These Mini Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Desserts are such a fun and unique Fall treat. How cute would these look on your Thanksgiving dessert table next to the pies!? Such a fun single-serving-sized treat for kids. Recipe includes a how-to video!
The Cutest Way to Eat Dessert
My last pumpkin dessert of the year (and what a perfect one, just in time for Thanksgiving)!
I don’t know about you but I’m honestly breathing a sigh of relief. My kitchen has been overwhelmed with pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin cupcakes, and while Zach has been over the moon you guys know I’m not actually much of a pumpkin person myself.
But for those of you who do enjoy the flavor, these mini pumpkin pie cheesecakes are the perfect pumpkin-infused treats, simple to make, and no baking required (I bet your oven has plenty of plans this week already!). The base starts with my homemade, no-bake cheesecake filling that’s infused with pumpkin and Fall spices for a cheesecake/pumpkin pie hybrid. They’re simple to make (the kids can help!) and so, so good.
What You Need
Here’s what you need:
- Gingersnaps & butter. We’ll grind these up to make the “crust” for our desserts. I include notes in the recipe in case you’d like a graham cracker crust instead!
- Heavy Whipping cream. You can use heavy cream, whipping cream, or even double cream. We’ll whip this with powdered sugar and vanilla extract to make our own whipped cream. This will both serve some purpose as the stabilizer for the cheesecake layer and that swirl of whipped cream on top!
- Cream cheese. As with almost all of my cheesecake recipes, I recommend using brick-style cream cheese and not the spreadable kind, which contains additives and is less likely to firm up properly. You may have a bit more wiggle room with this recipe as opposed to my baked ones, but having not tried it myself I can’t say for sure how it would turn out.
- Pumpkin puree. I recommend using pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling, which contains additives and spices that you don’t need here.
- Sugar. Brown sugar and powdered sugar add sweetness, and the molasses from the brown sugar adds a subtle (Fall-inspired) depth of flavor.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice. I happened to have a jar in my cabinet, but if you don’t have any you can easily make your own homemade pumpkin spice.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Mini Pumpkin Pie Cheesecakes
The steps listed below correspond with the numbered photos above.
- Begin by making your crust. Pulse gingersnaps in a food processor until you have fine crumbs, then stir in a bit of melted butter until the mixture resembles coarse sandy crumbs.
- Divide the crumbs into 30 disposable shot glasses. Use a measuring spoon to tamp down on the crumbs so you have a firm bottom layer.
- Prepare your whipped cream by beating cream, sugar, and vanilla to stiff billowy peaks! We are making my favorite homemade whipped cream but I include notes to substitute Cool Whip (don’t do it!).
- Stir together pumpkin, cream cheese, and spices and then carefully fold the whipped cream into the mixture.
- Pipe filling into each shot glass, filling almost to the brim.
- Top off with a swirl of whipped cream.
Tip: Crush an extra cookie or two and reserve the crumbs for sprinkling over the desserts before serving!
This is just an overview of the instructions, the full printable recipe can be found below (along with a video).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes you can, in fact I originally published the recipe this way.
To do this, skip all of the ingredients in the “Whipped Cream” section of the recipe and you will instead need 24 oz of thawed Cool Whip.
Fold half into the pumpkin mixture and reserve the other half to pipe on top.
Yes! Mix together ¾ cup graham cracker crumbs and 3 Tablespoons of melted butter (salted or unsalted) with a teaspoon of sugar and use that instead (no need to bake!).
Prepare up to 5 days in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator (see below for freezing instructions).
Yes! They freeze quite well. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to several months. You can serve from frozen or you can thaw overnight in the refrigerator to bring them back to a softer consistency (which I prefer).
More Recipes You Might Like
Enjoy!
Let’s bake together! Make sure to check out the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card!
Mini Pumpkin Pie Cheesecakes (No-Bake!)
Ingredients
- You will need 30 disposable 2 oz shot glasses click the link in the "equipment" section below to buy the ones I use
Crust¹
- 15 Gingersnap cookies
- 2 Tablespoons butter melted (salted or unsalted is fine)
Whipped Cream²
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream (709ml)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (125g)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake
- 16 oz cream cheese softened, (2 8-oz packages)
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (245g)
- 2 cups powdered sugar (250g)
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
Crust
- In food processor, pulse cookies until mostly crumbled. Add butter and pulse until completely blended (fine crumbs).
- Using a small spoon, gently pack about 1 ½ teaspoons of the crumbled cookiemixture into the bottom of each shot glass (30 shot glasses total). Reserve any extra crumbs to sprinkle on top.
Whipped Cream
- Combine heavy cream, 1 cup powdered sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat until mixture is thick and billowy and stiff peaks have formed (I demonstrate this in my video above).
- Divide whipped cream in half (approximate is fine), you will need half for the filling and half for the topping. Set both aside for now.
Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Layer
- Using an electric mixer or stand mixer, beat together cream cheese, pumpkin puree, and brown sugar until mixture is smooth and well-combined.
- Gradually stir in powdered sugar until combined.
- Add in pumpkin spice and vanilla extract and stir well.
- Take one half of your reserved whipped cream and carefully fold it into the pumpkin mixture until smooth. You could do this with an electric mixer on low speed but I usually do this part by hand.
- Pipe³ filling into prepared shot glasses, filling nearly to the brim.
- Pipe or dollop your remaining half of whipped cream evenly overtop the dessert shooters. If you reserved any cookie crumbs, sprinkle these over the whipped cream for decoration if desired. While these desserts may be served immediately, the filling will be quite soft and I recommend chilling in the refrigerator in an airtight container for at least 4 hours before serving.
Notes
¹Crust
You may substitute a graham cracker crust instead. Stir together ¾ cup (85g) graham cracker crumbs and 3 Tablespoons butter, and use that instead.²Whipped cream
To substitute storebought whipped topping (often Cool Whip) you will need 24 oz (680g) thawed whipped topping. Half will go into the pumpkin mixture and half will be piped on top. Omit all of the “Whipped Cream” ingredients/steps for in the recipe.³Piping
I like to use a large piping bag with a large open tip, but a large ziploc bag with a corner snipped off will work just as well. To pipe the whipped cream on top I like to use a Wilton 2D tip but you could just dollop the whipped cream on top with a spoon instead!Storing
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or you may freeze for several months.Nutrition
Treat yourself to a FREE E-BOOK!
This recipe was originally published October 9th 2015. I’ve since updated to include more information, to use homemade whipped cream rather than Cool Whip, and to share a how-to video.
Wen
Instead of using small cups, can I just use a round cake dish instead? Anything to note? Thanks.
Sam
It may work. I’m not sure how much it will firm up. It could end up being pretty messy when you go to cut into it.
Malak
Can you do honey bushman bread that they serve it in outback restaurant please
Sam
Hi Malak! I am actually working on some honey rolls right now. I hope to have them perfected sometime in the near future. 🙂
Malak
Hi sam I couldn’t find the links of the tools
Sam
Hi Malak! Check the “recommended equipment” section underneath the ingredients for a few items to help make these. 🙂
Caryl
Any way to substitute pumpkin pie mix…….thought I bought puree but when I got home it was the mix..need a recipe to use it up as it is not returnable.
Sam
Hi Caryl! I think you could probably do it, but the pumpkin pie mix has other flavors added in so it will change the taste and possibly the consistency a little bit. I would not put in as much spice as the recipe calls for to start. Taste test after mixing and add flavor as needed. 🙂
Kristina
These are adorable and look great- so cute! I’m trying to make them gluten free and working on finding a gf gingersnap cookie, but if I can’t- would graham crackers work ok? Or any other ginger cookie? (I have some that are apple ginger or something). Thanks!
Sam
Hi Kristina! Yes graham crackers would work just fine for this. 🙂
Lauren Flake
Hi! Love this recipe and look forward to the holidays when I start making it again! The powdered sugar is listed in the ingredients, but the step in the recipe to add it is missing…
Sam
Hi Lauren! I’m sorry for the confusion! It looks like I reversed steps 1 and 2 under the whipped cream heading. I’ll fix it now. I’ve also fixed the cheesecake layer section. 🙂
Lora
Hey Sam,
With the pandemic this year I am doing individual shooter dessert cups. Would you maybe do a video on these? I absolutely love all your recipes. Thanks for all you do!
Sam
Hi Lora! Unfortunately I am really struggling to find pumpkin in the stores around me so I don’t know that I will be able to get one done this year, but I will make sure to mark it down and start my pumpkin recipes really early next year. I appreciate your support. 🙂
Sam
Lora, I just added a video to the post, I hope that is helpful! 🙂
Naomi
These sound so good! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Sam
I hope you love them Naomi! 🙂
Hollis Ramsey
I’m turning this into a pie, with fresh-whipped cream (your recipe) instead of Cool Whip and cutting the powdered sugar by ~1/2 c. (because there’s so much in the whipped cream. I love cardamom and cinnamon bores me, so my spice blend will be 1 t. ground cardamom, 1 t. ground ginger, 1/2 t. ground nutmeg. (Toying with the addition of a pinch of mace and maybe black pepper.) I might even add some orange zest. And since there’s 1 t. vanilla in the whipped cream, I’ll cut it to 1/2 t. in the filling. Using a store-bought pecan crust.
Sam
I hope everyone loves it! 🙂
mary wells
it is awsome
Kris
Can you share link for the shooter cups off Amazon please?
Sam
Hi Kris! These are the cups I use.
Kris
Thank you!!
Kristin
Can you use real homemade whipped cream instead of cool whip?
Sam
ABSOLUTELY! I actually have a great homemade whipped cream recipe if you want to use that!
Eileen
We have a large family gathering on Sunday. These would be perfect to serve as dessert. If I leave out the cookie bottom, is it gluten free? I could make a few for my gluten free relatives. Thanks.
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Eileen! I am not an expert in making gluten-free desserts, so it is hard to say. It will depend on the brand ingredients used if any of the items contain gluten. I know most brands of canned pumpkin are gluten-free, but you will need to double-check. I hope that your relatives enjoy the pumpkin pie cheesecake dessert shooters. 🙂
Ann Marie
Can I double this recipe? My glasses hold about 2.5 oz.
Sam
Doubling this will work just fine. ☺️
Linda
Can I make these shooters a day or two before serving? (holding off with Cool Whip on top)
Sam
Hi Linda! As long as you leave the whipped cream off the top that should work just fine! 😃
Margo
Can I use canned whipped cream on the top, or will it taste better using CoolWhip since there’s CoolWhip in the pumpkin pie mix?
Sam
You can use canned whipped cream, that just dissolves pretty quickly so I recommend putting it on just before serving.
Jen
Hi -what size can of pumpkin purée do you use?
Sam
I usually buy a small can, I think it’s like 15 oz. The recipe won’t use all of it. I hope that helps!