single serving: pumpkin cheesecake...tout sweet patisserie

That didn't take long! After my less than thrilling journey through pumpkin town this year I set out to find something a little more fulfilling on the gourd front. Technically, that is only partially true. I actually only found my way to this post's pumpkin because I noticed Macy's had their holiday lane store up and on my way up their un-ending mountain of escalators, I saw Tout Sweet Patisserie and was like, hmmm, I'd been to their farmers market stall but hadn't really noshed at the original location here in Macy's.

This place opened with some fanfare several years ago, but, I don't know, just never really thought about stopping in, can't really say why. Lord knows I've been to that holiday lane thing bunches! This time though, I'm stopping in and perusing the case. Again, still didn't take long, and there it was, a tiny pumpkin mousse cheesecake.

It's a creamy pumpkin cheesecake with creme fraiche and pumpkin seed brittle on a speculoos cookie crust. Speculoos is a type of shortbread biscuit cookie that usually includes cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cardamon--several spices you'll find in holiday cooking. It's probably why these cookies make an tasty alternative crust to your normal graham cracker variety. The addition of butter and sugar make it sticky sweet and a nice contrast to the not overly sweet cheesecake.

The cheesecake itself, as you can see, was very creamy with more spice flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg along with a very heft dose of pumpkin. That's a good thing. It was strong enough I could actually taste the pumpkin in pretty much every bite. It's why I eat these pumpkin things--to taste the pumpkin! Add in the lovely array of holiday spices and crunchy cookie bits, this was a sweet treat delight you just want to sink into and then take a nap after. Creamy, crunchy, yummy goodness. And at $6.50 a pop, it is a pretty big enough size to give you sugar crash or share with a friend. Though, you know I'm not sharing! Took me this long to find a REAL pumpkin dessert, no way I'm giving it up now! Get your own.