Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake Trifles

This year I was all set to make my traditional pumpkin pie (made with melted Haagen Daz vanilla ice cream!), but then I got an idea stuck in my head. As you know, I’ve been photographing a lot of my recipes lately. And although I love pumpkin pie…it’s just so…kind of…ugly.

So I decided I wanted to make something prettier. Because I want pretty pictures. I am so my mother’s child.

Here is what we’re having for Thanksgiving dessert along with my flan tomorrow:

Recipe adapted from Good Life Eats

Ingredients:

• 6 soft baked molasses cookies (I bought mine from Bel-Air)
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 15 ounces pumpkin puree
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• whole pecan halves
• 2 cups whipped cream (heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla)

Directions:

Chop the molasses cookies into 1/4 inch pieces. Set aside.

Process the cream cheese, sugars, heavy cream, and vanilla in a food processor until smooth. Add the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Continue processing until smooth.

In individual serving glasses (or you can use one large trifle dish), layer the ingredients in the following order:

1. molasses cookies
2. chopped pecans
3. pumpkin cheesecake
4. whipped cream
5. repeat
6. garnish with a whole pecan

Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

The first whirl of ingredients.

It’s beginning to look a lot like pumpkin…everywhere you gooo…

I bet this would make a great cookie sandwich as well.

 

I adore my jumbo cupcake tips.

Layer 1: cookies

Layer 2: pecans

Layer 3: pumpkin

Layer 4: whipped cream

Individual desserts are much prettier to photograph.

Plus, layers are fun.

Pumpkin pie only has one layer (usually). That is why it lost this battle.

The original recipe calls for graham cracker crumbs instead of cookies. I prefer the chewy texture in this dessert.

Welcome to my studio. I borrowed this table from my parents’ furniture store. I hope they know I never plan on returning it. The chair is there because I am short and need it for the overhead shots. Hi Bailey!