This double layer vegan pumpkin cheesecake is lightly spiced, creamy and rich, and super easy to whip up! Make it a day or two ahead and serve it cold for a wonderful holiday dessert that pleases most any palate!
Whether you're a pumpkin enthusiast or just looking for a fun and festive alternative to basic pumpkin pie, this is your recipe! Serve it to all your non-vegan friends and then watch their eyes pop out when you tell them that the dessert they just devoured is vegan - just don't tell them how easy it was to make!
This pumpkin cheesecake is AMAZING for Thanksgiving (or ANY Fall day, honestly). And if you want more Thanksgiving recipe ideas, check out these vegan holiday recipes.
How to make double layer Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake:
Add vegan cream cheese, vegan sour cream, vanilla extract, lemon juice, cornstarch, and organic sugar to medium sized mixing bowl and whip with beaters until completely smooth (Photos 1 & 2).
Add 1 heaping cup of cheesecake filling to the bottom of an extra large (10 inch) graham cracker crust. Spread out evenly (Photo 3).
Now add canned pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar, and almond milk (or other non-dairy milk) to remainder of the white cheesecake filling in your initial bowl (Photo 4).
Beat the remaining white cheesecake filling and added ingredients until smooth. Then dollop gently over the first white layer of cheesecake and spread out until smooth (Photo 6). Leave slightly higher in the center to avoid cracking once baked (Photo 7).
Bake at 350 degrees in center of the oven for 55-65 minutes or until center seems mostly set (Your toothpick will NOT come out clean - it will set a lot more as it cools, so don't worry if the center is still a bit soft) (Photo 8). Allow to cool at room temperature for at least an hour before placing in the refrigerator. The cheesecake will tend to rise a bit during baking and then fall a bit as it cools - this is completely normal!
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight to set completely!
Serving ideas:
Serve with a big dollop of vegan coconut whip cream and a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce for the ultimate experience!
Making Ahead:
You can make this a day or two ahead to help ease holiday meal prep! It will keep (covered) in the refrigerator for up to approximately one week.
Other Vegan Holiday Favorites:
- White bean butternut mash - an amazing Fall side dish!
- Vegan stuffed acorn squash - perfect for a vegan Thanksgiving!
- Tender vegan steaks
- Best easy vegan gravy
- Vegan wild rice casserole
- Fresh cranberry relish
- Vegan cheesecake - if you prefer a classic cheesecake
If you’ve tried this Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe or any other recipe on my blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I LOVE hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food!!!
Recipe
Double Layer Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
Ingredients
First whip together:
- 8 oz vegan cream cheese, I use non-hydrogenated (yellow label) Tofutti
- 12 oz vegan sour cream, I use Tofutti
- ½ cup organic granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch, or sub with flour if needed
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Next Add:
- ¾ cup canned pumpkin puree, NOT pumpkin pie mix
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoon almond milk, or other nondairy milk
- ¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
Crust and whipped topping
- 1 10-inch graham cracker crust (store bought)
- Vegan whipped cream , (optional)
Instructions
- Add vegan cream cheese, vegan sour cream, organic sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and vanilla to a medium sized mixing bowl and whip with beaters until completely smooth.
- Add 1 heaping cup of cheesecake filling to the base of an extra large (10 inch) graham cracker crust. Spread out evenly.
- Now add canned pumpkin puree, brown sugar, almond milk, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt to remainder of the white cheesecake filling in your original mixing bowl.
- Beat everything together until smooth. Then dollop pumpkin filling gently over the first white layer of cheesecake and spread out until smooth. Leave mounded slightly higher in the center to avoid cracking once baked.
- Bake at 350 degrees in center of the oven for 60 minutes or until center seems mostly set (a toothpick will not come out completely clean from the center, but will firm later in the refrigerator). Allow to cool at room temperature for at least an hour before placing in the refrigerator. The cheesecake will tend to rise while baking and then fall a bit as it cools - this is completely normal!
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight to set completely! Serve cold with vegan whipped cream on top.
Notes
Serving ideas:
Serve with vegan coconut whip cream and a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce for the ultimate experience!Making Ahead:
You can make this a day or two ahead to help ease holiday meal prep! It will keep (covered) in the refrigerator for up to approximately one week.Nutrition
Cindy Adams
This turned into some weird liquid mess when baking. I have no idea what happened but it is rubbery and weird.
Kate
Did the cheesecake set once it cooled? What brands of ingredients did you use? Just so I can test the recipe with your specific brands and see if I can offer any advice.
Bari
I've been vegan for 26 years and this is the best vegan cheesecake I've ever made! I'm going to make your "best easy cheesecake" next!
Kate
I haven't tried to freeze this vegan cheesecake, I really have no idea whether it would hold up well or if there would be a little bit of separation of ingredients as it thaws. I recommend making one and freezing 1 slice (or even half a slice) to see how it does, so you know for next time!
Sabrina
Do you think it's possible to sub the cornstarch for arrowroot powder? Thanks🙂
Kate
Yes I think that should work! I think you typically need a little more arrowroot powder than cornstarch, so I would use 4 tablespoons (¼ cup arrowroot). Let me know how it turns out!
Shannon
What's the cooking time if I am making these in cupcake molds instead? For individual cheesecakes! 🙂
Kate
I haven't tried it, but I would check on these about 25-30 minutes if they were individual cupcakes, and then decide from there whether to bake a little longer.
Rocio Vargas Campos
In my country I can’t find vegan cream cheese or sour cream. Do you know how can I swap this products?
Kate
I have a recipe for vegan cream cheese here: https://www.veganblueberry.com/vegan-cream-cheese-recipe/ and there are lots of good recipes for plant based sour cream. I hope you are able to make this!