The Most Searched For Pumpkin Recipe In The South

When the cool weather starts to roll in, Southerners just can’t wait to break out their repertoire of

fall recipes,

from soups to baked goods. But the cream of the crop involves

pumpkin

, and we’ve waited all year long to make these recipes.

Whether you’re reaching for the fresh produce version of this winter squash variety or

canned pumpkin

, we have endless savory and sweet pumpkin recipes to satisfy your seasonal craving. While we love warm-your-soul pumpkin soups, hearty pumpkin salads, and crowd-pleasing casseroles, it’s dessert we just can’t get enough of.

Pumpkin Is a Fall Favorite

Small but mighty, the most searched pumpkin recipe in the South is

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

. These bite-sized cuties combine two things we love, cheesecake and pumpkin spice flavor, into an easy and delicious dessert that’s fit for any fall occasion. Best of all, they’re sure to stand out among all the other pumpkin-filled recipes on any given buffet.

What Makes These Mini Desserts So Good

The combination of

cheesecake

and pumpkin completely won us over.

• 
  Graham cracker crust:
  
  Let’s start with the classic, four-ingredient
  
  graham cracker crust
  
  . It adds a textural layer that also holds the mini cakes together, but we added a touch of brown sugar for a slight caramel-y flavor.
• 
  Creamy filling:
  
  As for the cream cheese and pumpkin puree filling, an array of cozy spices kick the seasonal punch up a notch.
  
  Pumpkin pie spice
  
  is essentially everything in your spice cabinet that tastes and smells like fall—cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
• 
  Whipped cream topping:
  
  Then, to finish it off, there’s the addition of easy-as-can-be, light and fluffy whipped cream topping, which includes
  
  pure maple syrup
  
  , to seal the deal in the fall-flavor department.

Why Southerners Love This Pumpkin Recipe

There are a lot of reasons we love this recipe that go beyond the actual ingredients. Easy to transport? Check. No

water bath

? Check. Minimum hands-on time? Check.

• 
  Short ingredient list.
  
  The holiday season can get pricey, but thanks to this minimal ingredient list, you won’t be running up the grocery bill either. Aside from a few pantry staples and spices, you’ll only need to pick up a handful of additional ingredients.
• 
  Easy to convert.
  
  We’re all for putting away those finicky springform
  
  pans
  
  in favor of our trusty muffin tins. If you want an extra small, pop-in-your-mouth version, you can use a mini muffin tray, but be wary: They will require far less cooking time.
• 
  Shorter cook-time.
  
  And since we’re working on a smaller scale than a traditional-sized cheesecake, these don’t require as much time in the oven, which means they’re less prone to
  
  caving in or cracking
  
  .
• 
  Make ahead.
  
  Did we mention you can make these confections ahead of time? Just be sure to store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container and they’re good to go for up to 2 days. We do recommend waiting to add the whipped cream until you’re ready to serve.
• 
  Pretty presentation.
  
  The cherry on top of why Southerners love this recipe so much? They look much fancier than the effort they require thanks to the piped whipped cream topping and sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice for garnish. Of course, if you don’t have a
  
  piping bag or tip
  
  , a dollop with a spoon will always do.