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Quick and Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (GF option)

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Try my delicious and indulgent vegan pumpkin pie cheesecake to satisfy your sweet tooth. This cheesecake is the perfect combination of creamy textures and autumn flavors. Made with smooth pumpkin filling infused with aromatic spices, my vegan version of a classic dessert is sure to impress friends and family. With a rich buttery crust made from crushed ginger cookies and vegan butter, this cheesecake is both delicious and luxurious. Top it off with a dollop of whipped coconut cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon for the perfect finishing touch Enjoy this scrumptious vegan pumpkin pie cheesecake and enjoy the flavors of fall!

vegan Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake recipe

Us Brits are a little bit wary of pumpkin. We don’t understand it totally and we really only use them to carve scary faces in for Hallowe’en. Read on for my recipe for vegan AND gluten free Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake and that will convert the most cynical of pumpkin haters!

The few times I have made Pumpkin Pie for a British Thanksgiving dinner, it hasn’t exactly gone down a storm. I’m not sure why. I think it resembles an Egg Custard Tart, which is a common British pastry, found in bakeries across the land. Perhaps the colour is jarring, or maybe it’s because the spices are too stringent. 

How to Make Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

So, this year I had to find something that would satisfy everyone’s tooth. Couple this with someone who is gluten-intolerant and vegan and this was no simple task. This is my vegan pumpkin pie cheesecake!

A slice of creamy cheesecake

How do you make vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake?

The key element to a normal pumpkin pie is the eggy custard base, this is replaced with tofu, and is in fact so much easier to make, just blend and pour! If you want to try my vanilla baked cheesecake, click here for my recipe!

The original recipe uses a flaxseed pie crust but I really love my cheesecake to have a biscuit crumb base, so I crushed up a packet each of vegan AND gluten-free ginger biscuits and Digestive biscuits, melting them with a little vegan spread and pressing into a 9″ cake tin. Filled with classic pumpkin spice flavor, the house smells so cosy when this is baking.

I also wanted to add a little traditional touch to the cheesecake so I added a vegan sour cream topping, baked right on top of the cooked cheesecake. This is an optional touch. The cheesecake will taste delicious with or without it.

Cheesecake ready for the oven!

As I had hoped, everyone loved it! The cheesecake had just the right amount of spice and the right amount of crumbly base and the creamy vegan pumpkin pie filling had just the right amount of creaminess to satisfy everyone. It was so simple to make, and doesn’t really need anything to serve with it, maybe a little plant-based pouring cream for added richness. For my vegan pumpkin cheesecake recipe, read on!

A slice of vegan pumpkin pie

Ingredients

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Filling:

  • Silken Tofu, drained on kitchen paper. This is the secret ingredient, replacing both eggs and cream
  • Soft Brown Sugar. You can use coconut sugar or white sugar instead.
  • Canned Pumpkin purée, unsweetened. If you have some homemade pumpkin puree, please feel free to use that!
  • Tapioca Starch, this works as a thickener
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg and Cloves. Classic pumpkin pie spice flavor flavours that evoke a cosy smell in the kitchen. You can use 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice mix if you prefer.
  • Sea Salt

Ginger Cookie Crust:

  • Ginger Biscuits for the base. I use Ginger Nuts, these are an accidentally vegan biscuit in the UK. In the US, these might be called gingersnap cookies. Use gluten-free ginger cookies to make this entirely gluten-free!
  • Digestive Biscuits for the base. Check the packaging. Some of the budget ranges are vegan, the more expensive brands are not. If you are in the US, use vegan Graham crackers.
  • Vegan Butter. Use your favourite brand.
  • Vegan Sour Cream for the topping. I use Tofutti. Use at room temperature. You could also use coconut cream here if you prefer or can’t find vegan sour cream, just the solids in a can of full-fat coconut milk, whisked up.

This is ONLY a list of ingredients for the recipe; please see recipe card below for complete printable recipe.

Method:

Cheesecake biscuit base

Crush the biscuits into fine crumbs and place in a medium bowl. Pour over the melted vegan butter and mix. Press this mixture into the bottom of the pan of a 9″ pie dish or a loose bottom (springform pan) cake tin.

Blending up ingredients

Using a food processor or high-speed blender, whizz up the remaining ingredients (excluding the sour cream topping) until you have a smooth consistency.

Blended mixture

Pour this over the biscuit base, banging the tin on the work surface to remove any air bubbles. Bake until the top is light golden brown and feels firm to the touch.

Sour cream on cheesecake

Whilst your dairy-free cheesecake is baking, whisk up the sour cream with the sugar and vanilla extract. Pour this over the top of your baked cheesecake and return to the oven for 10 minutes.

Storage

  • Once cool, you can refrigerate, bringing up to room temperature when ready to serve.
  • It will last in the fridge for about 2-3 days.

For more delicious vegan pumpkin desserts

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (vegan)

vegan Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake recipe
A twist on the thanksgiving favourite
Freya
5 from 87 votes
Prep 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Rolling Pin
  • 9" loose-bottomed Cake Tin
  • Measuring Spoons/Cups/Scale
  • Mixing Spoon
  • Spatula

Ingredients

Cheesecake Filling

  • 1 box Silken Tofu - drained
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 can Pumpkin puree - pure, not flavoured
  • 1/4 cup Arrowroot - or Tapioca Starch
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 2 tsp ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 tsp Allspice
  • 3/4 tsp Nutmeg (preferably freshly grated but dried is ok)
  • 1/8 tsp Ground Cloves

Cheesecake Base

  • 150 g Ginger Biscuits - finely crushed (vegan/gluten free as your preference)
  • 150 g Digestive Biscuits - finely crushed
  • 50 g Vegan Butter - melted

Sour Cream Topping (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180c.
  • Crush the biscuits until they resemble sand.
  • In a small saucepan, gently melt the spread. Add the biscuits crumbs and stir well until coated and stick together when you press them lightly. You may need to add a little more spread to the mixture.
  • Press crumb mixture firmly into a 9"loose-bottomed cake tin.
  • In a blender, or by hand, mix together all the ingredients for the cheesecake filling until smooth.
    Pour into the cake tin, over the biscuit base.
  • Bake for 55-60 minutes until firm to the touch.
  • Meanwhile, whisk together the sour cream topping, until smooth and creamy.
  • Remove the cheesecake from the oven, turn up to 200c. 
  • Pour the sour cream mixture over the baked cheesecake and return to the oven for 10 minutes.
  • Cool thoroughly at room temperature and then chill overnight.
  • Dust with a little icing sugar (optional) cut into slices and wow your guests!

Please note that where the recipe asks for milk, butter or yogurt, this refers to any plant-based version that you prefer.

Nutrition Facts
Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (vegan)
Serving Size
 
100 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
337
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
12
g
18
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Cholesterol
 
15
mg
5
%
Sodium
 
164
mg
7
%
Potassium
 
220
mg
6
%
Carbohydrates
 
57
g
19
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
41
g
46
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
8688
IU
174
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
81
mg
8
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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19 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My manager (RIP) years ago made Vegan Cheesecake for the staff using silken tofu. At first, i was very skeptical, but it actually tasted good. Your vegan Cheesecake brought back a whole lot of memories. I love your unique play on the crust and the filling. Thanks ? for sharing

  2. 5 stars
    I haven’t tried baking using silken tofu I like that this is vegan and the instructions are easy to follow. Will definitely try.

  3. 5 stars
    I love pumpkin ALL year round! This cheesecake looks incredible and I can’t wait to make it. Maybe it will make an appearance on our Easter dessert table!

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