The Ultimate Moist Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: Your Go-To Fall Dessert Recipe

There’s an undeniable magic in the air as the leaves begin to turn, signaling the arrival of fall. For many, this season brings a craving for warm, comforting flavors, and nothing embodies that spirit quite like a perfectly spiced pumpkin dessert. This recipe for homemade pumpkin cake is a true masterpiece of autumn baking: incredibly easy to prepare, boasting an irresistibly soft and super moist texture, and crowned with a luscious, homemade cream cheese frosting. It’s not just a cake; it’s a celebration of fall, making it an ideal treat for family gatherings, holiday festivities, or simply a cozy evening at home.

The autumn season truly is my favorite time of year, primarily because of the delightful shift in weather and the abundance of delicious pumpkin desserts that emerge everywhere. Having recently shared several other fall-inspired treats, I’m thrilled to present another absolute favorite today: this incredible homemade pumpkin cake. It stands out not only for its spectacular flavor but also for its straightforward preparation.

While I thoroughly enjoy the artistry and challenge of intricately decorated layer cakes, there’s a unique charm in the simplicity of a sheet cake. This pumpkin cake recipe epitomizes that ease. The process is wonderfully uncomplicated: you simply whisk your dry ingredients together, then combine your wet ingredients, gently fold them, pour the velvety batter into a 9×13 inch pan, and let your oven do the rest. This method makes it accessible for bakers of all skill levels, ensuring a rewarding experience every time.

One of the many benefits of baking cakes in a standard 9×13 inch pan is that it liberates you from the pressure of elaborate decorating. The beauty of this format lies in its effortless elegance; all you need to do is prepare your favorite frosting and spread it evenly over the cooled cake. For this particular pumpkin cake, I’ve chosen a classic cream cheese frosting, which provides a perfect tangy counterpoint to the sweet, spiced pumpkin. However, if your taste buds lean elsewhere, I’ve also included suggestions for alternative frostings that pair beautifully with this versatile dessert.

Essential Recipe Ingredients for Your Perfect Pumpkin Cake

Crafting this delightful pumpkin cake requires a selection of fundamental pantry staples, meaning you likely have most of what you need already on hand. The dry ingredients feature all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, a harmonious blend of warming spices, and a touch of salt. For the wet ingredients, you’ll combine pumpkin puree, a neutral-flavored oil, both granulated and brown sugars for depth, farm-fresh eggs, and pure vanilla extract for that essential aromatic finish.

Before you dive into baking, let’s quickly review a few key ingredients and offer some helpful tips:

• Pumpkin Pie Spice: To simplify the recipe and ensure consistent flavor, I typically use a pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice blend along with additional ground cinnamon. However, if this blend isn’t readily available where you are, or if you prefer a homemade touch, you can easily create your own. I’ve provided a homemade pumpkin pie spice substitute recipe here. This recipe yields approximately 1/3 cup, which you can scale down if you only need a smaller quantity for this cake.
• Pumpkin Puree: This is a crucial ingredient, and it’s vital to use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling comes pre-sweetened and pre-spiced, which will drastically alter the flavor and sweetness balance of your cake, potentially leading to an overly sweet or spiced result that wasn’t intended. Always check the label to ensure “pumpkin” is the sole ingredient.
• Oil: For the best results in terms of flavor and texture, opt for a neutral-flavored oil such as canola oil or vegetable oil. These oils contribute moisture without imparting any strong taste of their own, allowing the rich pumpkin and spice flavors to shine. If you’re considering melted coconut oil, that can also work, but be sure all your other wet ingredients (like eggs and pumpkin puree) are at room temperature. This prevents the coconut oil from solidifying when mixed, which could create lumps in your batter.
• Cream Cheese: While not part of the actual cake batter, cream cheese is essential for the decadent frosting. When selecting cream cheese for your frosting, always choose a block or brick of full-fat cream cheese. Avoid using cream cheese spreads that come in tubs, as these often contain added ingredients to make them thinner and more spreadable, which can result in a runny and unstable frosting that won’t hold its shape beautifully on your cake.

How to Bake Your Easy and Moist Pumpkin Cake

Making this incredibly moist and flavorful pumpkin cake is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. Begin by preheating your oven to a steady 350°F (177°C). While the oven heats, take a moment to thoroughly spray a 9×13 inch baking pan with a good quality non-stick cooking spray, ensuring every corner is covered to prevent sticking. Set this prepared pan aside.

Next, in a spacious mixing bowl, meticulously whisk together all your dry ingredients: the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and ground cinnamon. Whisking them well ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the mixture, which is crucial for a uniform rise and consistent flavor in your finished cake. Once combined, set this bowl aside.

Now, turn your attention to the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the entire can of pumpkin puree (no need for partial measurements here, making it even simpler!), the oil, both light brown sugar and granulated sugar, the eggs, and the pure vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined and smooth. The rich, orange hue of the pumpkin puree will be beautifully incorporated, promising a vibrant cake.

With both your dry and wet mixtures prepared, it’s time to bring them together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix gently until they are just combined. The key here is to avoid overmixing; excessive mixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a tougher, less tender cake. Stop mixing as soon as you no longer see streaks of dry flour. At this stage, your smooth, rich batter should resemble the image shown on the left in the gallery above.

Carefully scoop the combined batter into your prepared 9×13 inch pan, spreading it evenly across the bottom with a spatula. Place the pan in your preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 to 40 minutes. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake; it should come out clean when the cake is ready. If you notice the edges browning too quickly during the last 5 to 10 minutes of baking, you can loosely tent the cake with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning while the center finishes cooking.

Once your beautifully baked pumpkin cake is done, remove it from the oven. Do not attempt to frost it immediately! Transfer the pan to a wire rack and allow the cake to cool completely. This step is vital – attempting to frost a warm cake will result in a melted, runny mess.

Crafting the Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting

Once your spiced pumpkin cake has cooled down completely to room temperature, it’s time for the crowning glory: the rich, tangy, and utterly irresistible cream cheese frosting. This frosting is not just an accompaniment; it’s an integral part of what makes this pumpkin cake truly exceptional, perfectly complementing the warm spices and moist texture of the cake itself. For this recipe, I’ve chosen my all-time favorite cream cheese frosting because its creamy consistency and slight tang create a harmonious balance with the sweetness of pumpkin.

The frosting itself is wonderfully simple to prepare, requiring just four core ingredients: softened brick-style cream cheese, softened unsalted butter, powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar), and pure vanilla extract. The combination yields a frosting that is smooth, pipeable, and bursting with flavor. I’ve put together a comprehensive full tutorial for how to make cream cheese frosting here, which walks you through each step to achieve the perfect consistency.

For those who adore the deep, warm notes of cinnamon, consider adding about 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to your cream cheese frosting. This subtle addition enhances the fall flavors beautifully without overpowering the delicate tang of the cream cheese, making for an even more memorable dessert experience. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little to find your perfect flavor profile!

If you’re looking to explore other frosting options, perhaps a classic buttercream, this pumpkin cake is also incredibly versatile. My blog features delightful vanilla, rich chocolate, and decadent caramel buttercream frosting recipes in my guide on how to make buttercream here. Each of these would offer a distinct, yet equally delicious, twist to your pumpkin cake, allowing you to customize it to your personal preferences or for different occasions.

Optimal Storage for Your Delicious Pumpkin Cake

A common query when it comes to cakes, especially those with rich frostings, is how to store them properly to maintain freshness and flavor. The answer often depends on the type of frosting used. For this particular pumpkin cake, topped with its delectable cream cheese frosting, proper storage is key to enjoying every last crumb.

Because cream cheese is a dairy product, the frosting necessitates refrigeration. Therefore, if your cake is already frosted, I highly recommend storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This method will keep your cake fresh, moist, and safe to eat for up to 4 days. Bringing it to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving can enhance the flavor and soften the frosting to its ideal texture.

Another convenient option for managing your baking schedule is to prepare the cake and frosting separately. You can bake the cake, allow it to cool completely, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store it unfrosted at room temperature for 1 to 2 days. This is great if you want to get a head start on baking. Likewise, the cream cheese frosting can also be made in advance. Prepare the frosting, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for 1 to 2 days. When you’re ready to assemble, simply allow the frosting to come to room temperature and give it a good mix with an electric mixer to restore its creamy consistency before spreading it generously over your cooled pumpkin cake.

For longer-term preservation, freezing is an excellent choice. This allows you to enjoy slices of this wonderful pumpkin cake months later. Full freezing instructions are detailed in the recipe card below, covering how to freeze both frosted individual slices and the entire unfrosted cake. With these storage tips, you can savor your homemade pumpkin cake whenever a craving strikes!

More Delightful Cake Recipes To Try

If you’ve fallen in love with this pumpkin cake, you might enjoy exploring some of our other fantastic cake recipes that are perfect for any occasion:

• The Best Red Velvet Cake
• Decadent Chocolate Cake
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
• The Best Classic Coffee Cake
• Irresistible Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

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