Jump to Recipe

Despite using a makeshift kitchen in my basement to mix up this Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake, then running upstairs to bake in my old oven plugged into my half remodeled kitchen, this autumnal dessert was a delicious way to kick off pumpkin season.

Using the same warm spice profile that’s in my Classic Pumpkin Bread, this fine crumb Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake has the bonus of a rich crown of cream cheese frosting!

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake on a white ceramic cake stand

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake

My grown children all adore pumpkin bread and pie, so it was time to branch out and create a pumpkin cake. Bundt cakes as super easy as there’s no need to fiddle with layering and frosting. My M.O. these days is simple, uncomplicated recipes! I may rev it back up for the holidays, though!

The hubby is hard to figure out. Pumpkin pie is a must for him on Thanksgiving, but he steers clear of any of my other pumpkin creations. Stubborn man. But the kids pick up the slack and there never are any leftovers!

Slice of Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake on a white dessert plate

Cream Cheese Frosted Pumpkin Cake

The art of the drizzle is lost on me, but I couldn’t help but add a thick layer of cream cheese frosting to this pumpkin spiced Bundt cake. It’s that magical combination of an autumn spice pumpkin cake and sweet, yet tangy cream cheese frosting that’s always a winner.

A dusting of powdered sugar would be a lovely alternative. At our house, for a special dessert, frosting isn’t an option, it’s a requirement.

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake on a white cake plate

Tips for Making Bundt Cakes:

Bundt cakes are my favorites when I need an easy recipe to serve a group. Definitely easier than a typical frosted layer cake or cupcakes. All they need is a dusting of powdered sugar and they’re ready to serve. Of course, a drizzle of icing over the crown is a more decadent alternative if you have the time!

  • Bundt cakes typically are denser than other cakes which makes them super easy to slice and serve.
  • For a picture perfect Bundt cake, it’s imperative to prep your pan properly. If you don’t, there will be bits of cake stuck in the pan when you invert it onto a cooling rack.
  • If you have a non-stick Bundt pan, make sure the surface is intact. I think mine is getting a little worn as my cake didn’t release with a perfect crust (not like my family would ever care!).
  • Even with a non-stick pan, you must grease and flour, getting into every nook and cranny. Using shortening is often better than butter, but either work.
  • After greasing the pan, dust with flour, tilting the pan to make sure 100% of the surface is covered with a light coating of flour.
  • You can also use a flour-oil spray like Baker’s Joy, found at most grocery stores in the baking aisle.
  • To get the cake out of the pan, the cake must cool about 15-20 minutes to allow the crust to firm up a bit. Any sooner and the cake may break apart, and if you wait to long, the cake may not release.
  • I like to gently shake the pan from side to side before flipping it onto a cooling rack. You can hear the cake moving as it releases from the sides.
  • To release, place the cooling rack over the top of the cake, and carefully flip the rack and the cake together onto the counter. The cake should drop onto the rack if all goes well.
  • Let cool completely before icing.
  • Also, make sure the cake is fully baked before pulling it out of the oven. A toothpick inserted into the middle should come out clean.
  • You’ll start smelling the delicious aroma when the cake is near the end of its baking time to cue you to check for doneness soon.

What to Do When Your Cake Falls Apart

If your cake happens to break as it comes out of the pan, do not despair. I have some ideas of what to do with the pieces.

  • Make a trifle! In a large glass bowl, layer cubes of cake, whipped cream and caramel sauce.
  • Or make parfaits, which are like mini-trifles in glass bowls or tall glasses. Layers of cake, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and maybe even some toffee bits would make a decadent dessert.
  • Or how about cake pops or as an ice cream topping?

More Pumpkin Treats

Fall is the perfect time to break out the warm spices that pair so well with pumpkin then put on your apron and start whipping up some delicious pumpkin recipes. I shared my Favorite Pumpkin Recipes earlier this week, but I love these other options from my blogger friends. plus two more from the blog.

Slice of Pumpkin Spiced Bundt Cake on a white dessert plate
The Recipe:

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Yield 12 servings

A lovely autumnal Bundt cake with sweet cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter, at room temperature, plus more to grease the pan
  • 2 1/4 cups flour plus more for dusting pan
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs

For the Frosting:

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 3 quart/10 inch bundt  pan generously with butter, then dust with flour, knocking out excess.
    2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt in a bowl. Whisk together pumpkin, 3/4 cup buttermilk, and vanilla in another bowl.
    3. Beat butter and  sugar with an electric mixer until creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes, then add eggs and beat 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and add flour and pumpkin mixtures alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and mixing until batter is just smooth.
    4. Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top, then bake until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool the cake on a cooling rack 15 minutes, then remove the cake from the pan back onto the rack. Let cool completely.
    5. While cake is cooling, beat together cream cheese, cream, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over the crown of the cake.

Notes

Adapted from Epicurious.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 302Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 354mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 2gSugar: 36gProtein: 5g

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American / Category: Cakes