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This Pumpkin Bundt Cake is a fall classic. Topped with cream cheese frosting with just a bit of pumpkin pie spice, this cake is a slice of comfort on a plate.
So have you guys fallen down the rabbit hole that is cleaning TikTok? I’m one of those people that actually enjoys cleaning, but I’ve learned that some people have taken their love for cleaning to a whole new level. And I am here for it.
I’ve also learned that I am easily influenced when it comes to cleaning tools and products. From a new spin mop and microfiber clothes to Dawn Power Wash and powdered Tide, some of my new favorite products were actually found through cleaning influencers. I mean, I didn’t even know this was a thing until just a few months ago. By the way that Dawn Power Wash is pretty dang fantastic – the apple scent is my fave!
Basically October 2020 has been a month full of lots of cleaning and baking pumpkin desserts like this Pumpkin Bundt Cake.
MY FAVORITE PUMPKIN BUNDT CAKE RECIPE
I know that bundt cakes are a little old school. But you know why things become classics?
Because they’re great.
I don’t know what it exactly is about bundt cakes, but I kind of love them. Whether it’s in the form of 7UP Pound Cake, Lemon Zucchini Cake, a Fudge-Filled Bundt Cake, or Dark Chocolate Cranberry Bundt Cake, there’s just something about a slice of bundt cake that feels so comforting to me.
Add pumpkin into the mix and you know that I am totally sold.
This Pumpkin Bundt Cake is like a combo of pumpkin bread and pumpkin bars baked in a bundt pan. It is moist, richly spiced, and packed full of pumpkin flavor.
PUMPKIN SPICE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
If you’ve been paying attention to the abundance of cheesecake recipes on this site, I sort of have a thing for cream cheese.
And cream cheese and pumpkin go together like peanut butter and jelly, so of course I had to top my Pumpkin Bundt Cake with a cream cheese frosting.
But I didn’t want to make this just another cream cheese frosting. I wanted to make it a little special.
So I reached for my pumpkin pie spice.
Yeah, that’s right. There’s pumpkin pie spice in the cake itself and in the cream cheese frosting.
Adding the pumpkin pie spice into the frosting brings those warm spices – cinnamon, ginger, cloves – into every single bite of the cake. The spices aren’t overpowering in the frosting – it has just ¼ teaspoon of the spice mix – but add just a little special “something” to it.
HOW TO MAKE THIS PUMPKIN BUNDT CAKE
One thing I like about this recipe is that it is made with oil, so you can make it on a whim, without having to remember to soften butter ahead of time.
And even though I like to use a mixer to make this cake super quickly, I have also made the cake itself by hand, without a mixer, several times. So you don’t need any fancy tools to make it!
To make this Pumpkin Bundt Cake:
- Mix together the oil and sugar, then add the eggs.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients.
- Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, alternating with the pumpkin puree.
- Bake in a bundt pan for about an hour.
- Let the cake cool completely before topping with the cream cheese frosting.
See? No creaming together butter and sugar, no waiting for butter to come to room temperature. You’ll need to use softened cream cheese for the frosting, but I have a few tips for how to soften cream cheese quickly in case you forget to set it out ahead of time.
Because of the cream cheese frosting, you’ll want to store this cake in the refrigerator if you aren’t planning to serve it right away. It’ll keep for about 3 days; I recommend letting it come to room temperature for about an hour before serving.
Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 can pure pumpkin puree 15 ounces
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ cup confectioners’ sugar sifted
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 10-inch bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine sugar and oil until thoroughly blended.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
- Add flour mixture to egg mixture alternately with pumpkin, beating well after each addition.
- Transfer batter to prepared bundt pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 60-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
- Cool 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack. Remove pan and cool completely before preparing the cream cheese frosting.
- For the cream cheese frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a medium bowl with an electric mixer, combine cream cheese and butter; mixing until well-combined and fluffy – about 2 minutes. Gradually add in confectioners’ sugar. Once the confectioners’ sugar is completely incorporated, mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Mix in vanilla and milk. If frosting appears to be too thick, slowly add in a little more milk until you reach the desired consistency. If desired, add pumpkin pie spice and mix until well-combined. Spoon over cooled cake.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe! Made it earlier this week and it’s already gone :) I want to make it for Thanksgiving…when you say the recipe keeps in the fridge for 3 days- does that mean the batter? Or after baking? To save time, I would like to prepare the batter today and then actually bake it tomorrow. Do you think that will be fine?
Grace, I mean after baking. But so long as you cover the batter with plastic wrap or keep it in an airtight container, I’m sure doing that overnight would be fine.
– Jamie
I would like to make this for Thanksgiving. I have lots of company coming and want to make desserts ahead that go in the freezer/refrigerator for a few days. Do you think the freezer for a week would ruin this cake?
Brenda, this cake, as with most baked goods, is fine in the freezer for up to 2 months.
– Jamie
If I use the pumpkin spice cream cheese in the Frosting do you think I should leave out the pumpkin pie spice or would that be to much pumpkin? I’m a the more pumpkin the better it will be person but I don’t want to kill it for everyone else. Thanks. Love the recipes!
I don’t think that would be spice overkill at all.
– Jamie
This was really good, and really easy. Didn’t change a thing, except stirring a spoonful of trader joes pumpkin butter into the icing. I made 2 cakes for the teachers at my son’s school, and they LOVED it. Thanks for a great recipe!
Second time making this cake in 2 weeks. It’s so good. The cake I just baked I’m bartering with a local vendor. I love the holidays, you can trade baked goods for other things :) lol
Christian-
That’s awesome, and sounds like a good trade! I’m so happy you are pleased with the recipe. Have a fantastic day!
-Jamie
I’d like to try making this cake it looks wonderful and I love pumpkin. My question is: pure pumpkin puree, is that the canned stuff from Libby that I use to make pumpkin pie just be adding the eggs, can milk, cinnamon, etc? Any help would be appreciated.
Annette-
Yes, that is the pumpkin puree that is used for the cake. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
-Jamie
Do you think doubling the cream cheese mixture and pouring 1/2 in the middle of the cake would work? Just a thought.
Anna, that could work, but the cream cheese will cook a little, and be more like a danish filling.
– Jamie
I made this for a Halloween potluck breakfast and my coworkers loved it! Perfect amount of sweetness. I had to replace the cream cheese frosting for a maple glaze because my boss is lactose intolerant, which kind of went well with the breakfast theme. Thanks for the great recipe, it’s a keeper.
Adriana-
Maple glaze sounds great too! Thanks so much for stopping in to share and have a wonderful day!
-Jamie
Holy crow, this is the BEST bundt cake I’ve ever had. Made it for a party and it was gone within minutes. It is FABulous! Thanks for the great website and recipes! Can’t wait to try more!!
Robyn-
That’s so great to hear! I’m so happy that it was such a hit! Thank you so much for following MBA and have a great day!
-Jamie
Love this recipe. I am curious though. Want to make a spice cake and the recipe calls for a 9×13 pan. I have two 10″ bunt cake pans and want to use both. Should I double the recipe or just the recipe and a half?
I would double the recipe.
– Jamie