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Best Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Best Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting starts with a super moist cake and is topped with the best cream cheese frosting. This easy fall dessert is full of all the pumpkin flavors and is the perfect treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

Other pumpkin cakes for you to enjoy next include this Pumpkin Streusel Cake and these Mini Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cakes. If you’re in the mood for cookies instead, try these Iced Pumpkin Cookies!

Side shot of a partial pan of pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, showing the moist cake layer.

The Best Pumpkin Cake

Because we ALL need a Best Pumpkin Cake in our lives. Am I right?

Y’all know by now that I love everything pumpkin. Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin scones, pumpkin muffins, and BEST pumpkin cake. 😀 And then there are those PSLs at Starbucks that I can’t resist. Because Pumpkin Spice Lattes means fall is here (or coming) and the holidays are next. My favorite time of year starts in October and goes through my hubby’s birthday at the end of December. The thought of all of this plus cooler weather definitely has me smiling. 😀

Side shot of a hand using a spatula to lift a piece of pumpkin cake from a pan, with a blue napkin in the background.

This pumpkin cake is…

  • super moist
  • full of pumpkin flavors
  • the best I’ve ever tasted!
Overhead process shots of 1) the pumpkin batter in a glass bowl, and 2) the pumpkin cake in a pan before baking.
Overhead shot of a bowl of cream cheese frosting, with a rubber scraper inside, on a white and gray background.

How to make Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting:

For the cake:

  1. Use a medium bowl, and combine the dry ingredients – the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.
  2. In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients – the pumpkin, oil, eggs, sour cream, sugars, and vanilla.
  3. Combine the dry with the wet, and stir to mix.
  4. Spray a 10 x 15 jelly roll pan with baking spray, and pour cake batter evenly on pan, smoothing with a spatula.
  5. Bake until toothpick comes out clean of center of cake, or when done, approximately 18-20 minutes. Let cool on the countertop.

For the frosting:

  1. Using a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla. Use a hand mixer to combine well.
  2. Gradually add the powdered sugar, a cup at a time, and mix until well combined and fluffy.
  3. Use a spoon to spread the frosting on the cooled pumpkin cake. Cut into slices and serve.
Side shot of a pan of pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, that is cut into 15 pieces.

Storing: If you aren’t serving this cake right away, it’s best to store it in the refrigerator. Leftovers should also be stored in the refrigerator.

Other Pumpkin Treats

Side shot of a partial pan of pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, on a blue napkin.

Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)

10 x 15 jelly roll pan or you can use a 9×13 cake pan as well.

xoxo ~Sue

Side shot of a partial pan of pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, showing the moist cake layer.

Best Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Best Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting starts with a super moist cake, and is topped with the best cream cheese frosting. This easy fall dessert is full of all the pumpkin flavors, and is the perfect treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 15 servings
Calories: 400kcal
Author: Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 cup pumpkin
  • cup canola oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • cup sour cream
  • cup brown sugar
  • cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese – softened
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter – softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

For the Pumpkin Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a half-sheet pan (9×15 pan or a 9×13 work too – but increase baking time) with baking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to combine.
  • In another bowl, combine the pumpkin, oil, eggs, sour cream, both sugars, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and stir to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth it out evenly. Place pan in oven, and bake for approximately 18-20 minutes, or until it's done in the middle. You can test doneness with a toothpick.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Combine the softened cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl. Using a hand mixer, combine until well blended.
  • Add vanilla and one cup of powdered sugar. Mix until absorbed, and then continue adding powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
  • When the cake is cooled completely, spread cream cheese frosting over the top, smoothing it out evenly.

Notes

  • If you aren’t serving this cake right away, it’s best to store it in the refrigerator. Leftovers should also be stored in the refrigerator.
  • If you don’t have a 10 x 15 jelly roll pan, you can use a 9×13 cake pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 368mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 1025IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Suebeehomemaker or tag #suebeehomemaker!

2 Comments

  1. This recipe is amazing! Take the pro tip and eat with a cup of coffee…… More please!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Pumpkin cake goes perfectly with coffee, for sure! 🙂

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