If you are looking for an easy but impressive dessert, Instant Pot pumpkin cheesecake is exactly what you need! It has the great tastes of fall with pumpkin and spices along with a classic cheesecake layer.
If you are like our house, you have been anxiously awaiting fall. The leaves will be changing soon, the cooler air and all the tastes of fall are here. This dessert is no exception! With pumpkin and pie spice, it is a great way to enjoy the end of a fall day.
We like to use fresh pumpkin here, but you can certainly use canned too. If you want to use fresh pumpkin also, here are easy instructions for cooking your pie pumpkin - how to cook pumpkin in the Instant Pot. I cook many each fall and freeze it in bags as 1 cup servings. We use a lot of it here, including in pumpkin whipped cream which makes a great topping for your cake!
Making Instant Pot pumpkin cheesecake
There are a few tips that I would like to point out for making a successful cheesecake before you scroll to the recipe. These are very important tho and I will make them quick.
Sit ingredients on counter for at least an hour
This is a very important step! You need to soften the cream cheese so there are no lumps when you mix it. The yogurt (or sour cream) and eggs also need to sit out to warm to room temperature. Eggs can be warmed up fairly quickly in a glass of slightly hot water, but yogurt should sit out. If you add these ingredients to the cream cheese while they are cold out of the fridge, you will get lumps as it will cool the cream cheese in spots.
Do not over whip the eggs
We add eggs 1 at a time and beat them for about 10 seconds each before turning off the mixer. We then take a spatula and gently stir the eggs in the rest of the way if needed.
Gently get out air bubbles
We use a fork or the spatula will work too for this. When you put the first layer on top of the crust, gently move a fork around through the layer (don't go deep or you will be lifting the crust.) You will get out some air bubbles that are in your mixture. Repeat with the second layer - again not too deep so you don't mix the layers. You don't need to be perfect here, but it just takes out a few of the bubbles. If you miss a couple, it will be ok.
Getting the right pan
We use a 6 quart Instant Pot for this recipe and a standard size pan won't fit in it. You need a smaller one like this 7 inch springform pan - this is the exact one we use and love it, you don't need an expensive one.
Getting a sling
One thing I highly recommend is getting a silicone sling as it will make your life so much easier! You will need to use a sling for this Instant Pot pumpkin cheesecake (along with any cheesecake you want to make), but you can also use foil. Pressure Cooking Today has a great tip for making one - Pressure Cooker Tip - Using a Foil Sling
If you use a silicone sling, you don't use the trivet that came with your IP, but you do need to use the trivet with a foil sling.
The mixer
Usually I would say to use a stand mixer as I absolutely love mine for many things, but for cheesecake I recommend a hand mixer. I feel like in a stand mixer you are more likely to let it over whip. With a stand mixer it is easy to do other things real quick (I say this from experience) while it is mixing and that can over whip your filling.
You may also like these great desserts
- Layered pumpkin cheesecake (for the oven)
- Pumpkin pie with fresh pumpkin (for the oven)
- Instant Pot cheesecake with chocolate swirl
Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake
Equipment
Ingredients
The Crust
- 4 TBSP butter
- 10 graham crackers
- ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 TBSP brown sugar
Filling
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened for at least an hour
- ¼ cup plain yogurt or sour cream, set out for about an hour
- 2 eggs set out for about an hour
- ½ cup brown sugar loosely packed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Pumpkin layer (to be added to half of the filling)
- ⅓ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp flour
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
The Crust (optional or use your favorite crust)
- Melt the butter and crush the graham crackers. You can use a food processor or we just put them in a gallon storage bag and use a rolling pin to crush them to save on dishes.
- Add the pumpkin pie spice (the ¼ tsp amount for crust) and brown sugar (the 1 TBSP for crust) to the graham cracker crumbs. Pour the crumb mix into the melted butter and stir well.
- Pack the graham cracker mix as tightly as you can into the bottom of the springform pan and set aside.
The Filling
- Be sure your cream cheese, yogurt (or sour cream) and eggs have sat out at room temperature for at least an hour before mixing.
- Cream the cream cheese for about 1 minute using a mixer (preferably a hand mixer) or until smooth.
- Add in the brown sugar and beat again for about 1 minute.
- Add in the vanilla and yogurt. Mix until incorporated, about 20-30 seconds.
- Add in the eggs one at a time. Beat each egg in for about 10 seconds and scrape the sides of the bowl down before adding each one. Do not over whip the eggs. Take a spatula and gently stir the egg in if it needs more mixing.
- Pour about half of the filling onto the pie crust.
Pumpkin layer
- Mix the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and flour together in a small bowl. Add into the remaining filling and gently stir with a spatula or spoon.
- Pour the pumpkin layer on top of the first layer.
Cooking
- Place the springform pan into a silicone sling or make a foil sling. Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot.
- If using a silicone sling, place it into the Instant Pot now. If using a foil sling, you need to put the trivet that came with your IP in first followed by the foil sling and your cake.
- Cook on high pressure for 27 minutes and allow to do a natural release. As soon as it is done releasing, remove the cheesecake and blot any moisture that has accumulated on the top with a paper towel. Little drops are ok, but get any excess puddles of moisture off.
- Cool on the counter for about 1 hour before placing in the fridge. Cool in the fridge for at least 3-4 hours before covering and allow it to cool in the fridge over night for best texture.
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