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    Home » Easy Recipes » Desserts & Treats

    Pumpkin Cake - 2 Ingredients

    Published: Aug 12, 2023 · Modified: Nov 10, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This two-ingredient cake is delicious. It is full of pumpkin pie flavor and is very little work to make. In fact, you will be surprised at how easy it is to make. To make it even quicker and easier, it's great with a little store-bought icing on top!

    Everyone seems to get a pumpkin spice craving every fall. But this cake is just too good to only eat in the fall!

    This was inspired by my 2 ingredient pumpkin muffin recipe on this site. I have received many questions about making a cake version of that muffin recipe. Here it is! It's just as easy and delicious. Another pumpkin cake on this site is this pumpkin pudding dump cake. It is very moist and delicious!

    Why I love this cake

    • This is one of the quickest ways to satisfy a pumpkin spice dessert craving!
    • It tastes delicious!
    • The items are shelf-stable items from your pantry. Just cake mix and canned pumpkin. Yes, it's a two-ingredient cake. If you have a container of grocery store frosting, that's a great topping!
    • Easiest cake to make! Dump, stir, and then bake.
    • It's a great recipe for kids to make because it's so easy with so few items.

    Table of contents

    • Why I love this cake
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Instructions
    • Helpful tip
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • FAQ
    • Other easy pumpkin dessert recipes.

    Ingredients

    Yes, only two ingredients are necessary for this pumpkin spice cake. But, you do have the option to add icing if you'd like. For me, it depends on the day or the occasion this is made for.

    • Spice Cake Mix - I prefer the Betty Crocker spice cake mix. It's my go-to since it tastes great and my recipes always work out when I use it.
    • 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree. It is the smaller can (15-ounce) that you need to buy. And do make sure it is not the pumpkin pie mix. The pumpkin pie mix has additional ingredients that we don't need. You want 100% pure pumpkin.
    • Icing (optional). When I use this boxed cake mix shortcut, premade icing is totally fine! I enjoy the cream cheese frosting flavor on this two-ingredient cake.

    Substitutions

    If you don't have any spice cake mix at home, you can use yellow cake mix and add pumpkin spice mix. I have a simple recipe here for homemade pumpkin pie spice mix. If you happen to have apple pie spice mix, it's fairly similar to the pumpkin pie mix so that can also be used.

    Instructions

    Truly, this is one of the easiest pumpkin desserts you can make. The mixture of a can of pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice flavor cake mix amazingly tastes so much like fall! That's why I love it.

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

    orange pumpkin puree on a pile of cake mix in a clear glass bowl.

    Step 1 Add canned pumpkin and cake mix to your bowl. Do NOT add the other ingredients stated on the back of the box.

    pumpkin batter being stirred with an orange spoon.

    Step 2 Mix the dry cake batter with the pumpkin. The batter is thick when mixed.

    Step 3 Use nonstick cooking spray in your 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
    Put mixed batter into baking dish.

    Helpful tip

    Spray the back of the spoon with no-stick spray when smoothing out the dough. This will help you smooth the dough much easier. The batter will be thick and will bake in the shape placed into the pan. Smoothing it out is helpful.

    Step 4
    Bake for approximately 25 minutes. Use a toothpick and insert it into the center of the cake. The cake is done when the toothpick comes out clean.

    chocolate banana muffins
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    After the cake cools, it's your option if you would like to frost this cake. Or, a scoop of ice cream on an unfrosted cake is also delicious!

    closeup of a piece of pumpkin cake with icing

    Variations

    This recipe was inspired by so many questions on my 2 ingredient pumpkin muffin recipe. If you are looking for the muffin details, click on the blue link. Looking for a 2 bite pumpkin baked treat? Try these easy and delicious pumpkin quickie cookies!

    I would suggest making this recipe as a 2 Ingredient pumpkin loaf if you don't intend to add icing.

    Storage

    Cover the top of the baking dish with plastic wrap (or aluminum foil) and refrigerate when storing. An airtight container also works. I would recommend keeping the cake in a single layer. This delicious pumpkin cake can be stored for 3-4 days if refrigerated.

    This can be frozen if well-wrapped for about a month.

    FAQ

    Why can't I just buy and use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?

    Pumpkin pie filling has more spices and a sweetener like sugar. This recipe is made with pumpkin puree (pure pumpkin).

    Do I really not add the ingredients on the back of the box?


    Correct. You only use the pumpkin puree and spice cake mix. You can add your favorite icing (store-bought is great!). If you really feel you need to add something, you can add a beaten egg. It will make the finished cake a little fluffier.

    I only have a yellow cake mix at home. Can I use that?

    Yes, the yellow cake mix works. Just add approximately 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice seasoning to get that nice pumpkin spice flavor. I do have a recipe to make pumpkin pie spice if you don't already have it at home. It's easy to make!

    Other easy pumpkin dessert recipes.

    • 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins in muffin tin
      2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins
    • pumpkin dip on a tray with apples and graham crackers
      Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip
    • closeup of pumpkin blueberry muffins in a muffin tin
      Pumpkin Blueberry Muffins
    • slices of pumpkin bread with a sprinkling of sugar
      2 Ingredient Pumpkin Bread

    We'd love it if you would come back and leave a 5 star rating!

    closeup of a piece of pumpkin cake with icing
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Pumpkin Cake - 2 Ingredient

    This two-ingredient pumpkin spice cake is so delicious that you will be surprised at how easy it is to make! The cake itself only has 2 ingredients.  It has all the flavor of pumpkin spice and takes less than 1 hour to make. If you love frosting, pick up some cream cheese frosting at the grocery store to keep this recipe easy and quick.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 15 squares
    Calories: 286Kcal
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • 1 box spice cake mix
    • 1 can pumpkin puree 15 oz pure pumpkin
    • 1 container Cream cheese icing Optional - ready made & store bought

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Grease a 11 x 13 bake pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Line bottom and two long sides with parchment paper.
    • Mix the contents of the canned pumpkin into the spice cake mix in a large sized bowl.  It will be a thick batter.  Do NOT add the ingredients from the cake instructions on the back of the cake mix box. 
    • Spread evenly into your baking pan.  I recommend smoothing the top of the batter with a large spoon (spray nonstick cooking spray on the back of the spoon - the batter is sticky).
    • Baking time is approximately 30 minutes.  Check if it is done by inserting a toothpick in the center.  When it comes out clean, remove from oven.
    • Cool then spread optional ready made icing.

    Notes

    2 ingredient pumpkin muffins are just as delicious but are baked in muffin tins.
    Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?
    Pumpkin pie filling has more spices and a sweetener like sugar. This recipe is made with a can of pumpkin puree (pure pumpkin).
    Do I add the ingredients listed on the back of the box?
    Correct. You only use the pumpkin puree and spice cake mix. If you really feel you need to add something, you can add a beaten egg. It will make the finished cake a little fluffier.  But it isn't required and not part of the original recipe.  
    I only have yellow cake mix at home? Can I use that?
    Yes, you can use yellow cake mix.  Adding approximately 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice seasoning will give you a nice flavor in your loaf.
    Cover in plastic wrap after cooled, or place in a sealed container then store in the refrigerator  for up to 4 days.
    Freezes well for 1 month if well wrapped. 
     

    Nutrition (I am not a nutritionist. These are estimates only)

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 286Kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 286mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 4411IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg

    Please pin the image below to your Pinterest account!

    close view of a piece of pumpkin cake with icing

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      Black Forest Dump Cake (3 Ingredients)
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      Pineapple Upside Down Cake with cake mix (easy)
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      3 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Donuts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    1. Linda Soto

      September 14, 2023 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      These recipes come out so good My friends and family love them

      Reply
    2. Diane M.

      December 23, 2022 at 3:47 pm

      5 stars
      I loved the flavor of this and of course added the icing!

      Reply

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    I'm Susan! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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