Pumpkin Pie Torte

 

pumpkin pie torte

This recipe evolved when I was trying to come up with something for Thanksgiving dessert that could be made ahead and frozen and that wasn’t pumpkin pie…not one of my favorites.

Start with a 10 inch round by 3 inch high cheesecake pan.

In the food processor, chop:

1 pound ginger snaps (you will have leftovers)

Set aside.

Crust

2 ½ cups ginger snap crumbs

1/3  cup butter, melted

Combine crumbs and place in bottom and slightly up the sides of the cheesecake pan.  Bake at 375° for 7 minutes.

While crust is baking, process:

 1 cup butterscotch chips

 Set aside ½ cup for filling and ¼ cup for topping

½ cup butterscotch chips

Spread over warm crust and allow crust to cool.  Set Aside.

Filling

2 (3.4 oz.) packages instant butterscotch pudding

1 ½ cups heavy cream

Beat until smooth.  Set aside.

Combine:

15 ounces pumpkin

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons vanilla

Dash of salt

Beat until smooth and add to butterscotch pudding.

Whipped cream

2 cups heavy cream

2 teaspoons whipped cream stabilizer (or according to directions on stabilizer)

1 teaspoons vanilla

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

Beat until smooth and stiff.  Fold ½ of the whipped cream into the butterscotch/pumpkin mixture. Place filling in cooled crust and top with remaining whipped cream.

Decorate the top with the reserved ¼ cup of processed butterscotch chips and 1/3 cup of the ginger snap crumbs. Refrigerate.  This may be frozen and thawed overnight in the refrigerator.

Ginger is looking pretty snappy in her two-piece ensemble.  Please notice the tiny buttons on the jacket and the pockets on the dress...oh, so hard to make!  If it is November, you can be sure Ginger is about to set her boyfriend loose.  She cannot deal with commitment during the holidays or maybe it is just that she has no intention of dragging anyone home to meet her long-suffering mother, Kay and alcoholic father, Roger.  From mid November until December 26th, she will be playing the field, but don't underestimate her.  By the time the ball falls in Time Square, she will have a steady boyfriend.