Add this to your holiday repertoire. Crushed gingersnap cookies form the crust of a reduced fat cheesecake made with canned pumpkin and spices. Garnished with fresh cranberries, it's hard to resist.

Pumpkin Cheesecake in Gingersnap Crust

Crust:
1 1/4 cups gingersnap crumbs
3 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted
3 tablespoons Equal® Spoonful*

 

Cheesecake:
3 (8-ounce each) packages reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups Equal® Spoonful**
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 

Topping:
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons Equal® Spoonful***
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. For Crust: Combine gingersnap crumbs, 3 tablespoons Equal® and butter. Press onto bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan. Bake in preheated 325°F (160°C) oven 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack while preparing cheesecake.
2. For Cheesecake: Beat cream cheese, 1 1/4 cups Equal®, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth and well combined. Mix in pumpkin. Mix in eggs and egg whites. Mix in cornstarch and vanilla until blended.
3. Pour cheesecake mixture over baked crust. Bake in preheated oven 40 to 45 minutes or until center of cake is almost set. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, combine sour cream, 2 tablespoons Equal® and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Gently spread over top of cheesecake. Return to oven and bake 3 to 4 minutes until sour cream mixture is set. Remove cheesecake to wire rack. Gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake. Let cheesecake cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. To serve, remove side of pan. Cut cake into wedges.

Makes 8 servings.

* May substitute 4 1/2 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 30 packets Equal sweetener

*** May substitute 3 packets Equal sweetener

Nutrition Information Per Serving (1/8 of cheesecake): calories 196, protein 7 g, carbohydrate 13 g, fat 13 g, cholesterol 64 mg, sodium 271 mg.

Food Exchanges: 1 milk, 2 1/2 fat.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Merisant Corporation ® and the NutraSweet Company, makers of Equal®

Click for more information on the artificial sweetner Aspartame.