Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (2024)

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5 from 3 votes

55 minutes minutes

by Marly

10

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This easy pumpkin spice cake recipe creates a tender cake with a gorgeous, creamy, spiced frosting. Make this vegan pumpkin cake from scratch using only 10 simple ingredients plus the frosting. This cake comes together quickly meaning soon you’ll be enjoying all the deliciousness!

Try this Vegan Vanilla Frosting or even this Vegan Chocolate Frosting for something different.

Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (1)

I love all the pumpkin recipes during the fall. To be completely honest, I love pumpkin all year round! This cake is a perfect example because the pumpkin keeps it nice and moist and that cream cheese frosting adds gooey goodness to every bite. It’s true, I’m a frosting girl!

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What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • Pumpkin puree adds lots of moisture, color, and flavor, creating a dense and delicious cake
  • Cornstarch helps to create a lighter crumb, softens the protein in the gluten, and acts as a binder
  • Pumpkin pie spice adds the perfect blend of seasonings, delivering a delicious seasonal flavor to this fall dessert.

Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Vegetable oil
  • Granulated sugar
  • Pumpkin puree
  • Flour — I recommend all-purpose flour but you can substitute whole wheat pastry flour.
  • Cornstarch
  • Salt
  • Baking soda
  • Pumpkin pie spice

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Cake from Scratch

  1. Stir together the wet ingredients, from the water to the vanilla.
  2. Combine and stir the dry ingredients, from the flour to the spices.
  3. Stir the pumpkin mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture.
    Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (2)
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.
    Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (3)
  5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a tester comes out clean or mostly clean.
  6. Allow the cake t to cool completely before adding frosting.

Tip: You can stir in some add-ins to the batter, like chopped pecans or dairy-free chocolate chips.

Frost and Serve

This vegan pumpkin cake is delicious without frosting, but I highly recommend serving it with my vegan cream cheese frosting. Be sure to allow it to cool completely before frosting it.

Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (4)

Ever experience a cake failure? Here are my best tips on how to fix undercooked cake.

Does Pumpkin Cake Have to Be Refrigerated?

Pumpkin cake will keep at room temperature for up to 4 or 5 days. So, if you’ll be eating it within that time-frame, it will be fine. However, if it’s unusually warm in your kitchen or if you will be taking longer to eat it, it should be refrigerated.

Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (5)

Marly’s Tips

  • Create a pumpkin spice birthday cake by adding candles or baking it as a layer cake.
  • Make pumpkin spice cake muffins by distributing the batter into muffin pan compartments. Cook them for 20 to 25 minutes.

Most recipes for pumpkin spice cake use canned pumpkin puree, meaning you can make this delicious cake all year round!

Vegan Pumpkin Recipes

Vegan Pumpkin Cookies

30 mins total

Pumpkin Pie Spice

5 mins total

Vegan Pumpkin Donuts

24 mins total

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

315 mins total

Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (10)

That’s it for this ultimate pumpkin spice cake!

Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (11)

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Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (12)

Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (13)

Pumpkin Spice Cake

This moist pumpkin spice cake can be made in less than an hour. Enjoy it with a creamy, dairy-free cream cheese frosting.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate Save

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 15

Calories: 280kcal

Author: Marly McMillen

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (See note)
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
  • Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°F/175°C. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with vegetable spray

  • In a medium-size bowl combine the water, vinegar, oil, sugar, and pumpkin. Stir to combine. Set aside.

  • In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda, and spices. Whisk until well combined. Create a well in the middle of the flour ingredients.

  • Pour the pumpkin mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture. Use a whisk to stir until well-combined.

  • Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes. Insert a tester in the center. If it comes out clean or mostly clean (with only a few crumbs), the cake is done. If not, return it to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes or so.

  • When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely before adding the Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting.

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Notes

For flour, you can use whole wheat pastry flour, gluten-free baking flour, or all-purpose flour.

The nutritional estimate is based on the cake without the cream cheese frosting.

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 305mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 2542IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a rating below then tag @namelymarly on Instagram and hashtag it #namelymarly. I love seeing your creations!

This post was originally published in 2012 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2020.

Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (14)

Whatever vegan pumpkin desserts you’re making and munching on, enjoy!

Also, I created a quote graphic with one of the original photos from this post. Here you go.

Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (15)
Best Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my pumpkin cake too moist? ›

If you find that your pumpkin cake is too moist, isn't holding it's shape and is gummy in certain areas, it's usually caused by too much liquid in your recipe.

What is pumpkin cake made of? ›

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp salt. 2. In a second medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients: 3 large eggs, 1 cup oil and 1 can pumpkin, until well combined.

Is canned pumpkin the same as pumpkin puree? ›

Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks. Unlike pumpkin pie mix, canned pumpkin does not have any spices, sugars, or other additives. In many cases, the only ingredient is pumpkin.

How long can pumpkin cake last in the fridge? ›

Pumpkin spice cake will last about 3-4 days at its peak but can last in the refrigerator for about a week.

How do you make a cake fluffier? ›

The most crucial tip? Instead of buying an entire box of cake flour, simply incorporate two tablespoons of cornstarch into 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour. This blocks the formation of gluten in the flour, which produces a lighter, fluffier cake.

What can I add to pumpkin to make it taste better? ›

If you really want to go all out, you can even grate whole cinnamon sticks, ginger knobs, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice berries. It's definitely more work, but the intense spice flavors work wonders to enhance the dull flavor of canned pumpkin.

Which spices go well with pumpkin? ›

Pumpkin is notorious for pairing well with warm winter spices – as found in a variety of Moroccan-inspired cuisines. Try incorporating cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cumin and chilli with your pumpkin dishes for flavour-packed feasts.

What is Princess cake made of? ›

Swedish Princess Cake (Prinsesstårta) is a classic Scandinavian torte with layers of sponge cake, raspberry jam, vanilla custard, and whipped cream. It is traditionally dome-shaped and covered with a layer of sweet marzipan tinted green. Princess Cake has been on my baking bucket list for ages.

What happens if you use pumpkin pie mix instead of pumpkin puree? ›

Pumpkin pie filling shouldn't be used in place of pumpkin puree since the finished dish will be too sweet. You can always set the can aside to make a quick pumpkin pie another day.

What is the difference between Libby's pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling? ›

Yes, canned pumpkin can be labeled as 100% pure pumpkin or just as pumpkin puree. They are the same product. Both canned pumpkin puree and pie filling are useful, shelf-stable ingredients that can help speed up your kitchen prep time. Just remember that puree is unsweetened, while pie filling contains sugar and spices.

Can dogs eat pumpkin? ›

Yes, dogs can eat pumpkin and it is actually often added to dog foods. Check the label of some dog treats and you may find pumpkin on the ingredient list there too. However, if you are feeding fresh pumpkin, you will need to be careful about which part you're feeding as the stem and leaves are covered in prickly hairs.

Can you eat 10 day old cake? ›

Here's a simplified guide for how long different types of cakes might last in the fridge: Plain Cake (like unfrosted Moist Vanilla Cake): About 5-7 days in the fridge. Cake with Buttercream, Whipped Cream or Custard (like Moist Chocolate Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Frosting): 4 days, since dairy spoils quicker.

Can I eat a week old cake in the fridge? ›

Cakes that have been refrigerated properly can last up to one week.

Can I eat cake after 10 days in fridge? ›

Most cakes can be stored in a freezer for up to one month, or in the fridge for one week. Cakes are best sliced frozen for crisp edges, but for the best flavor, allow your leftover cake to hang at room temperature for thirty minutes to an hour before digging in.

What causes a cake to be too wet? ›

The center of the cake isn't fully baked through, so it doesn't have a chance to set, creating a sunken cake with a doughy and dense texture. Bake cake a few extra minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Why is my cake extra moist? ›

The ratio of wet to dry ingredients determines a cake's moisture level. If there's simply too much flour and not enough butter, a cake will taste dry. On the other hand, if there's too much milk and not enough flour, a cake will taste too wet. Finding the right balance between wet and dry ingredients is key.

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