Easy Pumpkin Cake Recipe – Made With Just 2 Ingredients

It is hard to believe that you can make this easy pumpkin cake recipe with just 2 ingredients. But I am here to tell you that it is not only true, but the cake turns out moist and delicious and ready to eat in only 30 minutes!

And during the busy Autumn months an easy dessert recipe is always welcome. Between school, extra curricular activities, and trips to the orchard and pumpkin patch, life in October can become hectic.

So the next time that you need to make a dessert for school, bake sale, book club or those last minute bon fire parties, do yourself a favor and make this recipe!

It requires less than 5 minutes to prepare. Then while you get yourself ready, help with household chores or help the kids with homework, dessert will be baking in the oven.

All that is left to do is decide whether or not that want to top it with frosting. And for me, that is no question at all.

Frosting Optional (But It Makes It So Much Better)

10 out of 10 times I will put a thick layer of either cream cheese or vanilla frosting on top. The combination of the pumpkin spice flavor with the creamy frosting is irresistible!

But before you begin to slather on the frosting, you must let the cake cool completely. Otherwise the frosting will melt into the cake and it will basically fall apart from being too moist.

Believe me. I got impatient one time to get the cake on the table and this is exactly what happened. However, at that point, I grabbed a pint of vanilla ice cream and served it in a bowl!

Talk about making the best of a not so good situation. Although it turned out delicious, I prefer the cake over the pumpkin crumbles.

What Ingredients You Need To Make Pumpkin Cake

As mentioned above there are only 2 ingredients needed to make this easy pumpkin cake. Both which you can find at your local grocery store.

1. Dry Spice Cake Mix

Although you could technically make this cake with any flavor of dry cake mix, if you want the true taste of Fall then definitely use spice cake mix. The warm flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves are included in every bite.

And speaking of the cake mix, you will only be using the dry mixture that is inside the box. There is no need to add the other ingredients listed on the back of the package.

However, others have adapted this easy pumpkin cake recipe by adding in a single egg to the mixture. This will make the cake rise more during the baking process but it isn’t necessary.

But if you really wanted to make the spice cake as instructed on the package, you can certainly do so. However, I prefer the 2 ingredient method the best.

So what do you mix with the dry spice mix to make it a cake. Here is your answer:

2. Pumpkin Puree

Now you can see why this is the perfect Fall dessert recipe. A can of pure pumpkin puree is mixed in with the dry spice cake mix to form a thick batter.

Then when it is placed in the oven it turns into a moist and delicious cake. However, be sure to only use pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.

Pumpkin puree is cooked and pureed winter squash (no it really isn’t pumpkin). And pumpkin pie filling is filled with various spices and sugar combined with pumpkin puree.

The pie filling is thinner and would be too sweet in the cake. So be sure when you head to the grocery that you look twice at the can as they look very similar and are typically stocked next to each other on the shelf.

Although you can also make 100% pure pumpkin puree by cooking and pureeing a pie pumpkin. Here are the instructions on how to Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree if you really want to do so.

Easy Pumpkin Cake Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 15 oz. box of Spice Cake Mix
• 15 oz. can of Pure Pumpkin Puree

INSTRUCTIONS

Start by preheating the oven to 350°F (177°C). Then spray an 8 x 11 inch baking dish with non stick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Set the pan aside while you make the pumpkin cake batter.

In a large mixing bowl add the spice cake mix and pumpkin puree. Use a silicone spatula and mix until smooth.

The batter will be thick. Keep mixing until you can no longer see any dry cake mix in the bowl.

Be sure to use the silicone spatula to scrape the bottom of the bowl. Often times the dry cake mix will sit in the bottom of the bowl and may be difficult to see.

Once you can no longer see any dry ingredients pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread it out in an even layer.

Then use the silicone spatula to smooth out the top as much as you can. The batter will not smooth out much during the baking process.

Bake Time Required

Next place the cake in the preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Remove the cake from the oven and let it to cool completely before frosting with vanilla or cream cheese icing.

This easy pumpkin cake is best stored and served from the refrigerator.

*If you are making pumpkin cupcakes, decrease the baking time to 15-20 minutes. They are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

**You can use the same batter mixture to make these Easy Pumpkin Cookies.

Enjoy! Mary

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