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Pumpkin Torte (Makes 12 Servings)

30 (2 ½" square) graham crackers, finely ground, 1 ½ cups
¼ cup butter, melted
CREAM CHEESE LAYER
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
PUMPKIN MOUSSE LAYER
2 cups solid pack pumpkin from 2 (15-oz) cans
¾ cup plus 2 tbs. sugar, divided
½ cup milk
3 eggs, separated
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt
1 pkg. (1/4 oz) unflavored gelatin
1 cup heavy cream
Cinnamon sticks, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 9" springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. For crust, combine cracker crumbs with butter; press mixture into bottom of pan. For cream cheese layer, in bowl with mixer at medium speed beat cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Reduce speed to low; beat in eggs until combined. Pour over crust in pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until just set in center. Cool in pan on wire rack; refrigerate until ready to use. Meanwhile, fill large bowl halfway with ice cubes and water; set aside in large pot combine pumpkin, ½ cup sugar, milk, egg yolks, cinnamon and salt; over medium heat cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat back of spoon, 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat; transfer to medium bowl. In another bowl combine gelatin with ¼ cup cold water. Stir into hot pumpkin mixture until gelatin dissolves, about 30 seconds. Set in bowl of ice water; let stand, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens slightly and begins to set around edges, about 15 minutes. In clean heatproof bowl set over pot of simmering water and with clean beaters, beat egg whites with ¼ cup sugar until mixture registers 160 degrees on instant read thermometer and stiff peaks form, 3-4 minutes. With whisk fold egg whites into pumpkin mixture. Pour over cheese layer in pan. Refrigerate until completely set, at least 4 houirs or overnight. In bowl with mixer at high speed beat cream with remaining sugar until soft peaks form; transfer to pastry bag fitted with star tip. Remove sides from pan; transfer cake to serving platter. Pipe rosettes around edge of cake. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, if desired.