes!
Sounds delish!! Going to make for Christmas dinner!
Was wondering if I’m using a springform pan how big do I use??
9″?
Thanks Dana!
Your recipes are amazing!
Yes, that should work!
Mine is in the freezer now and the filling tastes delicious so far. NOTE: If using a spring form pan, you need to make 1.5 times the recipe to have it come up the sides to meet the crust.
Can’t wait to eat it tonight! I am making the pecans too to garnish and of course the whip!
Thank yoU!!
Hi, you state you can make this in a springform pan as well as ramekins but you don’t specify as which size. I started off using a 10-inch pan as the amount of crust was quite a lot. I froze it, then made the filling the next morning. As I was making the filling, I was thinking, this is not going to be enough to fill a 10-inch pan. So I scraped the crust out, let it sit out to thaw, and then re-formed it into a 9-inch pan. The filling; once I ground the nuts and added it to the pumpkin-coconut puree, still only came up about about an inch. I had to push the edges of the crust down, because it was sticking up too high. It looks more like a tart rather than a cheesecake though. Next time, I would recommend increasing the filling amounts by 1.5.
Made this cheesecake over the weekend and it was DELISH! I am allergic to walnuts so used sunflower seeds in the crust. They worked perfectly. I like spicy so added a bit more pumpkin pie spice. I stay away from sugar but decided to try the coconut whipped cream and that was amazing. I also roasted a handful of pepitas in coconut oil, sea salt and cinnamon to sprinkle on top. Easy steps and a lovely dessert. I did use a spring form pan lined with parchment paper and had no issues.
I made this for Thanksgiving yesterday and used a springform pan. As others have mentioned, the recipe does not make enough filling for a standard springform. If I were to make it again, I would make 1.5 or 2X as much filling and use a regular graham cracker crust. We were not fans of the date/walnut crust. Thanks for another healthy, creative recipe!
Our daughter-in-law, Erika, made this for our Thanksgiving dessert – It was delicious!
So great! Thanks for sharing, Sue!
I made the recipe for Thanksgiving, it was very good. The filling is very surprising; the raw cashews texture looks a lot like cream cheese. I would have just preferred to soak the dates before, it would have been easier to mix. Thank you Dana for this great recipe :)
I just finished prepping these tomorrow and holy yum, they are amazing! I used a muffin tin for individual servings. There will definitely not be any leftovers :)
Excited to try these for Thanksgiving! However I don’t have a high speed blender… would you recommend soaking them over night if I’m using a food processor? Thanks!
Hmm, is there any way to get your hands on a high speed blender? It’s essential to get a creamy texture…
I made this and it is amazing! I almost didn’t get the pumpkin cheesecake mix onto the crust because I wanted to eat it all! It would be a great dip! I set it in the freezer and let it thaw before serving, but then put the leftovers into the fridge and had them the next day and I thought it tasted even better the second day!
I made this last night for my bf to take to a work potluck. I made in large pie form. Unfortunately he says it was a bit runny. I put in the freezer overnight for 8 hours or so. And since it seemed pretty solid when I took it out this morning told him to let it thaw. Guess that was a bad idea.
Made this last night in a 9in pan. I would probably double the filling next time — the cake turned out quite thin, and the final product was a bit more like pie than cheesecake. But it was delicious, nonetheless! And the coconut whip paired perfectly!
I made this tonight, and I’m kind of puzzled. I doubled the filling to beautifully fill a 9″ springform pan, and swapped in a gingersnap cookie crust that I prefer for pumpkin cheesecakes. All I could taste was lemon and coconut, with just a whisper of pumpkin. Thankfully, this was just a test run. Would dialing back the lemon juice hurt the texture? How about doubling the pumpkin? It set very nicely, but the flavor really missed the mark for me.
Haley, based on what you prefer, I think those swaps would work! Scale back the lemon juice, add more pumpkin, and even more pumpkin pie spice if you’d like!
Thank you so much! I’m making this for the first Thanksgiving with my partner’s family, and I’m aching to impress them with vegan deliciousness!
I’m planning to do the same thing (double the filling and put it on top a gingersnap crust)…do you think I should pre-bake the gingersnap crust? Thanks!
I have a question:
Does the cashew trick taste like cream cheese?
Subtly, yes.
Hi Dana,
What size spring foam pan could one use? I have one but I think it may be a little on the big size for this recipe. Looks great! I’m making this for my anti-vegan family and I’m not telling.
I don’t have a springform! I use ramekins. It will fill a small springform. If yours is bigger, double or x1.5 the recipe!
I just made this, and I can’t stop eating the filling. I might have cheated a little and tossed in some dairy-free cream cheese, so I’ll see if it sets. Thank you!!! This kicks the butt of Daiya’s pre-made vegan cheesecakes.
Hi! Is it safe to assume that this can be made to fit a regular sized pie dish? Or is it better to make these as minis?
It would fit a regular pie pan!
I am so excited to try this for thanksgiving! Can I substitute the dates for nut butter or coconut butter? And do you mean canned coconut milk or carton?
Canned coconut milk. And I’m not sure about subbing the dates. They provide that sticky texture and sweetness. But if you give it a try, let me know!
Hi Cassie,
When we thaw these for abt 10 mins, these get little soft. I think with nut butters, you may have a dripping/saggy cupcake at the bottom. Date & walnut crust is the best in this case.
I just made this last night. It was quite labor intensive as I can’t spend more than 5 mins in the kitchen!! But always ate healthy food though as I have a great husband who helps me with kitchen chores and prep. :)
We had two pieces this afternoon and those are extremely DELICIOUS!! I ended up making 24 & an extra large cupcake. I don’t appreciate sweets so much so I always spent lots & lots of time to find a decent bakery where cakes are just not made with sweetness as the primary factor. At last, I found what I was looking for from this recipe. My kid’s next B’day will have these and probably as a cake too.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DANA!! This is such a healthy and decadent dessert.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!
This looks amazing… Do you think it would work as one big pie instead of ramekins?
I do!
This recipe is great! My only suggestion is that there wasn’t enough filling for my springform pan. I’ll probably double the amount next time. Super good though and SO easy to make. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Megan! The filling amount will vary depending on how big your pan is.
Can I ask if it make these the day before thanksgiving and leave them in freezer overnight, will they be alright or will they be too frozen next day. Also is coconut milk can be substituted for regular milk or no? If not what coconut milk brand you recommend, never used coconut milk before. Would I just heat then in microwave next day to get them bit softened? Thanks, looks like wonderful recipe. I plan on making these for thanksgiving.
Freezing them is totally fine! They’ll thaw perfectly, just make sure they’re well covered. You can sub dairy milk if you’d like. For coconut milk I prefer Whole Foods brand or Native Foods.
Could you add pumpkin butter in place of some of the sugar, puree, and spice? Thanks!
This looks amazing! I am totally going to make this for thanksgiving this year. Question though: Does the filling only work with coconut or almond milk or would soy work just as well?
Soy should work, though it will impart a soy flavor…
This pumpkin cheesecake was delicious. I made raw pumpkin purée for it. It’s a keeper.
what can I sub the nuts for? I’m allergic but this recipe sounds delicious!
They’re so key, I’m not sure! Sorry, Alexandria!
Brand new reader here – BuzzFeed Food sent me – for which I thank them! This recipe was featured as one of the ‘must make’ foods for November – and I totally agree! One quick question – does this require a Vitamix or other super-powerful blender, or will any decent regular blender do the job? One of those high powered things are on my wish list, but financially out of reach at the moment.
Thank you – those pictures and descriptions made me so hungry – and I haven’t eaten breakfast yet! :-)
Hi Sylvia! And welcome! It does require a high-speed blender or the filling won’t get creamy and smooth, and instead remain grainy, which really negatively affects the final product (as you might imagine). You can try it with your blender though! Let me know if it works!
Thanks – I’ll see what happens – and besides, Christmas is coming – maybe I will finally get that power-beast I’ve been wanting :-)
I’m planning on making this tonight for my grandmother’s birthday dinner tomorrow (but with a pecan/gingersnap, backed crust). She LOVES cheesecake.
I don’t have a highspeed blender (yet!) either. I was thinking of subbing cashew butter (the kind that is JUST ground cashews) for the cashews since that would already be smooth. I’m thinking of doing a straight 180g sub and seeing what happens! I’ll report back.
This came together beautifully in my Vita Mix. I was feeling lazy, so I used gingerbread and pumpkin spice Lara bars as the crust. I just broke them into pieces and rolled them into small circles to fit my muffin tin. Thanks for this!
I’m such a big fan of your vegan banana cream pie, and am excited to try this recipe!
How many portions do you think this would make if I used a standard muffin tin?
Thanks Aimee! I think this would make 7-10 (maybe more). Good luck!
Like other recipes I’ve tried from Dana’s site these are great and very adaptable. I’m not vegan and will eat dairy if food taste is compromised. Didn’t have coconut milk or lemon or walnuts. Didn’t matter because it was still awesome. I added coconut oil and maple syrup to taste using a food processor. Dates and pecans for the crust. I haven’t made the coconut whip. Pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate chips are placed on top before freezing. Although not low in fat or sugar I feel like this is about as nutritious as you can get with dessert without adding kale.
Thanks Carrie! So kind. Thanks for sharing!
This Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe sounds delicious!! Just one question though.
What size springform pan do you use?
I don’t have a springform pan (as of right now). I used small ramekins instead. But I would use an 8 or 10 inch if I did have one! But really, any size should work.
These amazing pictures stared at me for days since it’s pretty much the superlative of your 7 ingredient cheesecake that I made innumerous times ! I finally found an excuse to make these babies for my mothers birthday on Halloween ;) Question though, if I would make the cake in a springform, what size would you recommend?
Probably an 8- or 10-inch! But any size should do, the smaller the better in my opinion.
I made this yesterday and it’s really delicious. However, the filling was a teeny tiny bit grainy. Not 100% smooth… but pretty close. I’ve never baked with cashews before so I’m not sure what to expect. Does it ever get entirely smooth? Did I not blend long enough? Or soak the cashews long enough?
Thanks so much, Dana! I’m obsessed with your site!
I’d blend more! You definitely need a high speed blender, so that might’ve been the issue!
Will a food processor blend it well enough?
Unfortunately, no in my experience. You need a high speed blender or it won’t get creamy and smooth!
Thank you. Will it work in my Ninja bullet-type blender?
I haven’t had good experience with those, but let me know if you try it and how it goes!
Ohhh.. I LOVE cashews and pumpkin. We can’t do walnuts though.. what do you think we could use instead?
I just tried this and I never want to eat anything else ever again! However, I would love to see a nut-free version of this as my brother is allergic to tree nuts.
Ha! Love it. I’ll add a nut-free cheesecake to my list!
These little beauties were so simple to make! One of the easiest dessert recipes I’ve ever done.
This cheesecake is great! I brought it to work and everyone loved it; even the non-healthy eaters!
All I can say is this Cheesecake recipe is amazing!!! I made it yesterday and it is decadant, creamy and oh so delicious. All I had were roasted salted cashews, so I soaked them in the hot water as directed and the rinsed them a few times to make sure they were clean and then followed directions as normal. It worked perfectly. Dana you rock! Thank you for your care and passion for creating incredible & healthy food. And not to mention the beautiful photos and elegant descriptions of every recipe.
Looks Devine!!
Strange question, but do you think I could make it without the pumpkin purée? I can’t get or make it in Japan… And I’d like to make this for my birthday on Saturday.
Thanks!
What a great recipe! Will definitely have to try this.
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Jan! xo
I confess I’m averse to the freezing method, only because I don’t love the texture. I love your white chocolate lemon cheesecake that is refrigerated, however. Ideas on how I could combine the two and refrigerate instead of freeze? Thanks!
So, I think these set best in the freezer. I prefer refrigerated as well, but I found that for removing these from the ramekins, freezing is key. And the texture really is the same if you let it thaw 20-30 minutes before serving! Hope that helps, Hannah.
Ok, these are TASTY! I did find it to be a big time and $$ investment (nuts are so expensive lately)… but the outcome is fantastic! I used silicone cupcake liners and they pop out super easily. The coconut whipped cream is a necessary compliment to these yummy cakes and it keeps really well :)
Whoop! Glad your investment paid off, Lynne! xoxo
This looks amazing but I don’t eat any oils. Can I just leave the oil out, or is there a while food plant based substitute I can use (applesauce maybe)? Thanks!
*whole
How did the recipe work without the oil? I also want to make it oil free
Um, I would just leave it out, just know it won’t be “as” creamy.
Uhmmm YUMMM! I’ve been toying with a vegan pumpkin cheesecake recipe but I’ve been using silken tofu. But I want to try this one too just for my own eating pleasure :)
OMG! This cheesecake looks AMAZING!!! I will definitely treat my husband and my friends with this pumpkin cheesecake.
i Have a bit of a problem Dana, I can no find raw cashews ANYWHERE!!! I can find them online, but I don’t like ordering online, is there anyway I can substitute anything for the cashews??? Thanks Dana, I really appreciate it! :D
Hmm, maybe try macadamia nuts? Cashews are the best option, though.
Amazing…..made this for after dinner desert for group of friends that non of them is even vegetarian and they all loved it…. it’s soooo good and fluffy…and yummy….amazing …..thank u
Jana
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Jana! xo
That looks insanely good and perfect for this time of the year!
Going on my “must make ASAP” list. STAT. Happy fall you two! xo
Thanks lady! Hope you LOVE it ;D
I can’t believe you have never made a vegan pumpkin cheesecake on the blog before! I’m so happy you have now though. My friend is vegan and I was scratching my head on what to make for Friendsgiving. These beauties are on the menu.
I know, right? Hope you give this one a try, Nicole!
Hi Dana! I love everything I’ve tried from you. And I am so excited to try this one. But I can’t have cashews :( Do you know of a good substitute?
Hmm, maybe macadamia nuts?
These look so cute and creamy! I have to try them!
You’ve outdone yourself once again! I can’t wait to try this recipe for an upcoming fall dinner party I’m hosting. If you have any suggestions on appetizers or entrees that would pair well with this I’d love to hear it!
Let me know if you try it, Cristy! Other apps or entrees? What about my Kale Dip and Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes or Shepherd’s Pie?
Hi Dana,
Question: will this melt if it sits too long in room temp?
Nope!
Is it okay to use flax milk instead of almond or coconut milk?
Yes! Or hemp or rice. it won’t be as creamy, but still tasty!
These cheesecakes look amazing! I have yet to try a cashew-based cheesecake, so this seems like a delicious place to start!
Hope you give them a try, Dani!
I’ve made a few of your other cheesecake recipes and I’ve loved them, so can’t wait to make this pumpkin version soon! They look delicious. Thanks!!
This look SO good. I just recently started baking with pumpkin (we don’t do that very much in Scandinavia) and I just love it. I have to try this recipe as well.
I love cheese cake and this looks heavenly! The fluffy cream on top just looks so delicious! x
Hello. Where did you buy the pumpkin pie spice?
Trader Joe’s!
Oh yummy that looks absolutely delicious! SO gonna try this – I’m a sucker for all things pumpkin!
Love, Kerstin
This flavor combination is just pure genius and so perfect this time of the year. Plus, COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM! <3
I just made this and it’s setting in the freezer for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving (I’m Canadian) and it had already turned out so well. I’m sure it’ll taste great and probably fool the non-vegans that will be joining us! Easy to follow recipe.
I think it’s worth noting that my husband said: “it tastes like cheesecake!” When he tried the filling. WIN!!
Thanks a MILLION, eh!
Yay! So great, thanks for sharing, Samantha! Happy belated Thanksgiving! xo
This looks absolutely delicious!!! :)
xoxoBella
I am a big fan of your blog and this pumpkin cheesecake really took away my breath. What a sight to behold
So kind! Hope you give it a try, Fareeha!
Oh holy yumballs, I cannot wait to try these!! Pumpkin, all day err day, Whoop Whoop!
ha! Hope you do, Jennifer!
yuuuuum! I love that this recipe is so simple! (You don’t need a springform? Genius!) Thank you Dana :)
Yum! This looks AMAZING! Definitely pinning this and making soon!!
Oh man that looks good!!!!!!!! I love how you used dates in the crust; I just KNOW that has to be delicious. I’ll be trying this one. =)
these look like the yummiest and so perfect for fall <3
Oh and how do you come up with these amazing ideas? Through Inspiration or do you just wanna healthify non-vegan recipes? ? x
I mostly like veganizing recipes :D But I can’t resist pumpkin this time of year either!
This looks fabulous! I am in love with all your glorious creations!! :)
So kind! Thanks Katie! xo
You’re welcome!! ☺️ And thank you for your answer of my question below!! x
This is pumpkin perfection!! So beautifulllll!
Also! I went to Barista in Portland after seeing it on your dining guide and it was possibly the best almond milk latte I’ve had!
Right? Fresh pot on Mississippi also serves up a good almond milk latte :D
I’ve been looking for some new pumpkin recipes to try out and this one goes on my list of recipes I want to give a try! It looks delicious!
Although I would probably make the curst from cookies as I prefer crubmels cookies as crust. And I probably have to find a recipe for pumpkin pie spice as they don’t sell that here in normal supermarkt.
Smart! Hope it goes well, Lola!
I think I must be dreaming. Pumpkin cheescake?! Thank you with all I have for this recipe! :D
Will try it out!
Great recipe!!! These individual pumpkin cheesecakes are beautiful!!! Oh that whipped cream! Definitely making!!!!
Whoop! Let me know how it goes!
Dana, I can’t wait to make this tomorrow and then spend all of Sunday night and Monday trying not to eat the whole thing. I love that every time I come here looking for new food inspirations you have one! I have enjoyed many so far. Thank you!!!!!
Wonderful! Hope you love this recipe, too! Thanks for the kind words! xoxo
Hi! Is there a way to make this nut free? If I just omit the cashews will it work as a pie?
Hmm, that’s tricky. I’m not sure about making it nut-free, as the cashews are so central…
It definitely won’t work if you just omit the cashews. They are the base for the “cheesecake” filling. A seed butter may work, such as sunflower seed butter, but I’ve never tried that so no guarantees, and I don’t think it has the same mild flavor of cashews that works so well as a cheese substitute. I’d say you could certainly sub in sunflower seeds for the nuts in the crust, though.
If soy isn’t a problem for you, you’d be better off searching for a tofu-based pumpkin cheesecake recipe; I’m sure there are plenty out there.
Thank you! My daughter has a milk and tree nut allergy. This helps a lot:)
Swooning!! My favorite cheesecake of all time is pumpkin! There is something about that flavor combo that makes me just melt! And this recipe, well I’ve just got to try it. I wonder if I could pass this off to my “less healthy” family for the holidays!!
I think your family would love it! Let me know if you give it a try, Sam!
Made these for Canadian Thanksgiving yesterday and they were a hit! They aren’t really a cheesecake consistency wise and I think I may add more walnuts to get a crunchier crust but the filling was perfect! Topping it off with candied pecans was absolutely delicious! Excellent recipe and perfect portion size! Made them in the ramekins and left them in when serving to guests.
Can’t wait to make this…they look SO good!
Could your coconut whipped cream look anymore white and fluffy!? It is like little clouds atop your cheesecake! So beautiful <3
Ha! Thanks Kathryn. It’s my favorite!
Great recipe
Yum! I want to stuff my face with these beauties. You have just combined 2 of my fave treats. Pumpkin and cheesecake! ?