What Is The Difference Between Pumpkin Bread And Pumpkin Cake

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This unproblematic and straightforward pumpkin block recipe is for those of us who want pure pumpkin and spice flavors with nothing else in the way. Dark-brown sugar and 2 cups of pumpkin puree promise big flavour and an extra moist texture. It's certainly wonderful on its ain, but yous'll beloved the polish and tangy cream cheese frosting on pinnacle!

One reader, Gracie, says: " This truly is the best pumpkin block I have ever had. I made information technology exactly as the recipe chosen for and it was so moist and succulent!"

slice of pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting on a silver plate

Details About this Pumpkin Cake

Flavor: Like I mention in a higher place, this cake is loaded with flavor thanks to a whopping 2 cups of pumpkin puree. We add cinnamon and there's enough of pumpkin pie spice, as well. Similar in my pumpkin scones recipe, you can utilise store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie spice mix or each of those spices individually—encounter our recipe annotation below. Tangy cream cheese frosting is ever a lovely pairing with pumpkin and spice flavors. Each bite truly has it all!
Texture: Similar information technology does in this chocolate cake recipe, oil keeps the block'due south crumb soft and moist. In fact, nosotros like to describe it every bit "stick-to-your-fork moist." Our pumpkin cupcakes is essentially the same recipe, merely yields a reduced quantity of batter.
Ease: This is a single layer cake, so it'southward pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to prepare since there'south actually no assembly required. Prepping the cake batter is similar to both our spice block and apple tree cake—make sure you have 2 mixing bowls and a 9×xiii inch pan. The quarter sheet size is likewise convenient for transporting, storing, and serving. You'll appreciate this recipe as an easy addition to your holiday dessert menu alongside all those delicious Thanksgiving pies!

slices of pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting on silver plates with forks

How to Make Pumpkin Cake + Video

The full printable recipe is below, simply here's a brief description and a video tutorial.

Grease your ix×xiii inch pan. You lot can utilize metallic or a glass baking pan. Use 1 mixing bowl for the dry ingredients and another mixing bowl for the moisture ingredients. Combine both, and then spread the batter into your pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Absurd completely, then brand and decorate with the frosting. To make serving easier, refrigerate the frosted cake earlier slicing.

wet ingredients for pumpkin cake batter in a glass bowl with a pink hand mixer

Overview of Central Ingredients in Pumpkin Cake

Flour: Because of the thick and wet concoction, use all-purpose flour instead of block flour. Cake flour is usually more platonic for butter-based cakes such as vanilla cake or white cake.
Pumpkin: Use an entire standard can of pumpkin, which is roughly 2 cups. Readers accept institute this helpful considering null from the tin goes to waste. (Yous'll appreciate that with our pumpkin pie recipe too!) You lot can use fresh pumpkin in a pinch, but we prefer the flavor and texture of the cake when using canned.
Cinnamon + Pumpkin Pie Spice: These spices are essential for about pumpkin desserts. Instead of prepared pumpkin pie spice, you can apply a blend of footing nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger (see notes), or go alee and fix a batch of homemade pumpkin pie spice.
Oil + Eggs: Oil and eggs provide moisture and construction. We use both in these pumpkin bars, but reduce the eggs so the bars aren't quite as cakey.
Carbohydrate: This pumpkin cake is sweetened with dark-brown sugar and granulated saccharide, just mostly brown because that'south where the all-time flavor lies!

pumpkin sheet cake with cream cheese frosting in a glass baking dish cut into squares with a serving utensil

How to Decorate The All-time Pumpkin Cake I've Ever Had

Cakes with a similar spice flavor and texture profile like hummingbird block, carrot block, and assistant cake tasteunbelievable with fan-favorite cream cheese frosting.

If yous're looking for other frosting options, try whatsoever one of these:

The frosting from this Banana Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Chocolate Buttercream
The whipped buttercream frosting from Vanilla Sheet Block
Chai spice buttercream from these Chai Latte Cupcakes

PS: For decoration/garnish, we love using these little pumpkins. Or you lot can endeavor these festive fall sprinkles.

overhead image of a slice of pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting on a silver plate

More Pumpkin Recipes

Pumpkin Bundt Cake
No Broil Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin Pie
White Chocolate Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Pumpkin Bars

Impress

Description

This is the BEST pumpkin block I've ever had and I know you'll experience the same way! It's supremely moist, soft, rich, and spiced with pumpkin spice season.

2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
2 teaspoons baking powder
i teaspoon blistering soda
1 teaspoon table salt
1 and 1/2 teaspoons basis cinnamon
2 teaspoons shop-bought or bootleg pumpkin pie spice*
1 cup (240ml) canola or vegetable oil*
iv large eggs
1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar
one/2 cup (100g) granulated saccharide
1 (fifteen ounce) can pumpkin puree*
1 and ane/2 teaspoons pure vanilla excerpt

Cream Cheese Frosting

viii ounces (224g) full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 cups (360g) confectioners' saccharide, plus an extra one/iv cup if needed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon common salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. I always use this drinking glass pan.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a big bowl. Set aside. Whisk the oil, eggs, chocolate-brown sugar, granulated saccharide, pumpkin, and vanilla excerpt together until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use a mixer or whisk until completely combined. Batter will be thick.
Spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-36 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an middle on yours. The cake is washed when a toothpick inserted in the eye comes out clean. If y'all find the top or edges of the cake is/are browning also chop-chop in the oven, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
Remove the block from the oven and set the entire pan on a wire rack. Let to cool completely. After nigh 45 minutes, I usually place the cake in the fridge to speed things upward.
Make the frosting: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk zipper, beat out the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until polish and creamy. Add three cups confectioners' saccharide, vanilla, and table salt. Crush on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for two minutes. If you desire the frosting a little thicker, add together the extra 1/four cup of confectioners saccharide (I add information technology). Spread the frosting on the cooled cake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes earlier serving. This helps sets the frosting and makes cutting easier.
Cover leftover cake tightly and shop in the refrigerator for five days.

Notes

Make Alee Instructions: Fix cake through step 4. Cover the cake tightly and refrigerate for upwards to 2 days or freeze upward to iii months. Bring to room temperature, make the frosting, frost, and serve. Frosted cake freezes well, up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, bring to room temperature or serve common cold.
Special Tools: KitchenAid Hand Mixer, Drinking glass Mixing Bowls, Glass 9×13 Baking Dish, Icing Spatula, and Pumpkin Toppers
Cupcakes: This batter yields about 24-28 cupcakes. Same oven temperature, fill the cupcake wrappers 2/3 full, and broil 18-21 minutes or until baked through. For ane dozen cupcakes, use my pumpkin cupcakes recipe.
Bundt Cake: This batter will fit into a 9.5 or 10 inch Bundt pan. Aforementioned oven temperature. But for ease, I suggest using my pumpkin Bundt cake recipe. Aforementioned great flavor and texture as this cake! You tin can leave out the chocolate chips.
2 Layer Cake: Pour concoction evenly into two 9-inch circular block pans. Same oven temperature, bake for 25 minutes or until baked through. This frosting is enough for a two layer cake.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: You can notice pumpkin pie spice in the baking aisle of nigh grocery stores or brand your own homemade pumpkin pie spice. If you lot don't accept either and want to use individual spices, use 1/2 teaspoon each: ground allspice, footing ginger, basis nutmeg, and footing cloves. This is in addition to the 1 and i/2 teaspoons of cinnamon—you will still add that to the batter.
Oil: Instead of i cup of oil, try 1/2 loving cup (90g) unsweetened applesauce and 1/2 (120ml) loving cup oil. The block is just equally moist.
Pumpkin: I strongly recommend using canned pumpkin puree over homemade in this recipe, though 2 cups of homemade would work just fine in a pinch. If using fresh, absorb out every bit much excess moisture every bit you tin using a clean towel. Overall, I found the flavor ameliorate with canned. I prefer Libby'south make for this cake.