Keto Pumpkin Layer Cheesecake Recipe
Holidays always seem to equal mass amounts of food, but most importantly, lots of cakes, pies, and cookies. My favorite has always been pumpkin pie. Something about the perfectly spiced creamy filling just gets me every time. Not so coincidentally, cheesecake is my favorite dessert.
In my past life (read: pre-paleo), I made créme brûlée and a layered pumpkin pie cheesecake every Christmas. One of my nephews would get on my case if I ever forgot to make the cheesecake, so it always made an appearance.
Pecan Cheesecake Crust
After going keto and cutting out traditional natural sweeteners and including more dairy, I wanted to revisit my old favorite. The base is the same as the Instant Pot Cheescake recipe on this site, but I added a pecan crust and, of course, the pumpkin layer on top.
I had to make this keto pumpkin layer cheesecake THREE times before I was able to keep everyone from eating so I could take some photos. It is that good!
The only difference between this low-carb/high-fat version and the old original recipe is the crust isn’t made of graham crackers (ew!) and I’ve made it a bit less sweet, because it really doesn’t need to be hurt-your-teeth sweet.
Of course, you can’t have pumpkin anything without a healthy dose of whipped cream, so I’ve got you covered there as well. Although these pictures show a cutie-pie little swirl of my LCHF Whipped Cream on each slice, make no mistake that as soon as these pictures were taken the slices were 100% covered in whipped cream, as they should be. Everyone knows that.
Keto Pumpkin Layer Cheesecake {primal; low-carb}
Ingredients
Crust
- 1/2 cup Almond Flour
- 1/2 cup Pecan Halves, very finely chopped
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp Lakanto Powdered Monkfruit Sweetener
- 2 Tbsp Grass-Fed Butter, softened but not melted
Cheesecake Layer
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
- 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp Lakanto Classic Monkfruit Sweetener
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Fresh Orange Zest -or- 1/8 tsp Orange Extract, dried zest results in a chunky texture
- 1 Egg, room temperature
- 2 Tbsp Heavy Whipping Cream
Pumpkin Layer
- 1/4 cup Pumpkin Puree
- 1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
Serving
- LCHF Whipped Cream
- Ground Cinnamon, optional
Instructions
- Combine the almond flour, finely chopped pecans, cinnamon, and monkfruit. Blend together with a fork to break apart any lumps and to evenly mix everything. Add the softened butter and cut in with a fork until the mixture is crumbly but evenly pressed together and holds it's shape.
- Press the crust mixture into the bottom of a 6" or 7" springform or push-pan, going about an inch up the sides. Set aside while you prepare the filling.
- Using a stand mixer or hand-held mixer, blend together cream cheese, monkfruit, heavy cream, orange peel, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add the egg, very gently mixing until just combined. Do not over mix the egg, otherwise you're cheesecake will be lumpy, not creamy. Set aside 1 cup of the mixture. Pour the remaining filling into the prepared pan
- Add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice to the 1 cup of mixture and mix just until blended (don't overmix). Very carefully spoon the pumpkin mixture over the cream cheese mixture already in the pan and spread to evenly cover all the way to the edges.
- Lay a paper towel on top of the pan and gently wrap a piece of tin foil over the top to hold the foil in place.
- Pour 1-1/2 cups of water into the inner liner pot of the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. Place the cake pan on the trivet and gently lower into the water with the handles up.
- Put the lid on the pressure cooker and set the valve to "Sealing". Press the "Manual" button and increase the time to 37 minutes.
- When the cycle ends, let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure (DO NOT open the valve and do a Quick Pressure Release) for 18 minutes. After the 18 NPR, open the valve and remove the lid when all pressure is released.
- Carefully lift the cheesecake out of the Instant Pot with the trivet handles. Leave the foil and paper towel on the pan and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
- When completely cooled, release the outer spring ring of the pan or, if using a push pan, push the bottom up out of the pan and remove the out layer of parchment. Cut into 8 slices and serve chilled with a swirl of whipped cream and cinnamon on each slice.
Alternate Baking Option
- If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can bake this cheesecake at 325°F for 35-40 minutes, or until the center is set.
Notes
- "Cook Time" does not include the time it takes to get to pressure. This is usually only about 5 minutes for me.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1 sliceAmount Per Serving Calories 229Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 8gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 64mgSodium 126mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 4g
Nutrition is calculated by a third party and may not be 100% accurate
Tony
Wednesday 18th of November 2020
I haven't tried it yet as it is still in my instant pot. One of the other recipes called for 24 oz of cream cheese. And that is for my 7" spring form pan. It was just about to the top so I am trying to just double up what you have there and hoping the cooking time will be the same. It does look lime the perfect amount.
Kendra Benson
Monday 23rd of November 2020
24oz might be a bit too much for a pan that would fit in an Instant Pot. I have another Instant Pot cheesecake recipe and it fills the pan almost all the way and it is only 16oz of cream cheese. The pan used there is a 6", but I think a 7" pan is the largest I could get away with in my IP. I'd worry about it spilling over if it's much more than 16oz.
Lisa
Thursday 28th of November 2019
I made this yesterday evening and served it today for thanksgiving. My husband and I have been following a keto lifestyle for almost two years, and loving it. I had other traditional deserts for our guests, pumpkin pie, macaroons and ambrosias. Everyone raved about the pumpkin cheese cake. It was the first time making a cheese cake in my instant pot, I could not have been more pleased. Your directions were clear and easy to follow. Thank you!
Melissa
Sunday 24th of November 2019
Dairy isn’t paleo.
Kendra Benson
Thursday 5th of November 2020
This recipe is categorized as "primal" and "keto", not paleo. We have more than just paleo recipes on the site :)
Helene
Saturday 9th of November 2019
8 oz of cream cheese is definitely not enough. It made for a very very thin lawyer that was hard to spread. I would double that next time. I made a crust with only walnuts and almonds and a bit of Stevia. It’s always good.
Kendra Benson
Thursday 5th of November 2020
What size pan did you use? The recipe calls for a 6" or 7" springform, which is what was used in the photos here. Should have been the perfect amount for that size pan. Anything larger and you would definitely have a very thin layer.
Carol
Tuesday 3rd of April 2018
Can you please advise how to make this traditionally? I don't have a pressure cooker. Also, have you tried making this with Maple Syrup? I can't eat Monkfruit .
Thanks