Easy Pumpkin Cake with Yellow Cake Mix and Pudding
Thanks to help from a box of yellow cake mix, this easy pumpkin cake recipe with cinnamon cream cheese frosting comes together in about 10 minutes!
Servings 24 slices
Calories 223.7kcal
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 1 (3.4 ounce) box vanilla instant pudding mix (the 4-serving box)
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup water
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 (16 ounce) can cream cheese frosting (or use homemade cream cheese frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, pumpkin, oil, water, eggs, 1 ½ teaspoons of the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed just until moistened, scraping the side of the bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until well blended.
- Pour batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
- Stir remaining ½ teaspoon of cinnamon into the cream cheese frosting. Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake.
Notes
- Make sure that you use just 1 cup (not an entire can) of pumpkin puree. This is 100% pure pumpkin, not canned pumpkin pie filling.
- The total baking time will vary depending on your individual oven, as well as the type of pan that you use. Dark or nonstick pans bake the cake faster, while a glass or light-colored dish will need a bit more time. Use a toothpick inserted deep into the middle of the cake to know exactly when it’s done.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting, or the frosting will melt on the warm cake.
- Garnish the cake with finely chopped pecans or walnuts for a crunchy, nutty taste and texture.
- Decorate the top of the cake with candy pumpkins, candy corn, or colored sprinkles for a festive touch.
- This recipe came from my friend Jackie, who originally adapted it from a recipe published by McCormick spices.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 223.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 32.1g | Protein: 1.6g | Fat: 10.3g | Saturated Fat: 1.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4.6g | Cholesterol: 23.3mg | Sodium: 228.2mg | Potassium: 47.7mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 23.7g