This 2 ingredient pumpkin cake is one of the easiest pumpkin desserts you can make. It has that warm pumpkin spice flavor everyone craves, a soft and tender texture, and it comes together in minutes. All you need is a box of spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin puree - no eggs, no oil, no fuss.
If you want to dress it up, a little store-bought frosting is perfect, or keep it simple and serve slices warm with vanilla ice cream. Either way, this quick shortcut cake always disappears fast.
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! You can find all of my Easy Pumpkin Recipes here.
Table of contents
Why I love this cake
This is one of my favorite shortcut pumpkin desserts because it checks every box: fast, affordable, and full of pumpkin spice flavor.
- It’s a true pantry recipe made with just spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin puree.
- It satisfies a pumpkin spice craving in the quickest way possible - you’re looking at about 5 minutes of prep.
- The texture is soft and dense, almost like a pumpkin snack cake.
- It’s an easy recipe for kids or beginner bakers. Dump, stir, bake.
- You can serve it plain, frost it with store-bought icing, or top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
Yes, you truly only need two ingredients to make this pumpkin spice cake. I sometimes add frosting, depending on the occasion, but it’s completely optional.
Spice Cake Mix – I usually use Betty Crocker because the flavor and texture are consistently great for this recipe.
100% Pure Pumpkin Puree – Use a 15-ounce can of pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
Optional Frosting – Cream cheese frosting tastes great with the warm pumpkin spice flavors.
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.
Step 1 Add canned pumpkin and cake mix to your bowl. Do NOT add the other ingredients stated on the back of the box.
Step 2 Mix the dry cake batter with the pumpkin. The batter is thick when mixed.
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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 your spoon with nonstick spray before spreading the batter. This dough is thick and won’t level out on its own, so smoothing the top helps it bake evenly.
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.
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!
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
Pumpkin pie filling has more spices and a sweetener like sugar. This recipe is made with pumpkin puree (pure pumpkin).
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.
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.
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Pumpkin Cake - 2 Ingredient
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
Nutrition (estimate)
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Linda Soto
These recipes come out so good My friends and family love them
Diane M.
I loved the flavor of this and of course added the icing!