No-bake pumpkin cheesecake is a creamy, no-bake dessert with a little fall flavor and a lot of drama: a ginger-walnut-date crust, a tangy cultured coconut cream cheese filling set with gelatin, and a warmed pumpkin spiced topping. Make your own coconut cream cheese for that traditional tang or substitute plain coconut cream. Serve it warmed or chilled overnight for a more set-up presentation.
A creamy, no-bake dessert with a little fall flavor. Make your own coconut “cream cheese” for that traditional tang or substitute plain coconut cream. Enjoy this cheesecake with a warmed pumpkin topping or chilled overnight for a more set-up presentation.
Ginger Crust
2 c (35°F). raw walnuts
3 dried medjool dates
2 t. ground ginger
½ t. sea salt
2 T. blackstrap molasses
¼ c. grass-fed butter or organic virgin coconut oil, melted
Filling
2 lemons, juiced
1 T. grass-fed gelatin
2 c (35°F). Cultured Coconut “Cream Cheese”
1 can organic full-fat coconut milk
½ c. organic grade B maple syrup
1 vanilla bean
1 t. vanilla extract
½ t. sea salt
Pumpkin Topping
1 can organic pumpkin puree
¼ c. organic grade B maple syrup
1 lemon, juiced
1 t. vanilla extract
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/8 t. ground cloves
¼ t. sea salt
2 t. tapioca starch
Cultured Coconut “Cream Cheese”
Yields: 2 cups (480 ml)
3 cans organic coconut cream
1 probiotic capsule (Or approx. 30 million active cultures)
Directions:
Prepare “Cream Cheese” ahead: Place coconut cream into a large strainer lined with a tea towel or cheesecloth. Place strainer over a large bowl to catch coconut water and let sit 1-2 hours. Wrap the tea towel around the cream and squeeze out as much remaining water from the cream as possible. (Reserve coconut water in fridge; it’s delicious to drink as-is!) Move coconut cream into a glass pint jar, open the probiotic capsule, and mix in granules well. Place a lid on the jar tightly and place in the oven with the oven light on (the heat from the light will allow the coconut cream to culture). Leave overnight or minimum 12 hours. Leaving for longer will intensify the “cream cheese” sourness. Store in fridge.
To make the Ginger Crust: place all crust ingredients into the bowl of a large food processor. Process until mixture is combined well, scraping the sides down occasionally. Press into a 9-inch spring form pan and refrigerate 30+ minutes.
To prepare the filling: mix lemon juice and gelatin in a small bowl set in a saucepan of low-simmering water. Heat until the gelatin is dissolved and set aside.
Combine remaining filling ingredients in the bowl of a large food processor and process until smooth, about 30-60 seconds. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in warm lemon juice/gelatin mixture and process to combine, another 30 seconds. Pour filling into chilled Ginger Crust and place in the refrigerator 1-2 hours.
To prepare the Pumpkin Topping: combine all topping ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth, about 30-60 seconds. Pour mixture into a small saucepan and heat until mixture is barely beginning to bubble. Pour Pumpkin Topping over chilled crust/filling and place back in the refrigerator overnight or minimum 8 hours. Serve chilled.
More Recipes You'll Love
Pro Tips
- The cultured coconut cream cheese takes a day of hands-off time — strain the coconut cream, mix in the probiotic, and let it culture overnight in the oven with the light on. Longer culturing means more tang.
- Press the ginger crust firmly into the springform pan and chill it the full 30 minutes so the slices cut cleanly instead of crumbling.
- Drizzle the warm gelatin mixture into the running food processor slowly — this distributes it evenly and prevents chewy streaks in the filling.
- Heat the pumpkin topping only until it barely begins to bubble; overheating dulls the spices and can separate the coconut cream.
- The overnight chill (minimum 8 hours) is what gives this cheesecake its clean, sliceable structure — rushing it means a soft, spoonable dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead can I make this cheesecake?
It's actually designed for making ahead — chill it overnight and it's perfect the next day. It keeps three days covered in the refrigerator.
What is cultured coconut cream cheese?
Coconut cream strained of its water, then cultured overnight with a probiotic capsule until it develops a tangy, cream-cheese-like flavor. Plain coconut cream works if you skip the culturing.
Can I make this without gelatin?
The gelatin is what sets the filling into clean slices. Without it, the dessert stays soft and mousse-like — delicious, but more of a spoon dessert than a cheesecake.
Warm or chilled — how should I serve it?
Both are wonderful. The warmed pumpkin topping served right away gives a softer, saucier dessert; chilling overnight firms everything into a proper cheesecake presentation.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare “Cream Cheese” ahead: Place coconut cream into a large strainer lined with a tea towel or cheesecloth.
- Place strainer over a large bowl to catch coconut water and let sit 1-2 hours.
- Wrap the tea towel around the cream and squeeze out as much remaining water from the cream as possible. (Reserve coconut water in fridge; it’s delicious to drink as-is!) Move coconut cream into a glass pint jar, open the probiotic capsule, and mix in granules well.
- Place a lid on the jar tightly and place in the oven with the oven light on (the heat from the light will allow the coconut cream to culture). Leave overnight or minimum 12 hours. Leaving for longer will intensify the “cream cheese” sourness. Store in fridge. To make the Ginger Crust: place all crust ingredients into the bowl of a large food processor. Process until mixture is combined well, scraping the sides down occasionally. Press into a 9-inch spring form pan and refrigerate 30+ minutes. To prepare the filling: mix lemon juice and gelatin in a small bowl set in a saucepan of low-simmering water.
- Heat until the gelatin is dissolved and set aside.
- Combine remaining filling ingredients in the bowl of a large food processor and process until smooth, about 30-60 seconds. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in warm lemon juice/gelatin mixture and process to combine, another 30 seconds.
- Pour filling into chilled Ginger Crust and place in the refrigerator 1-2 hours. To prepare the Pumpkin Topping: combine all topping ingredients in a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth, about 30-60 seconds.
- Pour mixture into a small saucepan and heat until mixture is barely beginning to bubble.
- Pour Pumpkin Topping over chilled crust/filling and place back in the refrigerator overnight or minimum 8 hours.
- Serve chilled.
