Easy No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Homemade Praline Sauce: The Perfect Thanksgiving Dessert
Free up valuable oven space this holiday season with these irresistibly creamy No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars! Featuring a perfectly crisp graham cracker crust, a rich, pumpkin-spiced filling made without Cool Whip, and a luxurious homemade praline sauce, these bars are the ultimate make-ahead dessert. Crafted effortlessly in an 8×8 square pan, they promise a stress-free and delicious addition to your Thanksgiving feast or any autumn gathering.
As November draws to a close, a familiar scene unfolds in kitchens everywhere: ovens are cranked up high, bustling with the savory aromas of holiday classics. From succulent stuffed turkey breast and flavorful stuffed Cornish hens to hearty sides like green bean casserole without canned soup and creamy mashed potatoes for two, every inch of oven space is precious. And let’s not forget the decadent desserts, from a charming small pecan pie to other cherished holiday recipes, all vying for a spot as families gather for festive celebrations.
With ovens completely full, you’re faced with two main options: prepare dishes in advance or cook them on the stovetop. While I prefer savory dishes to be fresh from the oven, desserts are a different story. The beauty of holiday meals lies in the ability to prepare certain items ahead of time, and that’s precisely where these delightful No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars come into play.
These bars feature a dreamy pumpkin cream cheese filling nestled atop a crisp graham cracker crust. What makes them truly special is the use of homemade whipped cream folded into the pumpkin mixture, creating a light, airy texture that far surpasses any store-bought alternative like Cool Whip.
While a classic small pumpkin pie often graces the Thanksgiving dessert table, I wanted to offer something a little different this year. My love for cheesecake often rivals my affection for pie, so blending the two seemed like the perfect solution.
Certainly, you could bake a traditional Small Pumpkin Cheesecake, an Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake, or adorable Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes. However, these all involve eggs and cooking time. Inspired by your positive feedback on my eggless pumpkin pie, I focused on an egg-free recipe, making these bars suitable for those with allergies and a welcome relief from the sheer number of eggs typically used during the holidays.
This easy No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars recipe is the ideal finale for your Thanksgiving Dinner For Two, or any size gathering. You can prepare them well in advance, freeing up your oven and allowing you to simply pull them from the fridge when it’s time for dessert. All they require is a little chilling time to achieve their perfect firm texture.
