Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (Pake) is a rich smooth and creamy dessert with a vanilla bourbon finish. It is a cross between a cheesecake and a pumpkin pie.
What is a Pake? Remember “Drop Dead Diva”? Stacy wanted to make a cake and two of the pages stuck together? The results were a Pake. A merger of a pie and a cake! A Pake!
This Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (Pake), made right in the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker, is in between a New York Cheesecake and a fancy Pumpkin Pie. This Pake will not be firm like a typical New York Cheesecake, but will be slightly more firm than a Pumpkin Pie, kind of like a French Cheesecake texture.
Before you get started making this Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (Pake), please read my article called Perfect Pressure Cooker Cheesecake Tips & Guide, so that your first cheesecake will be a success.
For this recipe, you can used canned pumpkin or Fresh Homemade Pumpkin Puree. If you are lucky enough to find Pie Pumpkins in your grocery store, try using fresh homemade Pressure Cooker Pie Pumpkin Puree, which really takes this Pake up another notch!
Some people like to make individual size cheesecakes using Mason Jars. If you would like to do that for this recipe, you will only need six Kerr Half Pint (8 oz) Mason Jars or 12 Ball 4 oz Mason Jars. They can be made with or without crust. Just divide the crust (if using), filling and topping equally between each jar.
For fun Holiday Mini 4 oz size Mason Jar Cheesecakes, check out my Red White and Blue Cheesecake Singles.
A food processor is perfect for grinding graham crackers into crumbs.
I love using cinnamon graham crackers, rather than the plain ones. If you prefer plain, or even chocolate, that would be delicious too.
If you don’t have a Food Processor or an Electric Hand Mixer, take a large baggie and put the graham crackers inside.
Seal it and take a rolling pin and crush the crackers. Pulse until small crumbs form.
I prefer to use a Push Pan over a Spring Form Pan, because clean up is so very easy, but some people prefer a Spring Form Pan.
This Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (Pake) is a very tall cheesecake. I used my 6″ Fat Daddio’s Push Pan for this recipe and you can see that it filled the pan all the way up. A 7 Inch Fat Daddio’s Push Pan will work equally as well. You will get a taller than normal cheesecake with the 7″ Cheesecake Pan. So, those of you who have the 7″ Cheesecake Pan will be very happy with the height you will get from this recipe.
A Parchment Round helps make it easier to remove the cooked cheesecake and and a Tart Tamper helps make the crust nice and even.
For grating the Whole Nutmeg, I use the Microplane Stainless Steel Zester, as it is stainless steel and has super sharp blades, making zesting a breeze.
Pro Tip: If you want the best tasting cheesecake possible, please do not use off brand or store brand cream cheese. There are certain products where it is not a big deal to use a lesser expensive or on sale item. In cheesecake making, Philadelphia brand Cream Cheese, makes a huge and I mean HUGE difference.
Please make sure that none of your guests have any alcohol concerns and if they are under 21, you check with their parents.
Jump to Section
What Can Be Used in Place of Bourbon?
- Some people say that the alcohol gets burned off during cooking, others say it doesn’t.
- However, if you don’t want to use Bourbon, try using Real Maple Syrup + Vanilla Extract instead.
How to Mix Eggs into Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Filling
- Eggs need to be mixed into the batter gently.
- Add one egg at a time. Just use the pulse button for one second after each egg added
- It is okay if you see some of the yellow yolk.
The Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake is ready to go into the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker. A Homemade Sling will help lower in the cheesecake and then remove.
I like to cover my cake pan with a paper towel and a piece of foil, to eliminate water from landing on the cheesecake. If any moisture gets on the cake, just dab it off with a paper towel.
“A cheesecake is done before the center of it is set. It will be a bit jiggly in the center and the sides will be slightly higher. Don’t feel the urge to cook longer or else the top will crack. The heat that is trapped inside will continue to cook the center while the cheesecake cools.”
That is my normal mantra, but since this is a Pake, Pumpkin Pie + Cheesecake = “Pake,” we don’t want too much of a jiggle.
This is NOT a cheesecake. The texture will not be like a regular New York Cheesecake. This is like a dense pie or a light cheesecake. As a result, I have added a couple of minutes to the cook time, to make sure your Pressure Cooker Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (Pake) is perfectly baked.
Homemade Greek Yogurt is a nice alternative to sour cream, if you happen to be a yogurt maker and want to use some of it up.
I love to use this Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk, but I think you all already know that. 😉
The topping is almost over flowing………perfect outcome.
Any jar that will fit into the opening of the Push Pan will work. Push down on the pan to reveal the Cheesecake.
Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake.
- Make the Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake the day before you need it and let is set up overnight the refrigerator.
- A Cheesecake desperately needs at least 12 hours in the refrigerator. The difference in taste and texture is huge.
- Cream cheese and eggs should be at room temperature.
- As the Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe is larger than most, use a 7 inch Push Pan.
- I use this LamsonSharp Chef’s Slotted Turner to remove the cheesecake to a plate. It’s super thin and fits easily between the Cheesecake and the base of the pan.
You will wow your guests with the likes of your Instant Pot Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (Pake).
Beth Braznell, who is one of my Facebook cooking groups, asked me to convert her favorite Cheesecake recipe from Gourmet Magazine for the Pressure Cooker. Thank you Beth, for this challenge. It was fun. XOXOXO
More Yummy Holiday Cheesecakes to Make.
- Pressure Cooker Holiday Spice Peppernuts Cheesecake
- Pressure Cooker Peppermint Milkshake Cheesecake
- Italian Ricotta Cheesecake
- Italian Meyer Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Stainless Steel Trivet
- Microplane Stainless Steel Zester
- Cuisinart Large Food Processor
- 6″ Fat Daddio’s Push Pan or 7 Inch Cake Push Pan with Mini Pans Set
- LamsonSharp Chef’s Slotted Turner – I totally love this spatula!
- Pressure Cooker Sugar Pie Pumpkin Puree
Caring is sharing! If you would like to support This Old Gal, please share this recipe on Social Media, so that I can continue to bring you more wonderful recipes!
If you share a picture of something you make from our blog, tag it with #thisoldgalcooks so we can see it. We might feature it on Instagram! It makes my day when I see you’ve made one of our recipes!
Here is your handy printable recipe:
Pressure Cooker Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake
Print Pin Save RateIngredients
Crust
- 3/4 cup Cinnamon Graham Crackers crumbs (plain or chocolate work well too)
- 1/4 cup Whole Pecans finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/8 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1/8 cup White Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter melted
Filling
- 16 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese room temperature
- 2 Whole Eggs large, room temperature
- 1 Egg Yolk room temperature
- 3/4 cup Pure Pumpkin Puree (or Homemade Pumpkin Puree
- 1/4 cup White Sugar
- 1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar packed
- 1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1.5 Tablespoons Bourbon
- 1 Tablespoon Tapioca Flour or cornstarch
- 1.5 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Whole Nutmeg freshly grated
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
Topping
- 1 cup Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon White Sugar
- 1/2 Tablespoon Bourbon
Other
- 1.5 cups water
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Please read my article Perfect Pressure Cooker Cheesecake Tips & Guide, before proceeding.
Crust
- Add cookies, sugar and pecans to the bowl of food processor and pulse a couple of times, until small crumbs form.
- Melt butter in microwave or on stove top and add to graham cracker mixture. Pulse until just combined.
- Pour cookie mixture into bottom of greased 6-inch cheesecake pan and press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan and one inch up along the sides.
- Place pan with crust into freezer for 15 minutes.
Filling
- Blend together cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, Tapioca, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, Bourbon and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add eggs and yolk, one at a time, mixing until just combined. Do not over mix the eggs.
- Hand blend in cream thoroughly.
- Pour filling into the pan, on top of the graham cracker crust.
Cook
- Add 1.5 cups of water to the bottom of your pressure cooker and then place a trivet inside the pot.
- Gently cover the cheesecake first with a paper towel and then with a piece of aluminum foil to tent.
- Place cheesecake into pressure cooker using a sling.
- Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 40 minutes. Allow a 15 minute natural release.
- After all pressure has been released, open pressure cooker and gently remove the pan. Remove the foil and paper towel and dab off any liquid that may have accumulated.
- The center should be slightly soft, but don't worry. The heat that is trapped inside will continue to cook the center while the cheesecake cools.
Topping
- Mix together the sour cream, sugar and Bourbon and then spread on the hot cheesecake.
- Let cool on wire rack for one hour.
- Lightly cover and place in refrigerator overnight. Remove Cheesecake from pan and serve.
Notes
8 oz Glass Jar - cook 7 minutes
4 oz Glass Jar - cook 4 minutes
16 oz Glass Jars - DON'T DO IT!
15 minute Natural Pressure Release
Maryellen says
Pressured 28 minutes, used cornstarch,used your topping< individual slices, after I drizzled local Amish maple syrup, springform 7 inch flip the bottom over no lip remove easily with my 6 in spatula, cheesecake recipe is a keeper
Jill Selkowitz says
Thank you, Maryellen. I am lad you enjoyed this recipe. Jill
Preetha says
Hi Jill, you have mentioned that if using a 7 inch pan the cake will be taller than usual. Did you mean to say shorter ? as the pan will be bigger , will the cake not be shorter than how it will turn out in the 6 inch pan ?
Susan Porteous says
This looks amazing and I want to make it for Xmas dinner. Can it be frozen or is it ok to keep in the fridge for a few days?
Pamela Nogara says
Do you think this would work in individual silicone cupcake forms? If so, I assume I need to reduce the cooking time.
Mimi says
I made this recipe and it came out great–tasty and also aesthetically pleasing. I notice that for this cheesecake, you do not mention multiplying everything by 1.5 for a 7-inch pan, as you do for the basic NY cheesecake. I know I can just do the standard recipe in the bigger pan and have a shorter cheesecake, but would something go wrong if I increased the amount of batter? Have you tested it? I really love the look of the very tall cake, and I am making it for my friend’s birthday, so the more impressive looking the better.
Mimi says
I have made your plain New York cheesecake in both the 6-inch and 7-onch pans, and I followed your instruction to make a 1.5 times recipe for the larger pan. I see no such instruction here. Should I not make half again as much for the bigger pan? Is it a bad idea for some reason?
I plan to decorate with pecan halves, like in the picture. Are those added after the cake is fully cooled?
Thank you!
Jill says
Hi Mimi~
This cake is super tall and perfect for the 7 inch pan.
Jill