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Pumpkin Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse Topped with Dark Chocolate Ganache

Pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse topped with dark chocolate ganache is the showstopper of a Thanksgiving dessert you’re looking for. Yes, it will upstage the turkey! Sorry, Tom.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chocolate Mousse Thanksgiving Dessert

Originally published November 7, 2012.

Are you tired of plain ol’ pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dessert? I was.

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A few years ago, I just felt the basic version of pumpkin pie was too boring. I needed something a bit more exciting for one of the most important desserts of the year. I know it’s traditional to have pumpkin pie on this special American holiday, so I didn’t want to stray too far from the pumpkin theme.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chocolate Mousse Dessert

Once, I tried a brûlée topping on the pie, which was wonderful! The crispy sugar shell was a sweet and crunchy addition. With a dollop of freshly whipped (unsweetened) cream, it definitely “kicked the pie up a notch”. However, it still didn’t have the showstopper quality I was looking for in a Thanksgiving dessert.

Mini Pumpkin and Orange Doughnuts

Mini Pumpkin Doughnuts

Then I came across a recipe online, which seemed to suit my requirements, and it contained chocolate! That was an added bonus. I have changed a few things from the original recipe, but have been making this dessert for many years now.

Although everyone is usually stuffed from the turkey dinner, after seeing this Pumpkin Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse dessert, it seems that a bit of room has been saved for it! You’ll only hear sounds of delight from the Thanksgiving day diners–seriously, it’s that good!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chocolate Mousse Dessert
2016’s Thanksgiving dessert

Each forkful delivers a bite of fabulous pumpkin cheesecake, crust made from ginger flavored speculoos biscuits, and dark, silky ganache which coats the airy, chocolate mousse. This dessert is serious decadence! It’s rich, but not cloyingly sweet, and definitely worth the time it takes to make it.

top of dessert showing ganache and a white rose

If you’re looking for a dessert which will upstage the turkey this Thanksgiving, this pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse dessert is what you’ve been looking for.

The most important thing I want you know is that there’s no need to be intimidated. You can make this! If you are have any qualms, read on. Even though this recipe is clearly time and labor intensive, it’s truly not difficult. If you can follow my step by step directions, and start a day or two before you want to serve the dessert, it’s very straightforward.

Can I Freeze this Thanksgiving Dessert?

This cheesecake and mousse dessert freezes perfectly, so that’s an option too. Please feel free to send me any questions in the comment section below or on my Facebook page.

Last, but not least, I bet you not to use inferior quality ingredients. For example, using Hershey’s chocolate will completely ruin this pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse dessert. I can promise you that. If you’re going to go to the effort to make this beauty, please use the best ingredients you can find. It’s very important for the end result. Regardless of how it looks, the taste is what really matters.


Pumpkin Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse Topped with Dark Chocolate Ganache

Adapted from a recipe on CD Kitchen
printable recipe below

PLEASE NOTE: THE DESSERT NEEDS TO BE FROZEN IN THE MIDST OF THE RECIPE, SO I RECOMMEND MAKING THE CHEESECAKE AND MOUSSE AT LEAST ONE DAY BEFORE YOU WANT TO SERVE IT

Base:

  • 20 speculoos cookies (1 3/4 cups or 7 oz) alternately use graham crackers or Digestives
  • 3 Tbsp butter (1 oz) butter, melted (use a little more butter if using graham crackers)

Preheat oven to 325ºF

Speculoos Crust

Crush the cookies between two sheets of wax paper with a heavy rolling pin.

crushing the cookies

Place in 10.5″ springform pan and sprinkle melted butter over top, mix well and push into pan. Set aside.

cookie base in springform pan

Pumpkin Cheesecake

  • 20 oz  (2 1/2 packages) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 4 oz Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 15 oz pumpkin (pureed) I used canned organic pumpkin
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz) heavy whipping cream

Beat cream cheese until smooth, then add Greek yogurt and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, clearing after each addition and scraping bowl with spatula.

adding an egg

Blend in pumpkin and spices, scrape the sides of the bowl, then add the cream. Pour into pan with cookie base, and bake for 90 minutes. Do not overcook the cheesecake or it will pull away from the pan.

making pumpkin cheesecake

Once cheesecake is cooked, let it cool, then chill in fridge for an hour or two.

DO NOT TAKE THE SIDE OFF OF THE SPRINGFORM PAN OR RUN A KNIFE AROUND THE CHEESECAKE!

pumpkin cheesecake layer
Notice the cheesecake is stuck to the edge of the pan-this is good.

Chocolate Mousse

  • 2 cups (16 oz) heavy whipping cream
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 1 cup (8 oz) good quality dark (or semi sweet) chocolate, broken into pieces, or chips
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz) sugar
  • 2 tbsp water

Follow directions to make mousse here, but make it when the cheesecake has been refrigerated for one or two hours.

Once the mousse is ready, pour it onto the cheesecake and freeze for at least 12 hours; I freeze it overnight.

chocolate mousse layer

When you are ready to finish the dessert, prepare the ganache. Remember the pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse is frozen, so plan to have it in the fridge for at least 8 hours before serving.

Ganache

  • 6 oz heavy whipping cream
  • 6 oz (3/4 cup) dark chocolate pieces or chips (good quality)

Place cream and chocolate in a small pan together, then heat over low temperature until the chocolate is melted and is very smooth and shiny.

 

pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse topped with chocolate ganache recipe thanksgiving dessert

Remove the dessert from the freezer and run a very thin knife around the inside of the springform pan, then release the side and remove carefully. Next, place the dessert on a serving platter, plate or tray.

TIP: I used a strong piece of tape under the bottom of the pan to attach it to the cake plate so it wouldn’t slip. You must attach the cake bottom to the plate somehow. If not, you won’t be able to tip it to have the ganache run off evenly (next step).

two layers of pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse thanksgiving dessert

Decorate the Pumpkin Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse

Quickly pour the ganache onto the center of the pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse. Gently tip the cake from side to side to allow the ganache to start to run off the sides.

pouring ganache over the chocolate layer of the dessert

Do not touch the ganache with any utensil or tool or it will ruin the smooth finish. Refrigerate the dessert until ready to serve, or you can do a few more things  to really make it look top-notch.

pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse topped with chocolate ganache recipe thanksgiving dessert

For example, make a simple chocolate buttercream frosting and pipe it around the bottom.

If you don’t know how to pipe shells, just do what ever you can (like rosettes) as it will still look good.

side of Thanksgiving dessert showing pumpkin cheesecake

Chocolate Leaves (optional)

Make three chocolate leaves. Choose three older rose leaves (untreated with pesticides), as they are more hardy. Wash and dry them, then coat the UNDERSIDE of each leaf with melted chocolate. Place in the fridge for about 10 minutes.

Next, carefully peel the leaf away from the chocolate, and you have a chocolate leaf! Very easy!

TIP: Don’t handle the chocolate too long or the heat from your hand will melt the leaf.

chocolate leaf and rose leaf

Lastly, place the chocolate leaves on the center of the pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin mousse dessert. Insert a fresh rose, or decoration of your choice, in the center of the leaves. I wish I had something more fall-like to use as a centerpiece, but my orange pyracanthus berries are poisonous and a mini pumpkin won’t work. If you think of something, let me know. Maybe some fallen, maple leaves?

mirror ganache with a white rose on top of the dessert

Additionally, you can use the ganache and chocolate roses on any cake you want to decorate. No messing around with smoothing out frosting; just pour it on and you’ve got an impressive cake.

pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse topped with chocolate ganache recipe thanksgiving dessert
One of my earlier presentations in 2012. I don’t change much!

Obviously, if you don’t have a rose, just add some chocolate curls or something similar. Be creative, but remember to only use edible and/or non toxic items.

Finally, please let me know if you make this pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mousse dessert in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Chocolate Mousse Dessert on a cake stand

Pumpkin Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse Topped with Dark Chocolate Ganache

Yield: 16 servings
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

A pumpkin and chocolate flavored dessert that is sure to WOW everyone at the table! Labor intensive, but easy to make with my step by step directions.

Ingredients

Base:

  • 20 speculoos cookies (1 3/4 cups or 8 oz) alternately use graham crackers or Digestives
  • 2 tbsp butter (1/2 oz) butter, melted (use a little more butter if using graham crackers)

Pumpkin Cheesecake:

  • 20 oz (2 1/2 packages) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 4 oz Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 15 oz pumpkin (pureed) I used canned organic pumpkin
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz) heavy whipping cream

Chocolate Mousse:

  • 2 cups (16 oz) heavy whipping cream
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 1 cup (8 oz) good quality chocolate broken into pieces, or chips
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz) sugar
  • 2 tbsp water

GANACHE:

  • 6 oz heavy whipping cream
  • 6 oz (3/4 cup) dark chocolate pieces or chips (good quality)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325ºF (160ºC)

BASE

  1. Crush the cookies between two sheets of wax paper with a heavy rolling pin.
  2. Place in 10.5" springform pan and sprinkle melted butter over top, mix well and push into pan. Set aside.

CHEESECAKE

  1. Beat cream cheese until smooth, then add Greek yogurt and sugars.
  2. Add eggs, one at a time, clearing after each addition and scraping bowl with spatula.
  3. Blend in pumpkin and spices, scrape the sides of the bowl, then add the cream.
  4. Pour into pan with Biscoff cookie base, and bake for 90 minutes or until the center just sets. Do not overcook the cheesecake or it will pull away from the pan.
  5. Once cheesecake is cooked, let it cool, then chill in fridge for an hour or two.
  6. DO NOT TAKE THE SIDE OFF OF THE SPRINGFORM PAN OR RUN A KNIFE AROUND THE CHEESECAKE!

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

  1. Follow directions to make mousse here: http://goo.gl/CGKNkv, but make it when the cheesecake has been refrigerated for one or two hours.
  2. Once the mousse is ready, pour it onto the cheesecake and freeze for at least 12 hours; I freeze it overnight. When you are ready to finish the dessert, prepare the ganache. (Remember the dessert is frozen, so plan to have it in the fridge for at least 8 hours before serving.)

GANACHE:

  1. Place cream and chocolate in a small pan together, then heat over low temperature until the chocolate is melted and is very smooth and shiny.
  2. Remove the dessert from the freezer and run a very thin knife around the inside of the springform pan, then release the side and remove carefully. Place the dessert on a serving platter, plate or tray.
  3. Pour the ganache quickly onto the center of the cake, then tip the cake from side to side to allow the ganache to start to run off the sides TIP: I used a strong piece of tape under the bottom of the pan to attach it to the cake plate so it wouldn't slip.
  4. Do not touch the ganache with any utensil or tool, or it will not have a smooth finish. Refrigerate the dessert until ready to serve, or you can do a few more things to really make it look top-notch such as piping buttercream around the base and topping with a rose, and/or some chocolate leaves.

Notes

Nutrition info is using Speculoos biscuits and Callebaut dark chocolate.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 318Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 158mgSodium: 286mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 12g

Nutrition information is only estimated.

Did you make this recipe?

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78 Comments

    1. Hi Georgina, I’m actually in the middle of making this right now and am using a 9″ as I’m going to a smaller get-together this year. However, I am also making a little 4″ one without a crust for the gluten free host. Here’s my advice, if the cheesecake batter looks like it will fill more than half of the tin, pour a little into another tin or ramekin and bake that alongside. Worst thing that can happen if you have too much mousse is that you put the extra mousse into other dishes to serve separately! Not a problem in my book! :) Good luck, you’ll be a star tomorrow! CC

      1. Hello I am in Sicily (Italy) and am making it now as a thanksgiving dessert for some American friends, the are coming for dinner tomorrow. You don’t say how hot the oven should be .

        1. Hi Jim, that’s fantastic! You’ve just missed the oven temp, it’s in the main part of the recipe and also in the printable recipe card (lots of people have made this so I would have heard from them before). It’s 325ºF (160 C). Enjoy! CC

  1. This is the first recipe of yours I ever made and I knew from then on I could trust anything you said!!:) My husband isn’t a big fan of Thanksgiving food but this dessert is something he looks forward to for months! He keeps asking me to make it more than once a year. Looking forward to our 4th year with it as everyone’s favorite dish!

    1. Oh thank you so much, Jennie! You’ve made my day! I can understand why your husband asks for it more than once a year, but so happy that it’s now a tradition for your family as it is mine! I really appreciate you coming back to let me know! Happy Thanksgiving! CC