Preheat the oven to 325°. Position the rack in the lower third of the oven. Coat a 9” springform pan with cooking spray.

Grind the cookies in a food processor with ¼ cup sugar. Add the butter and pulse to combine. Press the mixture in the bottom of the springform pan and bake until firm, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Beat the cream cheese and remaining 1½ cups sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in the eggs, pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and salt and continue mixing until combined, about 2 minutes.

Cover the bottom of the springform pan in a double layer of heavy duty aluminum foil and set in a roasting pan. Pour the cheesecake onto the prepared crust. Transfer the roasting pan to the oven and fill with enough boiling water to reach about halfway up the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake until the center is still slightly wobbly but the edges are firm to the touch, about 1¼ hours.

Transfer the roasting pan with the cheesecake to a rack and let it cool for 45 minutes. Remove the springform pan, remove the foil, and let the cheesecake cool on the rack for about 3 hours. Run a knife around the edges to loosen and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, remove the springform pan sides and slide onto a serving platter.