It’s that time of year when the food wars begin in my house. Most of the time we agree on our food preferences or at least agree to disagree like on bacon. I don’t like bacon much, but Nate obviously loves it and makes delicious food with it. We don’t buy much of it, but I don’t generally say much about it. Unlike bacon, pumpkin- especially pumpkin desserts like this Pumpkin Cheesecake- is a source of tension in this house.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
I admit. It’s my fault. My absolute basic tendencies get the best of me. I’ve told you before how I bleed pumpkin from roughly the end of August through the holidays. But see, I not only bleed pumpkin, I fight for pumpkin.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin love is a cause my yoga pants clad, psl drinking self (sips delicious coffee and sighs happily) feels so strongly about.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
I may force my love of pumpkin down my family’s throats.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
It’s shameful. I need to have more respect.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
See, Nate and I have very different dessert opinions. We both have humongous sweet tooths (teeth?) but for him, all he wants is chocolate everything. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good chocolate dessert. I’m very well acquainted with working in chocolate to as many meals as possible (chocolate waffles anyone?). But I like a little more variety. I like chocolate desserts, fruity desserts like Italian Limoncello Cheesecake (with Ricotta and Mascarpone). Anything that’s sweet and satisfying.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
Except this time of year. GIVE ME ALL THE PUMPKIN. I’m serious.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
So needless to say, when I shared my plans to make this my husband wasn’t thrilled. But given that it’s only September he isn’t begging for a chocolate dessert just yet.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
Plus, this dessert is pretty dang delicious. It’s pumpkin perfection appeals to my off the charts level of basicness. But it’s perfection. Seriously. Think silky smooth filling, and a lightly sweet crust. The hints of cinnamon and ginger shine in the cheesecake filling. Plus the marscapone cheese- which is extra creamy Italian style cheesecake- makes it even yummier. It is the perfect dessert to serve on Thanksgiving.
Italian Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
And let me just leave you with this sweet truth: it is gluten free with an awesome crust made of Cinnamon Chex cereal and sweetened with honey though you could use a graham cracker crust if you want. So it’s practically health food.
Looking for other pumpkin desserts? Try these:
Add the ingredients for the crust into a food processor and pulse until the cereal is ground up. The crust should just stick together in coarse clumps.
Press the crust into a 9 inch pie dish, sprayed with nonstick spray.
Bake for 5-7 minutes or until just golden.
While the crust is baking, whip the marscapone cheese in a stand mixer until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin, honey, eggs, and spices. Mix until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl down to make sure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Pour the filling into the baked crust.
Fill an oven safe casserole dish half way with water. Place on the bottom rack of the oven.
Put the pie on the top rack and bake for 50-55 minutes or until the top is set.
Turn off the oven and crack the door. Let the pie cool in the oven for at least two hours before removing from the oven and cooling on the counter for another 2 hours.
Store uncovered in the fridge for up to 5 days and enjoy with whipped cream if desired.
Wow I never would have expected to use cinnamon chex as part of the crust! this looks absolutely amazing. Totally going to try this for Thanksgiving this year.
Yes to everything pumpkin. I don’t even care if my basic-ness shows. I’m totally on the pumpkin hype and can’t wait to try this!! I love that is doesn’t have any refined sugar!
Wow that pumpkin cheesecake looks absolutely beautiful! I’d love to try to make this for a family gathering cause they love cheesecake and pumpkin pie. Thanks for the recipe!
sO i have to be honest, I’ve never been a cheesecake fan, but I think the addition of the marscapone cheese and Chex would totally change me! Plus my husband is a pumpkin fanatic! Thanks for this great recipe. I know what I’m bringing to our family thanksgiving! 🙂
I loved reading this post. I’ve never heard of using marscapone cheese in a cheesecake until now. And then I saw that you used Cinnamon Chex for the crust. How unique!! Your pictures are beautiful. Perfect for this time of year.
This sounds so good. I’m interested in the Chex crust! Chex cereal is gluten free so this is great for many! I’ll pin!
That’s why I use the Chex! Plus it’s so easy to find, and is super yummy!
I will definitely be trying this! Looks and sounds amazing!
Thank you!
I absolutely have to make this! I LOVE pumpkin and I love cheesecake so this was meant for me.
Hope you love it!
I LOVE pumpkin cheesecake! I wish I had a slice of this right now.
I’d share!
Wow I never would have expected to use cinnamon chex as part of the crust! this looks absolutely amazing. Totally going to try this for Thanksgiving this year.
I love using Chex for crust- so much flavor, gluten free, and easily available.
How delicious does this look?!! Can’t wait to try it out! 🙂
Yes to everything pumpkin. I don’t even care if my basic-ness shows. I’m totally on the pumpkin hype and can’t wait to try this!! I love that is doesn’t have any refined sugar!
Whoohoo! Giving you a virtual basic high five right now!
This looks amazing! I love that you made it with mascarpone cheese! 🙂 And the crust is made from Cinnamon Chex?? Genius!
Thanks!
I’m shameless about my pumpkin love too and this looks AMAZING. Can’t wait to try it, thanks for sharing!
Glad I’m not alone in my pumpkin love!
I would have never thought to use Cinnamon Chex for the crust. Brilliant! Pinning this one 🙂
Chex makes such a yummy crust and it’s gluten free and available everywhere 🙂
I’ve never tried something like this before. How delicious!
Drooling. You just made me so excited for Thanksgiving and fall in general. I cannot wait to make this.
– Cait | http://www.prettyandfun.com
Hope you love it!
Love any type of cheesecake and this pumpkin one sounds great.
Yum! I want a slice of this pumpkin cheesecake!
I bet my husband would love this! He loves cheesecake, and he loves pumpkin pie. I will have to give this recipe a try for him:)
Oh my this pumpkin pie looks delicious! Can’t wait to make some pumpkin pies of my own!
Oh my goodness, your pictures are making me HUNGRY!!! 🙂 xoxo
Thank you!
Oh my, I love everything that has pumpkin in it and pair it with cheesecake, love it!
Omg! This pie looks amazing– it makes me so ready for Fall!
http://www.theeditorialistla.com/
Thank you!
I love pumpkin EVERYTHING and this recipe sounds amazing!
Thank you!
This looks so good! I look forward to pumpkin pie every year around this time, but cheesecake just takes it up a level!
Cheesecake makes EVERYTHING including pumpkin better 🙂
LOVE the crust idea and ALL things pumpkin! Awesome recipe!
Mascarpone? SOLD! This sounds amazing!
This sounds so tasty, and so perfect for fall! Such an easy, lovely dessert!
This looks soo good, I love pumpkin anything. but pumpkin cheesecake would steal my heart for sure!
http://xoxobella.com
Wow that pumpkin cheesecake looks absolutely beautiful! I’d love to try to make this for a family gathering cause they love cheesecake and pumpkin pie. Thanks for the recipe!
WOW!! Tis the season, eh?!!?!? Looks AMAZE
Totally tis the season! My toddler is singing jingle “punkin.”
Pumpkin is my all time favorite flavor and cheesecake is my favorite type of cake, so this has to be a win! Can’t wait to try it!
Kirsten – http://thewanderingbrunette.com
oh my god, I just ate and my stomach is already rumbling! I’m such a pumpkin fanatic and this looks absolutely amazing.
This looks so amazing! I’m so glad fall is around the corner and all things pumpkin are in full effect!
sO i have to be honest, I’ve never been a cheesecake fan, but I think the addition of the marscapone cheese and Chex would totally change me! Plus my husband is a pumpkin fanatic! Thanks for this great recipe. I know what I’m bringing to our family thanksgiving! 🙂
This looks amazing! I’ll be making this!
look at this food.
You’ve combined two of my favorite things into one recipe… Italian food and cheesecake? Yum!
It is quite yummy!
I loved reading this post. I’ve never heard of using marscapone cheese in a cheesecake until now. And then I saw that you used Cinnamon Chex for the crust. How unique!! Your pictures are beautiful. Perfect for this time of year.
Thank you Kimberly!
YUM! This cheesecake looks amazing! Definitely pinning!
Thank you Jenni!
I am very impressed with the honey in the filling, the taste must be great. Must try for me too!
Adds a floral touch to it. Maple syrup would be delicious too.
Seriously..this looks superb dessert! repinned it
Thank you Citra!
This sounds delish. I love the idea of mascarpone in cheesecake.
Thank you! I think it is even creamier and a much milder flavor than regular cream cheese.
Mascarpone is fantastic! I think it is great that you used it in this pie!
Thank you! Don’t you just love it?
What a gorgeous recipe – delicious!!!
Thank you!