This best-ever pumpkin cake recipe is my go-to fall dessert! All my favorite pumpkin spice cake flavors, topped with sweet cream cheese frosting, and enough to serve a crowd. Yum!

For more delicious fall pumpkin recipes, be sure to try pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin ravioli, and pumpkin steamers (like a pumpkin spice latte, but sugar-free and kid-friendly, too!)

Best Ever Pumpkin Cake

When fall rolls around each year, I start craving soup (any kind!) and this pumpkin cake. And Reese’s, but that always my go-to, not just at Halloween.

Why does this pumpkin cake make the best ever list?

It’s light and fluffy. Don’t get me wrong, a dense creamy pumpkin dump cake is delicious, or a pumpkin cream pie doesn’t disappoint — but an airy just-right cake is my favorite.

Perfect pumpkin flavor. I’m a big fan of pumpkin recipes, so it’s hard to go wrong, but this pumpkin cake gets it all right. Not overpowering but not too sweet.

Sweet cream cheese frosting. Even my family members who don’t love cream cheese LOVE this cream cheese frosting on pumpkin cake. It is literally the icing on the cake 😉

So you see, I saved the best for last on this year’s Pumpkin Festival of Recipes. 😉

See more best pumpkin recipes here.

How to Make Pumpkin Cake from Scratch

This pumpkin cake from scratch is so easy! Nothing temperamental or high-maintenance — just make sure you’ve got pure pumpkin puree, either canned or fresh made.

Beat the eggs and add sugar, oil, and pumpkin puree.

Then whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice (homemade is easy 😉

Then just blend the dry ingredients into the wet pumpkin puree mixture.

Pour into a greased 9×13 pan and bake!

I’ve also made a more Texas sheet cake style pumpkin cake by pouring the batter into a larger baking sheet/jelly roll pan — perfect for a fall festival potluck with plenty to share!

Whip up a quick batch of cream cheese frosting (recipe below) — then just cut yourself a slice and enjoy!

Don’t miss our other Pumpkin Festival recipes!

Best Pumpkin Cake Recipe

Prep Time:10

Cook Time:40

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
4 large eggs room temperature, beaten
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can 15 oz pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package 8 oz cream cheese softened
½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter softened
4-5 cups powdered sugar depending on the consistency
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Coat a 13x9 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and dust with flour
In a large bowl, whisk eggs
Add sugar, oil and pumpkin puree and mix until smooth
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined and smooth
Evenly spread batter into prepared baking pan
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
Remove from oven onto wire rack and cool completely

Frosting

In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth
Gradually add powdered sugar mixing well after each addition until desired consistency
Add vanilla and mix well
Frost cake
Serve immediately or store in refrigerator until ready to serve
Store leftovers in refrigerator in airtight container

Servings:

Lorene Nance

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Cassity started Remodelaholic with her husband, Justin, to share their love for knocking out walls together. Since then, Remodelaholic has become a great community and resource for all those wanting to know how to make their builder-grade home BEAUTIFUL on a budget!

4 Comments

Hena Tayeb says:

October 19, 2020 at 2:34 pm

Oh yum.

1. Cass says:
  
  October 22, 2020 at 6:10 am
  
  Couldn’t agree more! 🙂
  
M c says:

October 23, 2020 at 8:35 am

I was so excited to check out this recipe when it landed in my inbox. But – 2 CUPS OF SUGAR???? No thanks.

1. Cass says:
  
  October 27, 2020 at 6:20 am
  
  It’s not a health food for sure! I’ve made it with reduced sugar as well and it’s come out just fine 🙂

Best Ever Pumpkin Cake Recipe (with Cream Cheese Frosting)