The United State of Pumpkin Cheesecake

By Colleen Walsh Fong and Nanette Littlestone

Today is National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day. 

I don’t know who had the ingenious idea to combine two delicious treats into one, but I pay homage to that person’s brilliance as we enter the autumn holiday season.

Cheesecake goes way back in the history of humankind.  A form of the dessert called plakountopoiikon suggramma was written about in ancient Greece. It appeared as libum and placenta in Rome after her conquest of Greece. Many foodies consider these to be the precursors of today’s cheesecake, although their taste and consistency were somewhat different.

Fast forward to Chester, New York, 1872 where William Lawrence is credited by many with the accidental development of the modern cheesecake. James Kraft also deserves his due for his contribution to this luscious dessert. His pasteurized cream cheese, the Philadelphia brand, is one of the most commonly used ingredients in cheesecake today.

Pumpkin pie is believed to have originated in Tudor England where the pumpkin’s flesh was a common pie filler. The Gentlewoman’s Companion cookbook by Hannah Woolley, published in 1675, contained a recipe for the pie. Even though pumpkins are native to North America, the first recipes for pumpkin pie did not hit American cookbooks until the 19th century when it was added to traditional Thanksgiving fare.

Are you thinking about your Thanksgiving menu? Looking for dessert ideas? Like our Easy Weekly Meals Facebook page and we’ll send you a free No-bake Cheesecake recipe. It’s quick and easy, and adds pizazz to your holiday table. Be sure to comment “I love No-bake Cheesecake!” to receive your free recipe. 

Watch for our pumpkin pie recipe in Easy Weekly Meals for Moms on the Go, available here in early November! 

What's your favorite holiday dessert?