Insanely Delicious Pumpkin Lava Cake

The recipe that has been hurting my brain for 4 years is finally here. Our insanely delicious pumpkin lava cake is going to blow up Christmas desserts for the rest of eternity. 

Aren’t you a little like me? You get to that big Christmas meal and go back and forth on which dessert you want to bring to the table, something chocolate, a little pie – oh but you ate pie for a week after Thanksgiving, so maybe not…

Pumpkin lava cake to the rescue!

I saw all of those chocolate lava cakes for years but never fully enjoyed one, so I decided that we need a pumpkin version. All the spice of a molasses or gingerbread feel but 100% pumpkin. I wanted to feel the Christmas spirit and for me that means smelling it and tasting it. You know I’m right, you walk into a place that smells of Christmas and you’re instantly all tingly like you are a little kid again. Chocolate is awesome, but Christmas needs spice!

Ingredients for

Creamy vanilla cheesecake is poured over a simple graham cracker crust and then topped with a creamy layer of pumpkin Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie.

As much as this dessert looks fancy, this is a very simple pie recipe that results in an unforgettable finish for any meal.

Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin is fair game for me year around. My family LOVES pumpkin. We eat Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal all year long, and yes, I do mean in the spring and summer too.

Pumpkin Oatmeal is one of my youngest son’s favorite breakfasts, so pretty much any time I open a can of pumpkin, he’s likely to ask if there will be any pumpkin leftover to make oatmeal.

I’ve made a double layer pumpkin pie each Thanksgiving for years. That pie is frequently requested and it is always a hit. However, this recipe just knocked that pie off the table.

This recipe takes two of life’s best things, cheesecake and pumpkin pie, and combines them to create a pumpkin lover’s dessert experience that’s unlike any I’ve had before.

I’ve always loved pumpkin-flavored cheesecake too and realized recently there was a way to enjoy pumpkin cheesecake I’d never thought of before: simple vanilla cheesecake layered with spiced pumpkin pie filling all baked in a delicious crust.

One of my favorite things about cheesecake is the graham cracker crust. Making your own graham cracker crust for a cheesecake or pie is so much easier than many people think and the taste is phenomenal.

All it takes to make a homemade graham cracker crust is a good amount of crushed graham cracker crumbs mixed with melted butter and light brown sugar then pressed into a pie plate and baked.

The sweet buttery crust is the perfect vehicle for the layers of rich pumpkin pie filling and creamy cheesecake layer.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

I can’t believe I never tried layering pumpkin pie and cheesecake filling before. Cream cheese and pumpkin are a terrific match! The two textures and flavors complement each other so well.

The cream cheese layer is nothing more than cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla all mixed together in sweet perfection. As a bonus, this cream cheese base is a fantastic starting point for any cheesecake variations you want to try. You could even

Pumpkin Mousse is creamy, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth perfection and it is my family’s favorite pumpkin dessert. Every year, when I make it, another die-hard pumpkin-hater falls prey to its awesomeness.

Pumpkin Mousse

A co-worker gave me this recipe, more years ago than I feel like counting. I took one bite of the mousse she brought to the office and I was smitten.

Creamy, light and full of real pumpkin flavor lightly spiced by nutmeg and cinnamon had me convinced I needed to make this recipe right away. 

My husband liked the pumpkin mousse just as much, maybe even more. He has consistently chosen this as his dessert of choice every holiday season since then.

Nothing makes him happier, during the season of holiday baking than knowing I am going to make pumpkin mousse for dessert.

When I was getting ready to make this mousse for the first time, as a very young newlywed who had grown up with cool whip and instant pudding style desserts, I’d never bought a carton of heavy cream before in my life, let alone whipped it into peaks.

However, this mousse was a turning point. I discovered then, that quality ingredients can produce results at home that trump anything a restaurant could possibly serve.

Making pumpkin mousse was, in many ways, the dessert that pushed me to start baking and cooking more outside my comfort zone I’m so very glad I did!

This recipe starts by dissolving gelatin in a small amount of dark rum. The rum adds a rich deep flavor that I believe is what helps this pumpkin mousse stand out from the crowd.

Pumpkin Mousse Recipe

After mixing together pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, spices, and vanilla, the gelatin mixture is added. Beat the heavy cream into stiff peaks then gently fold it into the pumpkin-gelatin mixture.

I’ve chilled this mousse both in individual ramekins and in a giant bowl for serving. Whichever way you c

Re-sharing this post because it’s a yearly staple for us and I know so many of you love them, too!! These flourless pumpkin chocolate chip bars are SO good and I usually have all of the ingredients for this healthy fall dessert on hand and ready to go.

Let the avalanche of all things pumpkin begin.

I feel like this year, a lot of people are playing it cool when it comes to pumpkin. You know, trying not to act *too* excited about its arrival. (Also it could totally be the fact that many of us are still experiencing true summer weather.) And then, there are people like me who have already enjoyed a PSL (or a few….), and upon seeing the shelf of pumpkin-filled cans at Trader Joe’s, I did the slow-mo run to them, arms wide open, and a creepy smile on my face.

I just can’t help myself.

While the Pilot doesn’t go crazy for pumpkin at all, I gave birth to two pumpkin-obsessed little friends, who share my enthusiasm for this festive gourd.

Flourless Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

This afternoon, I decided to embark on my first pumpkin baking adventure of the season, with chocolate chip pumpkin bars. It was a twist on my beloved flourless blueberry breakfast bake (recipe is in the book!), and uses creamy almond butter and egg as the base. The result: a dense, buttery, perfectly spiced, and sweet healthy pumpkin dessert or snack. It’s also amazing in the morning with some butter and a side of scrambled eggs.

Here’s this healthy pumpkin recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

and a video!

Mini Cadbury Chocolates Pumpkin Cookies

Just when I thought our chewy pumpkin cookies couldn’t get any better, I had the thought to add chocolate! And not just any ol’ chocolate, Cadbury chocolate!

You know those perfect little candy coated chocolate eggs that flood the grocery stores at Easter time? They are addicting! Now you can find them in the fall in their harvest mix and at Christmas time. It was hard enough to control myself at Easter time with the mini eggs but now fall and Christmas too?!

To heck with! Indulge! Cadbury, I see you! And I’ll add you to my favorite pumpkin cookies! Drooling!

Ingredients for Cadbury Pumpkin Cookies

You’ll need a few ingredients outside of your standard cookie dry and wet ingredients for this cookie recipe…pumpkin puree, of course, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup, and the Cadbury chocolate. Here is your full shopping list:

Cookies

• Butter – we will brown the butter first thing, love that nutty flavor
• Brown Sugar – because of the molasses, it actually works differently in baking. The flavor is warmer, yes, but more importantly it is slightly acidic so the cookies will be moist and chewy versus straight white sugar. That’s why in things like quick breads or pancakes you might see a little white sugar but rarely brown as we want a softer, fluffier texture
• Dark Brown Sugar – has more molasses than light brown sugar and helps weigh the cookie down keeping it dense
• Egg Yolk – including only the yolk allows the cookies to be chewy and not cake like
• Maple Syrup – real maple syrup is ideal, the flavor and color make these cookies heaven
• Vanilla – flavor
• Pumpkin Puree – be sure you get plain pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling
• Flour – just regular all purpose flour
• Baking Soda – leavening agent
• Baking Powder – leavening