Pumpkin Spice Cake

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This Pumpkin Spice Cake is moist and loaded with pumpkin pie spices and a few ingredients that make it amazing! It’s easy to bake and a fall favorite, especially when topped with my apple butter caramel icing.

Like my pumpkin cupcakes, this delicious dessert is one of the many reasons that I look forward to fall baking! It’s ideal for a festive treat in October or November!

pumpkin spice cake sitting on a cake stand with a slice removed in the foreground.
With a homemade pumpkin spice cake mix, this Pumpkin Bundt Cake is loaded with your favorite fall flavors!

Ingredients and Equipment

This recipe is made with pumpkin pie spices – cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg.

It also has two secret ingredients, maple syrup and rum. The maple pairs perfectly with the pumpkin, and the rum adds some complexity.

Tip: If rum isn’t your thing, you can replace it with apple juice.

You can use either canned or homemade pumpkin puree when making this. (Don’t forget to save the seeds to make toasted pumpkin seeds if you are making your own pumpkin puree.)

Tip: If you use canned pumpkin puree, make sure to buy the can that says pumpkin puree or pureed pumpkin. Do not buy pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling is already sweetened and will ruin this cake.

Outside of the usual baking tools that you should have on hand, the only special tool you’ll need for this cake is a Bundt pan. They come in all different styles and any of them will work as long as it holds 10-15 cups of batter (most do). Once you own one, you’ll find that you use it for so many different desserts; I love using one to make my mouthwatering cranberry cake!

How It’s Made

Pumpkin Cake

First, preheat your oven to 350 F and prep your Bundt pan. Grease the pan well with butter or non-stick cooking spray and flour it. If the pan isn’t well prepped, the cake may get stuck to the pan.

Next, whisk together the dry ingredients – flour, spices, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, beat the sugar, pumpkin, and eggs until smooth. Mix in the oil, rum (or apple juice), and maple syrup.

Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until fully incorporated.

Adding flour to a stand mixer.
This pumpkin spice Bundt cake with a homemade pumpkin spice cake mix will easily become a new favorite autumn treat.

Pour batter into the Bundt pan.

Bake about 70 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Set Bundt pan out on the counter to cool for 15 minutes, then invert carefully onto a plate.

Decorating

I love icing the pumpkin Bundt cake with apple butter caramel icing and I include instructions for that in the recipe. It also pairs well with cream cheese frosting, cinnamon cream cheese frosting, or caramel icing.

Always top the icing with fun fall sprinkles!

Apple Butter Caramel Icing on top of a Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake.
Make this pumpkin Bundt cake recipe and top with a decadent homemade icing for a warm and festive fall dessert.

Expert Tips and FAQs

Variations

This pumpkin Bundt cake is really versatile and you can alter it in a number of ways:

FAQs

Which canned pumpkin puree should I buy?

While you can make the pumpkin puree yourself, buying it is definitely easier. Make sure to get the can that says pumpkin puree or pureed pumpkin. Do not buy pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling is already sweetened and will ruin this recipe.

How do I prep the Bundt pan?

Start by coating the interior of the pan with a thin layer of butter, making sure that you get into all of the Bundt’s crevices. Then, dust it with flour and invert the pan over your sink to remove any excess.

What are some great recipe variations?

You can mix chocolate chips and/or cinnamon chips into the batter, bake the recipe in cupcake tins as pumpkin cupcakes and frost with pumpkin frosting, or make a chocolate pumpkin Bundt cake if you’re aiming for really chocolaty.

What does pumpkin spice cake taste like?

Much like the name suggests, this variety of cake has a distinct pumpkin-y flavor. It’s spiced with the same warm blend of spices you might find in a pumpkin pie: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. You can also add cloves for a hint of extra flavor.

What is the difference between a Bundt cake and a regular cake?

The difference largely comes down to the shape, rather than the ingredients. Bundt cakes are baked in the distinctly shaped Bundt pan, which has a hole in the middle and gives them interesting ridges. This cake can be made in a regular pan as well, but be aware that baking times may have to change slightly to account for the difference in shape.

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Apple Butter Caramel Icing
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3.95 from 20 votes

Pumpkin Spice Cake

This pumpkin spice Bundt cake is moist, loaded with pumpkin pie spices, and is covered with apple butter caramel icing. It's a fall favorite.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 24 servings
Calories 313kcal
Author Stefani

Ingredients

Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 4 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ginger
  • 2 teaspoons nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons allspice
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 15 ounces pumpkin puree
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup dark rum
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup

Apple Butter Caramel Icing Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons apple butter [paid link]
  • 6 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar sifted

Instructions

Cake Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Whisk together flour, spices, baking soda, and salt.
  • In a large bowl, combine the sugar, pumpkin, and eggs. Beat until smooth.
  • Mix in the oil, rum, and maple syrup.
  • Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
  • Pour batter into a well-greased and floured bundt pan.
  • Bake about 70 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
  • Set bundt pan out on the counter to cool for 15 minutes, then invert.

Icing Instructions

  • In a saucepan, melt the butter.
  • Add the apple butter and brown sugar.
  • Bring to a boil and lower the heat to medium low.
  • Continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Add the milk and the cinnamon and bring to a boil, still stirring constantly.
  • Cool to lukewarm.
  • Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until thick enough to spread.
  • Drizzle cake with icing.

Video

Notes

  • You can use either canned or homemade pumpkin puree. If you use canned pumpkin puree, make sure to buy the can that says pumpkin puree or pureed pumpkin. Do not buy pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling is already sweetened and will ruin this cake.
  • Make sure to prep the Bundt pan by greasing and flouring it before pouring in the batter. If you do not, you may end up ruining the cake when you try to remove it.

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 2826IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
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