Need a No Bake Cheesecake with a gluten free crust? Your holiday guests will love this pumpkin spice cheesecake in a crushed pecan crust!
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WELCOME TO MIX IT UP MONDAY WITH MAD DASH MIXES
WEEK 116
WHAT ARE WE MIXIN’ UP THIS WEEK?
The count down to the Holidays has begun! This No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake in a crushed pecan (gluten free) crust is sure to be a hit with both you and your guests. You will love it because it is quick and easy to prepare and doesn’t require baking! Your guests will love it because it is delicious and offers a gluten free alternative to other desserts!
Let’s Get to Mixin’
Pumpkin Spice No Bake Cheesecake with a Gluten Free Pecan crust
Equipment
- mixing spoon
- measuring cup
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened low fat cream cheese can be used
- 8 oz Cool Whip other brands of whipped topping can be used
- 1 Gluten Free Crushed Pecan Crust prepared in a Springform pan
- 1 packet Pumpkin Spice No Bake Cheesecake Mix by Mad Dash Mixes
- Decorative Sprinkles or Ground Cinnamon if desired
Instructions
- Add softened cream cheese and the Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Mix in a bowl. Blend until Creamy
- Fold in Cool Whip or other whipped topping
- Gently Spread in prepared 9 " crust in Springform pan
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 3 hours
- After the cheesecake has chilled, remove from refrigerator
- unlatch the latch and carefully remove the outside portion of the Springform pan
- If desired, sprinkle Decorative Sprinkles or ground cinnamon over the top of the Cheesecake for color and interest
- slice cheesecake into 12 slices and serve. Cover & refrigerate any remaining cheesecake
Notes
- When using a springform pan, carry it by holding the sides. Once the pan is filled with either a crust, cake batter or cheesecake... DO NOT PRESS THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN! Pressing the bottom can cause the pan to come apart and potentially make a mess! Ask me how I know...
Let’s Talk About Preparing the Crust
The basic recipe on the back of the Mad Dash Mixes Cheesecake Mix says it can be made in an 8″ graham cracker crust. I recently purchased a 9″ Springform pan to replace the one that somehow got misplaced when I was going thru the downsizing/moving process.
The first crust I made in it was a chocolate graham Craker Crust. The Graham Cracker crust is NOT Gluten Free. If you don’t need a gluten free crust, all of the information for that crust including the recipe can be found here: Harvest Thyme Pumpkin Spice No Bake Cheesecake
Since the Cheesecake mix worked great in the springform pan with the chocolate graham cracker crust, I thought I would see if it would work with a gluten free pecan crust. Dave & I were attending an event where some of the quests were following a gluten free diet. I reached out to a blogger friend of mine for some guidance on preparing a gluten free crust. She sent me her recipe and then I tweaked it a bit. The recipe for the crust can be found below the photo and more information about it can be found here: Gluten Free Crust Featuring Chopped Pecans
The recipe is really designed for a 7 ” springform pan and the pan I used was a 9 inch. I think it worked just fine, the crushed pecans cover the bottom, they just don’t cover much of the sides. The resulting cheesecake was still very delicious!!!
Gluten Free Crust with Chopped Pecans
Equipment
- 7 ' Springform Pan
- Rolling Pin
- plastic bag with a zipper closure
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 Tablespoons melted butter
- 1 Tablespoon Stevia
- butter or shortening to grease the sides of the pan
Instructions
Preparing the Springform Pan
- Line the bottom of the springform pan with parchment paper
- use butter or shortening to grease the sides of the pan. In place of the butter or shortening, it may be possible to spray the pan with pan spray. Check the directions with the pan. You could also line the insides of the pan with parchment paper.
- Well greased sides are essential in getting the finished cheesecake out of the pan without the crust crumbling.
Preparing the Crust
- place the chopped pecans in the plastic bag and zip shut
- using a rolling pin, crush the pecans
- Place the crushed pecans in a bowl and add the melted butter & Stevia. Blend with a fork until all pecans are covered
- Place the pecan mixture in the prepared pan. Using a spatula, press the crumbs firmly in the bottom
- Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place the pan the refrigerator for an hour
- after an hour, you will be ready to fill with the filling of your choice
- once you have filled the crust and allowed it to chill, unlatch the latch and gently remove the outer rim from the pan
- The filling in the picture is the Pumpkin Spice No Bake Cheesecake.
- Sprinkle ground cinnamon ( similar topping) if desired to the top of the cheesecake, slice and serve
Notes
- When using a springform pan, carry it by holding the sides. Once the pan is filled with either a crust, cake batter or cheesecake... DO NOT PRESS THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN! Pressing the bottom can cause the pan to come apart and potentially make a mess! Ask me how I know...
- Individual cheesecakes could also be prepared using a muffin tin. The pecan crust could be used in the individual muffin tins to give a gluten free alternative.
ALTERNATE SERVING IDEAS
The gluten free pecan crust could be prepared in a regular pie plate or pie tin instead of the springform pan. I personally like the presentation that the springform pan gives but the taste of the finished product is the same regardless of the shape of the pan.
If you don’t need a Gluten Free Crust, a plain graham cracker crust could be used in place of the crust that I made in the springform pan. You could purchase a ready-made crust or follow the directions for making the chocolate graham cracker crust and substitute regular graham crackers for the chocolate ones. One grocery brand even makes a ready-made graham cracker crust that has pecans in it! I think that would be really delicious! I will have to try that one soon!
Instead of filling a pie crust, the prepared no bake cheesecake can be served in a bowl as a dip for fresh fruit or cookies. The cheesecake filling prepared as a dip would be a Gluten Free alternative.
Another No Bake Cheesecake Flavor from Mad Dash Mixes that I have prepared is the Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. I prepared it in a ready-made chocolate graham crust, but it could easily be prepared using the gluten free pecan crust. The recipe and the details can be found here: No Bake Chocolate Chip Cheesecake By Mad Dash Mixes
If you want to add even more pecans and pumpkin spice taste to this delicious cheesecake, Kim’s Krunchies or pumpkin spice sugared pecans could be sprinkled on top of the cheesecake as a finishing touch. The recipe can be found here: Pumpkin Spice Sugared Pecans
Gift Giving Ideas
The mixes make great Christmas gifts or hostess gifts for the Holiday season. A gift basket of assorted mixes, a couple of colorful kitchen towels and a wooden spoon or measuring cups would make a great housewarming gift or bridal shower gift.
If you would like to learn more about how to accent your gift baskets, you can find out more here: How to Wrap & Add Accents to a Gift Basket
COOKING WITH KIM
Disclosure: this post was written in collaboration with Mad Dash Mixes
All opinions are my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
I always love an elevated recipe with cream cheese or as a cheesecake!
Thank you, Shaunda! I love this pumpkin spice flavor!