Discover a hint of earthy and nutty flavor in this luscious Goat Cheese Pumpkin Cheesecake with roasted pears.
If you love pumpkin season but are looking for something different than pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake, then this goat cheese pumpkin cheesecake recipe is for you!
The unexpected tang of goat cheese pairs well with the earthy sweet flavor of pumpkin, and the roasted pear slices take this cheesecake to the next level. It's everything I look for in a cheesecake.
The crust is made with Nilla (vanilla) wafers, which doesn't take away from the complex flavor of the cheesecake. You can use graham cracker crumbs if necessary, but the combination might alter the taste slightly.
The roasted pears are optional but highly recommended. They double as a topping and decoration.
🛒 Ingredients and Notes
- vanilla wafers
- pecans
- brown sugar
- ground cloves
- ground nutmeg
- ground ginger
- ground cinnamon
- salt
- butter
- creamy goat cheese
- granulated sugar
- cream cheese
- eggs
- pumpkin puree
- sour cream
- vanilla extract
Roasted pears (optional):
- pear (Bosc or Bartlett)
- pure maple syrup
🔪 Step by Step Instructions
Cheesecake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a food processor, pulse cookies and pecans until finely ground (it makes about 2 cups). Add sugar, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and butter; pulse until combined.
- Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the crust is golden and set. Cool completely before filling.
- Meanwhile, with an electric mixer set on low speed, beat together the goat cheese and sugar. Add the cream cheese and beat until combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each is added. Combine the remaining ingredients and continue to beat until the mixture is very smooth.
- Pour the batter into the prepared crust and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan; the center should still be soft. Cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 5 hours or overnight.
Roasted pears (optional):
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Slice pear lengthwise ⅛-inch thick (I used a mandoline slicer, but a knife works well too).
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Coat with cooking spray. Arrange pear slices in a single layer on a sheet and brush with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Roast until pears are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and heat the broiler. Brush pears with remaining syrup and broil until browned in spots, about 3-4 minutes. Let cool.
- Arrange pear slices, overlapping slightly, on the cheesecake.
😋 Other Delicious Goat Cheese Recipes:
- Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Pasta Bake
- Frittata with Greens and Goat Cheese
- Goat Cheese Portobello Flatbread Pizza
🧀🍰 More Cheesecake Recipes You'll Love:
- Carrot Cake Cheesecake
- Tiramisu Cheesecake
- Eggnog Gingersnap Cheesecake Cake
- Brownie Pumpkin Cheesecake
Liked this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!
Goat Cheese Pumpkin Cheesecake
Discover a hint of earthy and nutty flavor in this luscious Goat Cheese Pumpkin Cheesecake with roasted pears.
Ingredients
- 6 oz. about 46 vanilla wafers
- 2 oz. pecans
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoon butter, melted
- 6 oz. crumbled goat cheese
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- 16 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Roasted pears (optional):
- 1 large pear, Bosc or Bartlett
- 4 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a food processor, pulse cookies and pecans until finely ground (it makes about 2 cups). Add sugar, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and butter; pulse until combined.
- Firmly press crumb mixture into bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until crust is golden and set. Cool completely before filling.
- Meanwhile, with an electric mixer set on low speed, beat together the goat cheese and sugar. Add the cream cheese and beat until combined. Add eggs one at a time mixing on low speed after each is added. Combine the remaining ingredients and continue to beat until the mixture is very smooth.
- Pour the batter into the prepared crust and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan; the center should be still soft. Cool to room temperature then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 5 hours or overnight.
Roasted pears (optional):
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Slice pear lengthwise ⅛-inch thick (I used a mandoline slicer, but a knife works well too).
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Coat with cooking spray. Arrange pear slices in a single layer on sheet and brush with 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Roast until pears are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and heat the broiler. Brush pears with remaining syrup and broil until browned in spots, about 3-4 minutes. Let cool.
- Arrange pear slices, overlapping slightly, on cheesecake.
Notes
You could also use graham crackers instead of vanilla wafers to make the crust.
Store the leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Nutrition
Calories: 707kcal (35%) | Carbohydrates: 63g (21%) | Protein: 12g (24%) | Fat: 47g (72%) | Saturated Fat: 21g (105%) | Cholesterol: 149mg (50%) | Sodium: 610mg (25%) | Potassium: 311mg (9%) | Fiber: 3g (12%) | Sugar: 43g (48%) | Vitamin A: 6328IU (127%) | Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) | Calcium: 158mg (16%) | Iron: 2mg (11%)
Tried this Recipe? ❤️ Tag us on Facebook!Let us know how it was! Mention @AllThatsJas or tag #allthatsjas!
Frugal Hausfrau says
I bet that goat cheese gives it a beautiful tang! I love the presentation. Thanks for sharing with us this week at Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Jas says
It does. Even the non goat cheese lovers liked it.
Pam says
Hi Jas, I'm making my way through the fiftyandfab posts slowly, but surely. I love your humor and your photography and I'm sure I would LOVE that cheesecake. Keep up the fun attitude!
Jas says
Thanks, Pam! I still have many posts to visit myself, but I'll get there 🙂 Hope your weekend is fabulous!
Maria says
This right up my alley. I love anything pear, will keep the recipe booked marked
Maria
Jas says
Fun fact: I love cooking with pears but dislike eating them fresh. It's a weird fact, actually. Ha!
Kati says
Oh my word! This looks perfect for fall. Everything I love combined into one amazing desert. Pinned!
Jas says
Thank you, Kati! Hope your week is wonderful!
Amy @ StowandTellU says
That a pumpkin won't turn into anything but a cheesecake, that's good!! I agree, 50 did seem so old back when I wasn't near it. I think we're realizing we don't have to be out grandmas...yet. Your cheesecake is to die for. You had me at goat cheese!
Jas says
Hi, Amy! You are right, we are not our grandmas yet, but our grandkids probably beg to differ, ha. You're either a goat cheese lover or a hater, no one is in between 🙂 Thank you for stopping in and have a great week!
Anne says
Wow that looks delicious! And I no longer eat sweets so this was very hard to turn away from. You're photography is beautiful as well 🙂
Jas says
What a compliment! Thank you, Anne! I wish I could stay away from sweets 🙁
FLORENCE @ VintageSouthernPicks says
Hi Jas! As another Blogging Fiftier, I'm checking out ALL the posts from our blog hop, tho I usually skip over the ones having to do with food. OK, I'm embarrassed to admit it...I not only hate to cook, but baking comes under that heading too, right?? Plus I'm trying desperately to shed some pounds, but your cheesecake looks SO GOOD! I would love to have a piece. I hate to cook, but obviously that doesn't apply to eating! I also checked out how you celebrated your 50th! Happy belated! You look much too young to be 50. This was a fun post to read! Yes, I pinned it b/c I have one board having to do with food...only 1 out of 76 other ones. LOL
Jas says
Hi, Florence! Well, in that case I feel extra honored 😀 Believe it or not, I hated food (you read that right) until I got pregnant with my daughter. I'm not a heavy person but I'm heavier now than I was at 9-month pregnant.
No need to feel embarrassed for skipping food blogs. No shame in that - we all have different interests. Thanks for stopping in and pinning my cake to your only food board! I'm thrilled!!!
Katrin says
Jas, you are so cool, you know that 50 is the new 30 right?? I am a strong believer of that, cause I'm turning 40 next January and so that means that those are the new 20s lol! Anyway, who cares about age, it matters how you feel inside, at least that's what my mom always said and now I know what she meant! Your cheesecake looks stunning, as all of your recipes, and this one comes in the right time for fall with the touch of pumpkin, I know I'd love it!
Jas says
Thank you, Katrin! It is true what your mom said. In my head I feel like 30, but my body doesn't always agree, lol. I don't mind looking old, I hate those aches and pains. Oh, well...it beats the alternative, right? Hope you have a wonderful weekend! XO
Lory at Designthusiasm says
OMG that is one inspiring cheesecake!! It's gorgeous... 🙂 And I'm sure delicious as well. Yep, being 50 can be totally fabulous!!
Jas says
Thank you, Lory, I like everything that's out of ordinary. Yep, being 50 beats the alternative, lol. 🙂
Laura says
Loved finding you on the Fabulous Fifty group (have to find you and join on Facebook) - but now you've got another fan and I'm definitely going to try one of your cheesecakes!
Jas says
Aw, thank you Laura! Will stalk you for sure 😀
Mary-the boondocks blog says
Jas you are so funny. Only you can take goats, pumpkins and cheese and combine it with the fall of our lives. Haha. I have been experimenting with my girl and we are trying to make bake cheesecakes not the easy ones. So we will definitely be relying on your superwoman recipe here. Btw, the idea that you are a grandmother is just impossible. You look way too young to be a grandma. Or grandmothers don't look like they used to! Pinned it twice!
Jas says
I get pinned twice?!! Once for each time I'm a grandmother? Whoo-hoo! THANKS!!!
You caught that, hehe. I didn't think of it originally, Mary. As I was writing the post I thought, what a coincidence! In my country we associate goats and pumpkins with being old, then it's fall season and we're talking about autumn of our lives. There you have it. Did you know that word pumpkin originated from the Greek word Pepõn? Now my favorite movie "my big fat Greek wedding" makes sense, haha!
Hugs!
Mary-the boondocks blog says
Pepon, or peponi is the greek word for melon. It never ends haha!
Jas says
Ha ha, I love it! 😀
gail says
Bake? I don't even cook anymore! It's one of the perks of getting old and living alone. Your goat cheese pumpkin cheesecake is beautiful!
I enjoyed reading your Fab 50 post Jas!
gail
Jas says
I don't know if I could give up cooking all together, Gail. Maybe if I lived alone...Growing up, mom always put homemade meal on the table, although she worked full-time. It's in my veins, lol. I don't always enjoy cooking, though, so I try to make enough meals ahead of time. That way I free up my evenings after work to visit grandchildren, blog, garden, or whatever. Thanks for taking the time to read my post 🙂
Ann says
I'll never ever believe you hate baking, Jas! If you love unpacking and count the pieces of clothes then you would/should enjoy measuring ingredients...LOL
At 50 you ARE absolutely fabulous with loads of energy and so much love to give and not looking a day of being 40. Forget 50! Not to mention such a gorgeous and sexy looking Grandma too! 😀 😀 😀 I am so honoured and blessed to know you, Grams Jas! *muuacks*
Funny that I've been thinking of what-can-I-do-with-pumpkin-thoughts lately! Heheh! And for sure I've never thought of using goat cheese for cheesecake. That's such a great idea!!! I'm gonna be packing up the fats on my hips...
Jas says
Hehe...that's where I store my fat and only take photos above them, to full people into believing I'm sexy, haha. And I still dislike baking....
Thank you for your kind words, Ann! I am happy and blessed to know you! You bring joy and smarts to my life 😛
Carol, The Red Painted Cottage says
Jas, This looks so delicious! I LOVE to bake and I'll be printing this off and pinning it. The pears on top really make it! I've bakes cheesecakes before and even a pumpkin one, but none ever had goat cheese in it. I'm excited to try this.
Jas says
Thank you, Carol! If you really like goat cheese, you can add 8 oz. Although I love it, I found its flavor in a cake was a bit too strong, so I only used 6 oz. this time. Hope you do give it a try 🙂 Thanks for stopping in!
Debrashoppeno5 says
OH that looks so good, I enjoy baking but have never tried a cheesecake. It is now on my bucket list and pinned to my Sweet Stuff board.
Jas says
Glad I could inspire you. It's not as hard as it seems, although, it does take time and patience. If I can do it, anyone can 😀
Sandra says
This looks absolutely divine and I look forward to trying it. I'm so happy I found you via Wonderful Wednesday's, so nice to discover the over 50 and fab community. I'm 61 and loving it!
Jas says
Hi, Sandra! Good for you for loving your age. We can't do anything about it, so might as well embrace it and make the best of it, right? Thanks for stopping in! Wishing you a wonderful day!
Maria says
Jas, so happy to find you in this 50 and over party! You are one of the first 50 and over ladies I met along side of Katherine our dear friend. Love your recipes always.
Hugs
Maria
Jas says
Hi, beautiful! Right back at ya! I'm always amazed and inspired by your classy designs! XOXO
Marie, The Interior Frugalista says
Jas, you can send a slice of that delicious looking goat cheese pumpkin cheesecake this direction, please. It would be perfect as I sit here enjoying my morning coffee. You summed up life in one's fifties in a nutshell in your second paragraph. We need to grow extra arms in our 50's for all the directions we are pulled in. I'm your newest follower on social media and pinning to share!
Jas says
Thank you, Marie! I think we all feel the same at this age, no matter our background. Nice to have something in common, right? Thanks for stopping by and following. I'll be stalking you for some great DIY ideas 😀
Patti says
Hi Jas,
Your cheesecake looks delicious! I'm a big fan of goat cheese and cheesecake too for that matter but who isn't. I love the fact that you thought 50 was sooo old when you were young, and I'm sure we all did. Funny thing, the older I get the younger every decade seems.
Jas says
You are absolutely right! That's why with age comes wisdom, right? They say 50 is the youth of old age, so I'd say we are young and wise, ha!
Bam's Kitchen says
My word this cheesecake is a beauty! Hey, you are reading my mind about being 50 as actually ...clearing my throat ...lol I will hit that milestone this weekend. 50 is Fabulous. I love the lighting in your photos and how the pears are glistening. I am so glad you share your passion with us. Get that kettle going Jas as I will be right over to sample a piece of this delicious cheesecake.
Jas says
Ha, just say when...this weekend? It could be your birthday cake! 🙂 Hope you have the time of your life celebrating your milestone! Wishing you abundance of happiness and everything your heart desires! XOXOXO