Go Back
–+ servings

The Best Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Bake Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 10 -12 servings

Ingredients
  

Pumpkin Cake

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teapoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon clove (optional)
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ cup milk

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened (1.5 sticks)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 6 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions
 

Making the Cakes

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease 2- 8" round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper, if desired. Set them aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the rest of the cake ingredients- this will be the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl wth the dry ingredeints. Whisk everything together just until the batter forms.
  • Pour batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake the cakes for 27-30 minutes. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.

Making the Frosting

  • To make the cream cheese frosting, beat the softened butter and softened cream cheese on medium speen until smooth and fluffy; about 1-2 minutes. Then, add in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and pinch of salt.
  • Mix in the powdered sugar about a few cups at a time. Once all added, beat the frosting again on medium speed for another 2 minutes until light and fluffy*.

Assembling the Cake

  • Cut and trim the tops of all three cake layers so they're flat. Place the first cake layer down on the cake plate. Spread about ¾-1 cup of cream cheese frosting into an even layer on top of the cake layer.
  • Place the second cake layer on top. Frost the outside and sides evenly with the remaining cream cheese frosting. Enjoy!

Notes

*If you want the frosting to be slightly thinner, you can add a splash of heavy cream. If you want it stiffer, add ¼ cup more powdered sugar at a time. 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!