Pumpkin Cheesecake With a Gingersnap Crust

Note: Chilling time required

Ingredients

Crust

1 1⁄2 cups organic vegan gingersnap cookies (about 24 cookies)

1⁄4 cup almonds, toasted

2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated

2 tablespoons neutral tasting oil

1⁄4 cup brown or palm sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt

Pumpkin Filling Ingredients

2 (8-ounce) containers vegan cream cheese

1/3 cup evaporated cane sugar

1 (15-ounce) can organic pumpkin

1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves

1⁄4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice

1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon whole wheat pastry flour

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon neutral tasting oil

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. For the crust: Place cookies, almonds, ginger, oil, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract and sea salt in a food processor and pulse until uniform, about 20 to 25 times. Mixture should be a crumbly, even consistency that pulls away from walls of food processor.

  1. Grease a springform pan. Use damp hands to firmly press mixture into pan to form crust. Be sure to evenly distribute mixture, and use thumbs to press crust into corners of pan. Bake for 7 minutes, to help crust stick together.

4. For the filling: In a food processor, combine cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, flour, lemon juice, oil and sea salt. Blend until uniform.

  1. Pour filling into baked crust and gently tap mixture on counter to release any trapped bubbles. Bake for about 40 minutes or until mixture is slightly browned on top and feels firm when pan is slightly shaken.

  2. Remove from oven and allow cheesecake to cool on counter for at least 20 minutes, then refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight before serving, to firm up.

Serves 8 to 10

More vegan recipes by Spork Foods:

Seitan Wellington With Creamy Spinach Sauce

Pear, Fig and Sage Tarts With Roasted Garlic Aioli

Green Apple and Cashew Sourdough Stuffing