I’m obsessed with all things pumpkin spice—lattes, candles, and especially this Pumpkin Spice Cake! It’s soft, spiced, and simple to make. If you’re searching for a crowd-pleasing fall dessert, this easy pumpkin cake with warm spices is the answer.
Contents
Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Cake is a classic autumn dessert with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. It often contains pumpkin puree for a tender, moist texture. The cream cheese frosting on top complements the spices and adds a creamy, tangy contrast to the sweet cake.
Pumpkin spice cake pairs beautifully with creamy toppings like Cream Cheese Frosting and light options like whipped cream, Greek yogurt, or Cool Whip. Ice cream can be served alongside to create a delicious contrast.
For extra richness, drizzle the cake with caramel, salted caramel, chocolate sauce, or vanilla glaze. You can add chopped pecans, walnuts or dust powdered sugar or cinnamon on top.
For drinks, you can try sweet wines, an Espresso Martini, or a Chai Old Fashioned. Non-alcoholic choices like spiced apple cider, chai tea, or a Pumpkin Spice Latte complement the cake’s cozy flavors. Pumpkin ales, stouts, and porters also make great beer pairings with their rich, spiced profiles.
This cake is the perfect treat for Thanksgiving, Halloween, or any chilly day when you’re craving that classic pumpkin spice flavor. Let me show you how to make pumpkin spice cake step by step!
Pumpkin Spice Cake
Nutrition
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For cream cheese frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×9-inch square baking pan or line with parchment.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, pumpkin puree, oil, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined (do not overmix).
- Pour into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, beat 4 oz cream cheese and 2 tbsp butter (both softened) until smooth and creamy.
- Add 1 cup powdered sugar and ½ tsp vanilla extract. Beat until light and fluffy.
- Once the cake is completely cool, spread the frosting evenly over the top.
SIMILAR RECIPES:
Variations
Pumpkin Spice Cake versions come in a variety of styles and flavor combinations. Here are some popular versions:
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake is topped with coffee-flavored buttercream and decorated with a pumpkin patch theme.
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake
- Stir in ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips before baking.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate instead of frosting.
- Vegan Version
- Replace eggs with ½ cup applesauce or mashed banana.
- Use plant-based milk and vegan cream cheese/butter.
- Pumpkin Pecan Cake
- Fold in ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch.
- Sprinkle a few on top before baking.
- Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Maple Glaze
- Use a larger rectangular pan for a thinner sheet cake.
- Skip cream cheese frosting; top with maple glaze
- Gluten-Free Cake
- Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix.
- Add ½ tsp xanthan gum if your mix doesn’t already include it.
- Pumpkin Spice Snack Bars
- Bake in a 9×13 pan, cut into small bars.
- Leave unfrosted for a lighter treat or dust with powdered sugar.
- Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake is a moist, fluffy cake with pecan-studded brown sugar streusel in the middle and on top, finished with maple glaze.