Pumpkin Cake

This pumpkin cake is moist and fluffy and full of delicious fall spices. Made in just one bowl and using simple ingredients, there are no eggs, no milk, and no butter needed! 

Simple cake recipes are a common occurrence around here.

It’s no surprise that we make them on a very regular basis. We tend to try to use seasonal produce and that is why come Fall, we have a few favorites up our sleeve- applesauce cake, apple cake, and of course, a classic pumpkin cake. 

Sure, we already have a 2 ingredient pumpkin cake that works as a treat, but this one is the show stopper, and it works as a layer cake too!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• No eggs, no. butter, no milk. This cake uses pantry staple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. 
• Ready in 30 minutes. With just two minutes prep and 28 minutes baking time, this cake is fast. 
• Made in one bowl. The batter is made in a single mixing bowl, so clean up is a breeze. 
• Naturally vegan and gluten free. With no dairy in it and easily made gluten free, this is quite the diet friendly dessert! 

The cake itself is moist, fluffy, and with a light and tender crumb. It’s sweet and with a light pumpkin flavor, and the cream cheese frosting gives it a little tang that takes it up a notch.

Ingredients needed

As we mentioned earlier, the ingredient list is very basic and there is no hard-to-find sweeteners or baking flours needed. Here is what you’ll need: 

• All purpose flour. Either plain all purpose flour or gluten free flour can be used. I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Baking flour, as it works as a cup for cup replacement for standard flour. If you use another brand of gluten free flour, be sure that it contains xanthan gum in it. 
• Baking powder. Gives some rise and fluffiness to the cake. 
• Salt. Brings out the natural sweetness of the cake, and a must for any good baked good!
• Pumpkin pie spice. A fabulous fall spice mix, this intensifies the pumpkin flavor. If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, use a mix of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice. 
• Cinnamon. Even though the pumpkin pie spice already has a little cinnamon in it, adding more gives it a more intense flavor hit. 
• Pumpkin puree. Unsweetened pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. I used homemade pumpkin puree but you can use the canned variety. If you use the latter, your cake will be a little darker in color. 
• Sugar of choice. A mix of white sugar and brown sugar is best, but use whichever you have on hand. Like the pumpkin puree, if you use all brown sugar, your cake will be much darker. 
• Oil of choice. Any neutral flavored oil can be used. Coconut oil (refined), vegetable oil, or even canola oil are all fantastic options. 
• Maple syrup. Adds extra sweetness and gives the cake a more tender and moist texture. You can also use agave nectar. 
• Vanilla extract. A must for any good cake or baked recipe! 
• Water. To mix everything together! If you’d prefer to use milk, unsweetened almond milk or any plant based milk will work well. 
• Cream cheese frosting-.Optional, but highly recommended. 

How do you make a pumpkin cake?

In a small bowl, add your flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix until combined. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of your ingredients, and mix until combined. Gently fold through the dry ingredients until just combined.

Transfer the cake batter into an 8-inch cake pan. Bake at 180C/350F for 30 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan completely, before frosting. 

Tips to make the best recipe

• The ingredients provided make a single layer cake and frosting. For a 2 layer cake, double the ingredients and bake in 2 cake pans. For a 3 layer cake, triple the ingredients and bake in 3 cake pans. 
• Do not over-bake the cake, as it continues to cook as it cools down. Once a skewer comes out clean from the center, the cake is done.
• Don’t be worried if your cake comes out darker in color than what I pictured. If you use canned pumpkin or brown sugar, your cake will be considerably darker. 
• This pumpkin cake tastes delicious without frosting, so if you’d prefer more of a snack cake, omit the frosting and bake this in a 9-inch square pan. 

Storage info

• To store: If your cake is unfrosted, you can store it at room temperature, covered, for up to 5 days. If frosted, or if you’d like the cake to keep longer, store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Let the refrigerated cake sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. 
• To freeze: Place slices of cake in a freezer friendly container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

More simple cake recipes to try

• Vanilla cake
• Chocolate cake
• Chocolate raspberry cake
• Lemon blueberry cake
• Death by chocolate cake

Frequently Asked Questions