Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

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I can usually avoid desserts, but cheesecake is my weakness. I can’t be in the same room with a cheesecake and not just have to have some. It was love at first bite for me, and it’s a love affair I’m happy to say is still alive and well. That’s why when I saw a recipe for Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake on the cover of a store circular, I knew I just had to make it.

I’m glad I did. The result was an intensely mousse-like custard with the subtle flavor of a pumpkin pie covered in melting vanilla ice cream. And you don’t need any ice cream! This really is one for the “go-to” list of recipes, especially if you’re looking for an alternative to pumpkin pie for the holidays.

A word of warning though. This is a massive cheesecake. You probably won’t want to make this unless you’ve either got help polishing it off, or you’re addicted to the gym. It’s good enough that you won’t be able to stop eating it, and according to the information on the unmodified version, each slice is going to cost you about a quarter of a recommended daily caloric intake. (My version is most definitely higher in calories.)

This thing is like pumpkin flavored crack. It’s addictive. You have been warned.

Now, where’s my dessert plate?

*Note Te caramel sauce recipe can be found here, or you can just use any old caramel sauce you like.

Yield: 16 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Quite possibly the perfect fall dessert, this Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake is completely decadent, smooth and creamy beyond belief. I dare you to take just one bite!

Ingredients

Crust:

1 1/2 cups chocolate animal cracker crumbs (about 30 crackers)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
5 eggs

Topping:

1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3 ounces dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup Caramel Bourbon Vanilla Sauce

Instructions

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Wrap foil around sides and bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan. Spray bottom and sides of pan with cooking spray or grease with shortening. In a small bowl, mix animal cracker crumbs and melted butter. press mixture on bottom and one inch up sides of pan. Set aside.
In another small bowl, mix flour, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin. Set aside. In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat cream cheese at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time at low speed just until blended. Beat in pumpkin mixture until smooth. Pour liquid over crust.
Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until outside of cake is set but center still jiggles slightly when shaken. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen the cheesecake. Turn oven off and prop door open at least four inches. Allow to rest in the oven for at least 30 minutes.
Cool pan on cooling rack for an additional 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least six hours before serving.
Just before serving, run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake, remove side of pan. Sprinkle walnuts over top of cheesecake. In a small microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate and vegetable oil uncovered on High (100%) for 1 minute to 1 minute and 30 seconds, stirring once halfway through, until melted. Drizzle chocolate over walnuts. Drizzle with Caramel Sauce.
Share and Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 346Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 118mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 2gSugar: 43gProtein: 5g

What I would have done differently had I thought of it at the time:

Could have used a little nutmeg. It had more than enough cowbell. This is GOOD!

Links to other recipes like this:

Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake, from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody
Turtle Pumpkin Pie, from YumSugar
Yummy Pumpkin Cheesecake, from Dianne’s dishes

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Peter on November 26, 2008 at 6:05 am
Jerry, what a site! I do hope for the sake of your family that you serve this up for Thanksgiving…I’d certainly want a slab!

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Bellini Valli on November 26, 2008 at 11:51 am
Turtle Cheesecake is my daughters favourite and usually a request for her birthday!!

Reply
Carla on January 17, 2010 at 10:49 am
This was to DIE FOR! YUMMMMMM!

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Jerry on May 11, 2010 at 8:14 am
@peter,
We gave most of it to the troops in the dorms. One slice each for the wife and myself…
@Bellini Valli,
I don’t wonder at that!
@Carla,
Yep. That about sums it up

Reply
Cookin' Canuck on November 16, 2010 at 8:53 am
This is one of the most beautiful cheesecakes I have ever seen! What a treat this would be at Thanksgiving (or any other time).

Reply
- Jerry on November 19, 2010 at 10:16 am
  It is, in a word, amazing. My wife is not a pumpkin fan and even she loved it.
  
  Reply
Lisa on November 18, 2011 at 5:54 pm
This looks so amazing – I’m going to try it out for Thanksgiving dinner!! Thanks so much!
See Also
DIY Liquid Dish Soap Recipe

Reply
Leslie on November 23, 2011 at 9:27 am
I just put mine in the oven! I can’t wait to serve it tomorrow!

Reply
- Jerry on November 23, 2011 at 2:52 pm
  I hope it turns out wonderfully for you!
  
  Reply
April @ The 21st Century Housewife on January 25, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Oh. My. Goodness. What a wonderful Cheesecake! I love the combination of flavours you have used here. I’ve pinned it to try as soon as possible :)

Reply
PKSH on October 10, 2013 at 10:34 pm
I am going to make this this weekend and I was reading how to make the caramel sauce and just a bit confused on when to put the whiskey and lemon juice?
I dont see it in the instructions or maybe my computer load it correctly.
Can someone please tell when to add these two items.
Thank you and very excited to try this.

Reply
- Jerry on October 11, 2013 at 4:22 pm
  Add the whiskey and lemon juice after adding the cream (step 2 of the instructions). Do NOT attempt to add them beforehand. The result could be dangerous.
  
  Reply
Mrsdasilva on October 19, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Did you bake the cheesecake in a water bath? Did I miss that step somewhere?

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- Jerry on October 19, 2013 at 3:24 pm
  Nope. No water bath necessary for this cheesecake. Yet another reason I love the recipe
  
  Reply
Tiffyc on November 1, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Probably a dumb ? But I am assuming the foil goes on the inside of the pan?

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- Jerry on November 4, 2013 at 3:27 pm
  Outside, actually :)
  
  Reply
Sonja on November 26, 2013 at 8:47 am
Could you give me a suggestion for what to use in place of the bourbon…something other than liquor since I never have any in the house? Do you think vanilla would work well or some rum extract?

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- Jerry on November 26, 2013 at 9:59 am
  Rum extract would be perfect. We’ve done it that way ourselves. It does change the flavor slightly, but that’s not a bad thing
  
  Reply
Lesley on November 27, 2013 at 9:32 am
Could not find chocolate animal crackers any where. So what would u suggest ginger snaps or gram crackers or Oreos with out the cream of course.

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Goreti on November 29, 2013 at 7:25 am
Made this for Thanksgiving and it is absolutely delicious. It was a big hit. The only change I made was use a mix of dark & milk chocolate since my family is not too keen on dark chocolate. I also used heavy cream instead of oil making it like ganache. I actually passed up on some of the side dishes to save calories but for this little beauty. It was worth every calorie. Yummmmmmm

Reply
- Jerry on November 29, 2013 at 7:53 pm
  We’re so glad you liked it! I hope your family enjoyed it as much as ours did.
  
  Reply
Mary on November 23, 2016 at 1:18 am
I make this cheesecake every Thanksgiving and sometimes for birthdays. My husband, daughter, & sister LOVE LOVE LOVE this cheesecake, but now I’ve lost the recipe – desperately need it for this Thanksgiving; can you please email the recipe at least this way I’ll have an electronic copy.
Many Thanks,
Mary Utter

Reply
- Jerry on December 7, 2016 at 11:02 am
  Mary,
  So glad this recipe has become a part of your household. I’ll send a copy of the recipe to you in a few minutes.
  
  Reply