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    Home » Recipes » Fall

    Pumpkin Delight

    Published: Aug 13, 2023 · Modified: Jun 17, 2025 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

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    A white plate with a piece of pumpkin lush cake next to a glass of milk.

    Pumpkin Delight is the luscious layered dessert you want when the fall weather hits. Delicious layers of graham cracker crust, cheesecake layer, and pumpkin pudding layer and  topped with a whipped cream layer. This fall dessert is a must-try! 

    Looking for more delicious pumpkin dessert recipes to try? These wonderful pumpkin coffee cake, this amazing creamy pumpkin butter, and this must make pumpkin oatmeal cookies.

    A white plate with a piece of pumpkin lush cake
next to a glass of milk.

    Table of contents

    • Best Pumpkin Delight Dessert aka Pumpkin Lush
    • Ingredients You’ll Need
    • Variations To Try
    • How to Make this Pumpkin Delight Recipe
    • Tips
    • FAQ’s

    Best Pumpkin Delight Dessert aka Pumpkin Lush

    This chilled Pumpkin dessert is a great alternative to traditional pumpkin pie when the holiday season roll around! Also known as pumpkin lush, this refreshing fall treat is that every pumpkin lover gets excited for after Thanksgiving dinner.

    It’s made with a graham cracker crust as the bottom layer and then layers of sweet cream cheese and creamy pumpkin topped with whipped topping, crushed nuts, and cinnamon. It’s a delicious dessert combining all the flavors of pumpkin pie without the hassle of working with a pie crust!

    This effortless and basically foolproof pumpkin lasagna is as impressive as it is easy. The only thing that gets baked is the crust, then it’s no bake recipe from there.

    If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to celebrate pumpkin season this pumpkin delight is definitely the way to go! With a bit of each layer in every bite, this may just be your new favorite way to eat “pumpkin pie” from now on!

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    A slice of pumpkin lush on a white plate.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    Ingredients for Pumpkin Lush - * Cinnamon Graham Crackers, butter, bream cheese, powdered sugar, whipped cream, evaporated milk, pumpkin puree, instant vanilla pudding, and pumpkin pie spice.

    For the Crust:  Cinnamon Graham Cracker crumbs and melted butter come together to form a simple, flavorful crust. Use a food processor to crush the crackers or place them in a zip-top bag and use a rolling pin to smash them into crumbs. If you can’t find cinnamon graham crackers, regular Graham crackers are just fine! You can also use gingersnap crust or golden Oreos instead.

    Cream Cheese Layer: Softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and whipped topping. Bring the cream cheese to room temperature about 30 minutes before you begin. If you’re using Cool Whip, remember to give it time to thaw.

    For the Pumpkin Layer: Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling), evaporated milk, instant vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin pie spice, and whipped topping make a luscious, creamy, yet light pumpkin filling.

    Chopped pecans: An optional way to finish off the very top layer.

    Variations To Try

    1. Swap the pudding flavor for instant pumpkin spice pudding (and omit the added pumpkin spice), butterscotch pudding or even white chocolate pudding mix.
    2. Skip the topping of chopped nuts if you don’t want them.
    3. Or you can use a different type of nut, like pecans or walnuts.
    4. You can also add extra toppings like caramel sauce, crushed graham crackers, or mini chocolate chips, with or without the nuts. Toffee bits would be great too!
    5. No pumpkin pie spice? That’s ok, just use some cinnamon and nutmeg if you have it.

    How to Make this Pumpkin Delight Recipe

    This recipe will come together with just 30 minutes of prep time. The rest of the time is waiting for it to chill before you can dive in! 

    It’s well worth the wait, believe me.

    Step 1: Before you begin, preheat the oven and grease a 9 x 9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

    A glass bowl with cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar in it.

    Step 2: Quickly make the crust, bake it, and give it time to cool completely. While it cools, beat the cream cheese with an electric hand mixer in a large bowl and then add the powdered sugar in batches until completely blended. 

    Whipped cream in a glass bowl.

    Step 3: Stir in a tub of cool whip into the cream cheese and powdered sugar.

    A glass baking dish with whipped topping.

    Then spread the cream cheese mixture over top of the cooled crust.

    A glass bowl with pumpkin mix ingredients in it.

    Step 4: In a separate medium bowl, blend the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, dry pudding mix, and pumpkin pie spice with an electric mixer.

    A glass baking dish with pumpkin mix over cream cheese mixture.

    Step 5: Spread the pumpkin mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer.

    A clear glass baking dish containing Pumpkin lush.

    Step 6: Finish with a top layer of the remaining whipped topping, cover it with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 3-4 hours or place in the freezer for a couple of hours. 

    Garnish with chopped pecans or walnuts, graham cracker crumbs and/or cinnamon before serving if you’d like. Enjoy!

    A bite of pumpkin lush on a silver spoon.

    Tips

    • Make sure the crust is completely cooled before adding any layers on top. Any residual heat will alter the consistency of the cream cheese layer, making it thin and runny.
    • Do not prepare the instant pudding mix. It’s added in there for flavor and thickness and will do what it needs to with the surrounding ingredients.
    • Add the nuts just before serving. Otherwise, they will become soggy as they sit and chill in the whipped topping.
    • Don’t skip the chill time! It helps it to set properly which makes it easier to slice.
    • If you want to make it ahead of time, do it no more than 24 hours, or the pumpkin delight will start to lose its shape.

    FAQ’s

    Can I use homemade pumpkin puree?


    In this case, I don’t recommend it as fresh pumpkin puree is quite watery. By all means, give it a try and let me know how it goes, but I typically use canned pumpkin puree, and depending on the brand, even that I sometimes need to strain.

    How to store leftover pumpkin delight?

    Keep any leftover pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Can you freeze pumpkin delight?

    Yes! Freezing any lush recipes is so great! It makes it so easy to cut when serving in my opinion. I also like to separate them into portions that way I only need to thaw what I will be eating again.

    Freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Separate layers with parchment paper so they’re not stuck together.

    What is the difference between pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling?

    Pureed pumpkin is just that. The flesh of the pumpkin is pureed until smooth. Pumpkin filling is meant to go directly into a pie crust so it comes with sugar and spice already in it. If you were to use it, it would throw off the flavor of this pumpkin recipe.

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

    A slice of layered pumpkin delight on a white plate.

    Pumpkin Delight

    Pumpkin Delight is the luscious layered dessert you want when the fall weather hits. Delicious layers of graham cracker crust, cheesecake layer, and pumpkin pudding layer and  topped with a whipped cream layer. This fall dessert is a must-try!
    5 from 5 votes
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    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Chill Time: 3 hours hours
    Total Time: 3 hours hours 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 338kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    For the Crust

    • 1 ½ cups cinnamon graham crackers crushed
    • 6 tablespoons butter melted

    For the Cream Cheese Layer

    • 8 ounce block cream cheese softened
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 8 ounces whipped topping Cool Whip

    For the Pumpkin Layer

    • 15 ounce pumpkin puree
    • 12 ounces evaporated milk
    • 5.1 ounce instant vanilla pudding
    • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • 8 ounces whipped topping Cool Whip
    • Chopped pecans optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350° F and grease a 9 x 9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

    Make the crust layer

    • In a medium bowl, add the crushed graham crackers and melted butter and mix together well.
      1 ½ cups cinnamon graham crackers, 6 tablespoons butter
    • Press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom the prepared dish and bake for 5 minutes. Then remove from the oven and let cool.

    Make the Cream Cheese Layer

    • In a separate medium bowl, add the softened cream cheese and blend with an electric mixer then add in the powdered sugar in batches and blend until combined..
      8 ounce block cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar
    • Stir in one container of the whipped topping.
      8 ounces whipped topping
    • Pour the cream cheese mixture onto the crust once it is cooled.

    Make the Pumpkin Layer

    • In another medium bowl, add the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, dry pudding mix and pumpkin pie spice and blend with an electric mixer.
      15 ounce pumpkin puree, 12 ounces evaporated milk, 5.1 ounce instant vanilla pudding, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • Spread the pumpkin mixture evenly over the cream cheese mixture.
    • Top with the remaining whipped topping.
      8 ounces whipped topping
    • Refrigerate for 3-4 hours before serving.
    • Garnish with crushed graham crackers, chopped pecans and/or ground cinnamon.
      Chopped pecans

    Notes

    Use regular graham crackers, gingersnaps or golden Oreos instead of cinnamon sugar graham crackers.
    Use butterscotch pudding, white chocolate pudding or instead of vanilla.
    Drizzle with caramel sauce.
    Top with crushed graham crackers, mini chocolate chips or even toffee chips.
    Don’t prepare the pudding per the package directions.
    Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
    Store in the refrigerator for up to up to 2-3 days
    Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. It’s great to freeze and slice of portions and let it thaw at room temperature for 15-30 minutes.
    Make ahead just 24 hours or it may lose its shape.
    Nutritional information doesn’t include additional toppings.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 388mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 5796IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 189mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

    Tried this recipe?We love seeing your pictures! Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jamie

      November 22, 2023 at 9:16 am

      There is no units of measure for things. How do we know how much to use. Small or large pudding etc.

      Reply
      • Vi

        November 29, 2024 at 12:49 pm

        The pumpkin layer did not set

        Reply
    2. debra ettinger

      August 28, 2023 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      ok now you say put the whole cool whip in then down the finish part you said the rest of cool whip on top now we need 2 or 1 cool whip thanks

      Reply
    5 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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