Creamy Paleo Pumpkin Cheesecake made without flour, dairy, or refined sugar. This marvelous holiday dessert recipe tastes even better than the real deal!
This no-bake pumpkin cheesecake is low-fuss, dairy-free, vegan, and I have included a keto option for my low-carb friends!
Name your favorite holiday dessert. And GO!
Iโll tell you mine if you tell me yours.
Alright, okay, I’ll divulge.
Pumpkin cheesecake has always been one of my favorite desserts for not just the holidays but all of fall and winter. I have a long-standing history of making it multiple times during the cold months.
This paleo pumpkin cheesecake essentially combines my No-Bake Vegan Cheesecake with my Paleo Pumpkin Pie for that timeless creamy sweet cinnamony tangy treat.
Both the pie crust and the filling are prepared using a food processor or blender, and thereโs no oven space necessary – a huge win when youโre preparing a big feast and oven real estate is in short supply.
Plus, you can make this recipe far in advance (up to 7 days) and store it in the freezer until your holiday gathering. Just note the cheesecake will take a few hours to thaw, so be sure to work thaw time into your planning process.
Ingredients for Healthy Pumpkin Cheesecake:
The vegan pumpkin cheesecake filling is made using soaked raw cashews (just like a regular vegan cheesecake), pureed pumpkin, coconut milk, coconut oil, pure maple syrup, fresh ginger, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon.
Blending all these ingredients together results in a silky-smooth, thick and creamy filling that tastes just like Thanksgiving should.
While I love using raw nuts (pecans and walnuts are my favorite) and dates for the crust, you can go with your favorite gluten-free or grain-free pie crust. Iโm super into the nutty texture of the crust and think it lends amazing flavor to the pie.
Try my Almond Flour Pie Crust or my Coconut Flour Pie Crust if you’re looking for a more traditional pie crust texture.
How to Make Paleo Pumpkin Cheesecake:
Begin by preparing the crust. Line an 8-inch spring form pie pan with parchment paper. I trace the pie pan using a pen on top of a sheet of parchment paper and then cut the circle with scissors so that I have a circle of parchment paper that fits the pan perfectly.
Add the ingredients for the crust to a food processor or blender and pulse until it is well-combined. You can keep the crust mixture chunky, but I like blending it pretty well so that it sticks together nicely.
Transfer the crust mixture to the parchment-lined pan and press it into an even layer. Stick the pan in the freezer while you prepare the pumpkin filling.
Soak the cashews for at least 3 hours (up to overnight).
Drain the cashews and add them to a high-powered blender along with the remaining ingredients for the filling. Blend until super smooth and creamy. Pour the filling over the pie crust and freeze.
Note: you can also refrigerate for 3 hours, but I prefer freezing for at least 2 hours to help the cheesecake set up. Plus, I prefer storing the cheesecake in the freezer, as it then doesnโt take up valuable refrigerator space and keeps for longer.
True to pie form, this cheesecake becomes even more flavorful as it sits. I always recommend making it at least a day before youโre planning on serving it, but honestly, I feel like three days ahead of time is pretty legit.
Low-Carb Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake:
How to Make this recipe low-carb and keto-friendly? Simply follow my Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe! It is very similar to this one but uses sugar-free sweetener instead of pure maple syrup and dates.
Recipe Adaptations:
- Rather than using dates for the pie crust, you can replace them with 1/4 cup pure maple syrup and increase the coconut oil to 5 Tbsp.
- Use almonds or pecans for the pie crust. Walnuts and/or pecans are my favorite nut to use for pie crusts.
- Replace the pure maple syrup with honey.
- If you don’t have lemon juice, you can replace it with 1 Tbsp cider vinegar – I promise it still tastes amazing and you’d never know!
Serve it up with coconut whipped cream and enjoy!
Have a marvelous Thanksgiving!
My cookbook, Paleo Power Bowls, is now available! CLICK HERE to check it out. Thank you for your support!
If you make this recipe, please feel free to share a photo and tag @The.Roasted.Root on Instagram!
Paleo Pumpkin Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 3 cups raw walnuts*
- 10 medjool dates pitted
- 3 Tbsp coconut oil softened or melted
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling:
- 2 cups raw cashews soaked 3 hours
- 2/3 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- 1/3 cup coconut oil melted
- 1 cup pureed pumpkin
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice **
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tsp fresh ginger peeled and grated
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon to taste
- 3/4 tsp sea salt to taste
Instructions
Make the Crust:
- Line an 8-inch spring form pie pan with parchment paper.
- Add the ingredients for the crust to a food processor or blender and pulse until it is well-combined and forms a sticky dough.
- Transfer the crust mixture to the parchment-lined pan and press it into an even layer. Stick the pan in the freezer while you prepare the pumpkin filling.
Make the Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling:
- Soak the cashews for at least 3 hours (up to overnight). Drain the cashews and add them to a high-powered blender along with the remaining ingredients for the filling. Blend until super smooth and creamy. Taste the filling mixture for flavor and add more cinnamon, pure maple syrup, and/or sea salt to taste.
- Pour the filling over the pie crust and spread into an even layer. Refrigerate pie at least 3 hours (note: you can also freeze the pie for 2 hours to get it to set up nicely and make it easier for transport. Thaw in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or at room temperature for 2 hours before serving).
- Cut pie into slices and serve with a dollop of coconut milk whipped cream on top.
Notes
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
Itโs still runny!!! I followed the recipe! Can I bake it?
Hi Michelle. A couple of questions – how long has the cheesecake been in the freezer, and did you make any changes to the recipe?
How long would this dessert last in the fridge (if I want to make it ahead of time for an event)?
Hi there! I would keep it for up to 7 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container ๐ Hope you enjoy!
Would it be possibly to use vegan cream cheese? If so, how much? My son canโt have nuts and Iโd love to make a cheesecake for our whole family.
Hi Kris,
Absolutely! I’ve never tried it myself, but if it were me, I would do the following: Omit the cashews, coconut milk and coconut oil. Use 24 ounces of cream cheese, and add another 1/3 cup of pure maple syrup. It may be worth googling a different recipe to be sure all of the measurements are accurate ๐ Hope you enjoy!
Absolutely heavenly! If I didnโt make it myself I would have never know this wasnโt a traditional pumpkin cheesecake. This recipe is a keeper!
I’m so thrilled you like it Tara! Thanks so much for swinging by and leaving a comment! xoxo
Any idea about calories for this delicious dessert? Thank you.
Hi Kathy!
I just calculated the nutrition facts based off of 16 servings and added it to the recipe card. If you do 16 equal slices, it will be 375 calories per slice ๐ xoxox
Do you use just the cream from the coconut milk or the liquid as well?
Hi Addie,
The liquid as well – if there is separation in the can between the harder white flesh and the water below, stir it well until it’s combined and creamy before adding ๐ Hope you love the cheesecake!! xo
Nice recipe for a quick snack.
I’m allergic to cashews, too. Any substitutes, like almonds?
Hi Ana! Try raw macadamia nuts. You’ll still want to soak them – I would soak them overnight, as they are a bit harder than cashews. They will likely also require some additional blending as well. Hope you enjoy!
Is there any kind of substitute for cashews? I can’t eat them, but otherwise, this looks awesome!
Hi Amanda!
You can try macadamia nuts and follow the same procedure with soaking and blending. They will require some additional blending, as cashews are a bit softer than macadamia nuts. Let me know if you try it!
Have you used this crust in a baked pumpkin pie?
Hi Erin,
I have! You don’t need to pre-bake the crust, so you can just set it up and then pour in your pumpkin pie filling and proceed as normal. If you’d like, you can mimic the instructions in this post: https://www.theroastedroot.net/paleo-pumpkin-pie/ It turns out so tasty! Hope you enjoy! xo
OMG! I love pumpkin and I can’t wait to try this recipe.