Meet the fall dessert that loves your gut back. Our Probiotic Pumpkin Mousse Cheesecake packs real pumpkin, warm spices, and a wealth of high-quality protein and live and active cultures from Lifeway. Featuring Lifeway Pumpkin Spice Kefir, Lifeway Farmer Cheese, and Lifeway Kefir Butter, this autumn dessert delivers a luxurious, velvety texture with each layer and a buttery graham cracker crust. Every bite is sweet, smooth, and cozy — just what every fall treat should be!
This cheesecake features three layers that deliver their own unique flavor and texture that compliments the others perfectly. The cheesecake layer made with Lifeway Farmer Cheese is smooth and tangy, the pumpkin layer made with Lifeway Pumpkin Spice Kefir delivers a classic pumpkin flavor that’s bold yet balanced, and the whipped farmer cheese layer on top is an ideal replacement to whipped cream for a lighter, more gut-friendly option.
Lastly, Lifeway Kefir Butter turns an average graham cracker crust into a buttery dream come true with every bite. Our probiotic kefir butter lends a rich mouthfeel due to it being a European-style butter, and the live probiotics provide gut health support and make it easier on digestion. Learn more about Lifeway Kefir Butter here.
After assembly, all that’s left is to let the cheesecake set up in the fridge before you slice into this probiotic, pumpkin-filled delight. Trust us, it won’t last long!
Find all your favorite Lifeway products in a store near you here, and discover more ways to use our probiotic foods in the kitchen here.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for better gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health.
Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, support the digestive system, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1. Lifeway Kefir also contains a variety of nutrients that are vital for healthy bones and overall health, including vitamins D3, K, and B12 along with calcium and potassium. Along with our kefir, we also offer our creamy, cultured Lifeway Farmer Cheese, a high protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support a healthy microbiome that’s easy to spread and contains no added salt or sugar.
Prep Time: Varies - See Directions Servings: 8Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 1/3 cup crushed graham crackers (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1/2 cup melted Salted Kefir Butter
- 2 tbsp. coconut suar
Cheesecake Layer:
- 1 cup Farmer Cheese
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
Pumpkin Mousse Layer:
- 1 (1/4 oz.) envelope of unflavored gelatin
- 1 (15 oz.) canned pumpkin purée (unsweetened)
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup Lowfat Pumpkin Spice Kefir
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 3 large egg whites
- 1/4 cup cane sugar
Whipped Farmer Cheese Topping:
- 1 full (16 oz.) container of Lifeway Farmer Cheese
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tbsp. pure maple syrup
- pinch of kosher salt
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Coat a 9" x 13" baking dish with a light layer of Lifeway Kefir Butter or a light layer of nonstick spray. Set aside.
Prepare the Crust:
Add the crushed graham crackers, coconut sugar, and the melted kefir butter to a medium bowl; mix together until well combined. Transfer the graham cracker mixture to the prepared baking dish. Press the mixture firmly into the glass dish in an even layer, then set aside.For the Cheesecake Layer:
Add 1 cup Lifeway Farmer Cheese, 2 eggs, and 3/4 cup coconut sugar to the bowl of a food processor. Blend everything together until smooth. Pour the mixture over the graham cracker crust, place in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature.For the Pumpkin Mousse Layer:
Fill a small dish with 1/4 cup water and sprinkle the gelatin over the top, then set aside.- Set a small saucepan on the stove with some water and turn the heat to medium heat to let it simmer. To a medium-sized, heat proof bowl, add the pumpkin purée, egg yolks, coconut sugar, Lifeway Lowfat Pumpkin Spice Kefir, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt, and whisk until smooth. Set the bowl over the saucepan filled with simmering water.
- Whisk pumpkin mixture until thickened, about 8-10 minutes. Add the gelatin, and continue whisking until dissolved. Carefully remove the bowl and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- To a large bowl add the 3 egg whites, and beat with an electric mixer with the whisk attachment until soft peaks begin to form. Slowly add 1/4 cup sugar, and continue to beat until medium peaks form.
- Gently fold the egg whites into the pumpkin mixture until just combined. Spread the mousse over the top of the cooled cheesecake. Wrap with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, ideally overnight.
- Within an hour of serving, prepare the Whipped Farmer Cheese: Add 1 container of Lifeway Farmer Cheese to a large bowl along with the vanilla, maple, and salt. Whip with a hand mixer or a stand mixer until fluffy, then keep refrigerated until ready to assemble and serve the cheesecake.
- When ready to serve, spoon the Whipped Farmer Cheese topping over the pumpkin mousse, and gently smooth out into an even layer with an offset spatula. Cut into 18 squares and enjoy!
- Refrigerate any leftovers and eat within one week for the best texture and flavor.
- If you do not have Lifeway Pumpkin Spice Kefir Near You, you may substitute it with our Lowfat Vanilla Kefir or Organic Whole Milk Kefir, and add in a little pumpkin spice spice mix (1/4 - 1/2 tsp.) to the pumpkin layer.
