Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfaits

Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfaits are the perfect no-bake dessert for fall!  They’re a simple pumpkin cheesecake mousse filling that you layer with a crunchy, crushed Amaretti cookies and fresh whipped cream! These parfaits are sweet, creamy and crunchy.  Everything you want in a delicious fall inspired dessert! 

Lightening the pumpkin cream cheese filling with whipped cream, gives it a light as air texture. The warming spices in the pumpkin mousse make it feel cozy and comforting.  I layered the spiced pumpkin cheesecake mousse with whipped cream and Amaretti cookies.  This makes a sophisticated dessert that, above all, will impress your guests.  

What are Amaretti cookies?

Italian Amaretti cookies are small, domed shaped cookies that are brown in color, covered with lots of cracks and very crunchy.  Made from ground almonds, sugar and egg whites, they are also gluten free.  Simply put, they’re heavenly!  Early records indicate that they were first baked in Venice, Italy during the late Renaissance period.  Traditionally, you’d serve Amaretti cookies with dessert wines, liqueur or coffee, but they also make a delicious addition to many desserts (like this one).

If you can’t find Amaretti cookies, you can substitute ginger snaps, wafer cookies or even lady fingers.  Remember, you’re looking to add some texture to this dessert so choose a dry and crunchy cookie.

Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfaits are an easy and elegant Dessert

This dessert looks elegant, but is extremely easy to make.  The individual components (spiced pumpkin cheesecake mousse, whipped cream and crushed Amaretti cookies) can be prepared several hours in advance.  Just assemble these parfaits shortly before serving, so the cookies stay crunchy.

I made individual parfaits, but you can make one large dessert instead.  You can use any number of dishes or glasses to serve it in.  Look around your house and see what you have available.  I used stemless wine glasses to serve this dessert.

I’ve got friends who are huge pumpkins fans!  So, these Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfaits are the perfect dessert.  

Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfaits

5 from 1 vote

Recipe by Margaret Sanfelippo Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Total time

20

minutes

Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfaits are sweet, creamy and crunchy.  Everything you want in a delicious fall inspired dessert!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup 1 1/2 heavy whipping cream

• 3 tbsp 3 sugar

• 8 oz 8 cream cheese, softened

• 3/4 cup 3/4 pumpkin puree

• 1/3 cup 1/3 sugar

• 1 tsp 1 ground cinnamon

• 3/4 tsp 3/4 ground nutmeg

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 ground ginger

• 1/4 tsp 1/4 ground clove

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 salt

• 1 cup 1 heavy whipping cream

• 1 tbsp 1 dark rum (optional)

• 2 cups 2 amaretti cookies, crushed

• 3 tbsp 3 slivered almonds, toasted

Directions

• Add the cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, salt and dark rum to a mixing bowl, beat until combined and smooth.
• Whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
• Fold the whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture.
• Whip 1 1/2 heavy whipping cream with 3 tbsp sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Now its times to assemble. Add a layer of the pumpkin filling to the bottom of each dish, then add a layer of crushed amaretti cookies, then whipped cream, then pumpkin filling. Repeat (crushed amaretti cookies, whipped cream, pumpkin filling, crushed amaretti cookies).  Garnish with a dollop of the whipped cream and garnish with some of the crushed amaretti cookies and slivered almonds.
• Serve immediately or keep in the fridge up to 2 hours.