Since she was a tiny girl, I’ve always been a little in awe of my daughter’s solid conviction to know exactly what she wants in all things. Even more amazing is that 99.99% of the time, her vision comes to fruition exactly as she imagined. Of course, I’ve had to play a big role in the execution of that vision more times than I can count! When I asked her what kind of cake she wanted for her birthday recently, there was not a moment of hesitation. A pumpkin pie cheesecake. Not a pumpkin cheesecake. A pumpkin PIE cheesecake. I have to be honest – this was one funny, birthday cake fiasco!
I knew I was going to make my family’s much-loved favorite cheesecake. I’ve shared the recipe earlier and you can find it here. I was in a quandary over the pumpkin pie part. Did I cut the cheesecake in layers and put the pie part in the middle? Cut out the center, stick in the pie and put the top back on? Mr. Smarty Pants weighed in; he LOVES cheesecake and was most concerned about the integrity of the cheesecake! After much debate, I decided to make a crust-less pumpkin pie custard and place it on top of the cake. Sounds like a plan, right?
The cheesecake turned out beautifully – not a single, tiny crack on top!
Next, I made the pumpkin custard – which, despite the trials and tribulations to come, tastes delicious! It’s a little switch-up on the famous Libby’s recipe.
Pumpkin Pie Custard
- 3 eggs
- 1 can solid pack pumpkin
- ¼ cup + 2 teaspoons each light brown sugar and granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 1 13 oz. can evaporated milk
First, I buttered a glass pie plate very well and pre-heated the oven to 350 degrees. I beat the eggs slightly, added the rest of the ingredients and beat with an electric handheld mixer until well blended. I poured the mixture into the buttered pie plate and baked until a knife inserted in the center came out clean, about 60 minutes.
Ok, looking good, right? It smelled delicious and I was feeling pretty good about my plan. I let the custard cool. Here is where I made my big mistake! As soon that darn pumpkin custard was cooled, I SHOULD have turned it out on a plate. But NOOOO! What did I do? It was late, I was tired – I wrapped that bad boy in foil and put it in the fridge!
All of the next day, I just had a feeling that custard was going to be trouble! When I got home from work, my daughter and I were going to assemble the pumpkin pie cheesecake. I ran a knife all around the edge of the custard (praying the entire time!) and inverted it onto a plate. Nothing. Ran the knife around again. Inverted. Shook the plate. Hit the plate. Tried to be a pumpkin pie whisperer and sweet talk that custard out of the plate. Not happening – that baby was hanging on to that glass and not going to budge! In desperation, I even tried to lift it out with a big spatula, but it just started to crack.
At this point, we were laughing hysterically and suddenly, inspiration hit! Ok, perhaps I couldn’t get the entire custard on the entire cheesecake – but how about by the slice? Bingo! The custard sliced and slid out perfectly! I placed a slice of pumpkin “pie” on top of each slice of cheesecake. My daughter declared it perfect. I declared it one pumpkin pie cheesecake fiasco!
Sometimes, even after years in the kitchen, we have a little fiasco and have to make a quick adjustment! I’d love to hear some of your baking/cooking fiascos – and how you made it work!
Thanks for visiting and if the day gives you a challenge – just cut that challenge up into smaller pieces and as the fabulous Tim Gunn of Project Runway would say, make it work!
Oh gosh – you have me laughing over here! I have had more food fiascos than I can remember but I love that you just made the best of it and went on! And I bet it tasted delicious too! Hope your daughter enjoyed her birthday!! Pinned! xoxo
Thanks, Claire! I’ll put if we all put our food fiascos (and disasters!) together we’d have one funny book! It did taste good (although I think the cheesecake overwhelmed the pumpkin!) but she loved it, so that’s all that matters! So sweet of you to visit during your crazy busy week! xoxo
tis the season for pumpkin everything! I love it!
It is, Danni! If it were up to my daughter, she’d have pumpkin all year long – she is a little pumpkin addict! ? Thanks so much for visiting and hope your Friday is happy!
Hi, I’m so glad the cake worked out and it was nice you made it yourself and you both had a good laugh!
Julienfrom julieslifestyle.blogspot.com
Thanks, Julie! We definitely had a laugh over it and I’m glad that I can still make her something special for her birthday. So sweet of you to visit! Hope you have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!
Such a cute story….I have had more than my fair share of fiascos {mine are more disasters!}. That slice of birthday cake looks mighty delicious by the way!
Hugs,
Mary Beth
Thanks, Mary Beth! I’ve had my share of disasters, too – but they make funny stories, don’t they? At least I didn’t pop that pumpkin custard out onto the floor! Thank you so much for visiting and hope you have a fabulous weekend! Hugs! xoxo
This will definitely be the birthday cake she never forgets! The “fiasco” was a perfect recipe for making family memories…Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Thank you, Amy! It’s so sweet of you to stop by and thank you for the kind wishes for my daughter! Have a happy Friday and a fantastic weekend!
But did it taste good?! I think it looks pretty tasty and speaking as a novice baker not fiasco like at all. Hope your daughter had an amazing birthday… it sounds like a memorable one. ?
Danielle, it did taste delicious! This cheesecake recipe is absolutely wonderful. My daughter did have a good birthday and a good laugh over the cake! Thank you so much for visiting! Hope you have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!
Oh Cindy, I’m so glad it worked out! Ice had some serious fiascos in the past when experimenting a new recipe, ice even had a few when making the same recipe that’s turned out perfect more than once. When I was pregnant with my daughter I couldn’t bake anything without forgetting an ingredient, like hie can banana bread be good when you forget the sugar? Luckily super ripe bananas saved the day!
Wow autocorrect fail! ?
Happy Birthday to your daughter! Your “creativeness” came out when you made this fix!! Hope you have a great weekend! Deb
That’s so sweet, Deb, thank you! Enjoy your day!
Dear Cindy, Lord knows how many times this has happened to me, but I love your quick fix! How genius to slice it. Next time I run into this dilemma, I will think of this post. A very handy tip!
I hope your daughter had a beautiful birthday…certainly sounds like she did and what a delicious dessert. She’s a girl after my own heart. I love cheesecake.
Wishing you a beautiful and blessed weekend my dear friend!
Stop by soon because I’m hosting a giveaway and would just love for you to enter. Blessings, your friend, Catherine xo
Thank you, Catherine, that is so sweet! I did stop over and the book sounds so great and fun! Thanks for the opportunity to win one. ? Have a lovely weekend!
I would’ve been a mess during that fiasco…I’m a little OCD while cooking/baking. I’m trying to loosen up…because it’s just pie/cake/whatever right?
I love opinionated kids…makes life so much more fun and interesting. ?
I understand completely! I used to be exactly the same way and finally learned to relax a little and just laugh it off. I absolutely agree with you about opinionated kids – she has definitely never been boring! Thanks for visiting and hope you have a fantastic week!
Cindy this story is hilarious! I was cracking up while reading it, but must say it sure does look delicious! I’m so glad I stopped by from the GYB networking party and found this! It was a great laugh for the day!
-Michelle @ The MaMade Diaries
Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for joining the party and it started my day with a smile that I cold give you a laugh (always a good thing, right?) It’s wonderful to meet you and I’ll definitely be returning the visit. Hope you have a happy Friday and a fantastic, long weekend!