Description
This cozy pumpkin cake with caramel cream cheese frosting is everything you love about fall in one bite — soft, perfectly spiced, and topped with silky caramel cream cheese frosting. It’s a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert that brings warmth and comfort to any occasion — from cozy weekends to festive holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
½ tsp salt
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
¾ cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 cup pure pumpkin purée (not pie filling)
2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz brick-style cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup salted caramel sauce
2–3 cups powdered sugar
1–2 tbsp heavy cream
Pinch of salt (optional, enhances flavor)
Instructions
Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk oil, both sugars, eggs, pumpkin purée, and vanilla until smooth.
Combine Wet & Dry: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Don’t overmix.
Bake: Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool: Allow cake to cool completely before frosting.
Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Add caramel sauce, then gradually mix in powdered sugar. Add cream as needed for smoothness.
Frost & Serve: Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake, drizzle with extra caramel sauce, and enjoy!
Notes
Use pure pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling.
For extra flavor, top with chopped pecans or sea salt flakes.
Store frosted cake in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Unfrosted cake can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Make frosting ahead — just refrigerate and re-whip before using.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: pumpkin cake, caramel cream cheese frosting, fall dessert, easy pumpkin dessert, cozy baking