Sweet Tea and Cornbread: pumpkin cheesecake pie

This is a great pumpkin pie recipe if you are looking for something a little different from the traditional baked pumpkin pie! It's also a really good pumpkin dessert for those people who think they don't like pumpkin. Even the kids will love this one! It's sort of pumpkin pie meets cheesecake.

Here is what you will need for this one:

1 large graham cracker crust (the one that says 2 extra servings or if you make your own, make a deep dish crust)

1 (8 oz.) pkg. of cream cheese, softened

1 cup, plus 1 Tbs. milk, divided

2 Tbs. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 (8 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided

2 small (3 oz.) boxes of instant French vanilla pudding (be sure to get instant)

1 (15 oz.) can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Beat cream cheese with 2 Tbs. powdered sugar, 1 Tbs. milk and vanilla until smooth. Fold in 1/2 of the frozen whipped topping. Pour into the graham cracker crust and smooth to the edges.

Beat the remaining 1 cup milk with the pudding mixes. Beat in the pumpkin, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Spread over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours before serving.

Serve topped with a dollop of the remaining whipped topping, sprinkled with a little pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon!

I am not sure which goes over better during the holidays when it comes to cakes or pies! Oh, of course, the big three layer cakes with the beautiful whipped frosting and sometimes fillings between the layers and nuts all over the top, get all of the oohs and ahhs and attention, but sometimes I find that the pies really go faster than the cakes. So, my theory is that you need some of both! Of course, if you are from the South, you know that is never a problem and there will always be plenty of both! Here are ten of the pies I get requests for the most that are really great for the holidays! This is just a fraction of the pies, so if you don't find what you are looking for, just ask, it is probably on the site or I can add it to my list of things to make.

To go to the recipe for each pie, click on the name of the pie under each picture!