This Easy Pumpkin Cake is our favorite, fluffy, moist and absolutely delicious pumpkin cake. It has a tender, moist and delicate crumb. The marshmallow-like whipped cream cheese frosting takes it over the top.
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I invited my sisters and their families over for dinner this week and everyone really enjoyed it, especially the kids. I asked if they would be more likely to re-make this as a double decker fancy cake or an easy peasy sheet cake and the consensus was: EASY. Like 4 steps easy, including frosting!
Pumpkin Cake Recipe
If you aren’t a major pumpkin fan yet, you will be after trying this! We are quite smitten with this cake. It is on the regular rotation at our house in Autumn. Plus, it’s not overly sweet so there’s no avoiding that second helping ;).
This pumpkin sheet cake recipe was shared by one of my readers, Yulia. Thank you so much for sharing this treasure of a recipe with us! Some of our favorite recipes have been shared by our readers, like this persimmon bread. I love it when you all write in sharing your favorite recipes and tips. Those are my favorite kinds of emails! Thanks for thinking of me :).
Ingredients for Easy Pumpkin Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour *measured correctly
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda (sifted to get rid of lumps)
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
3 large eggs, room temp
1 cup oil (extra light olive oil, vegetable or corn oil will work)
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree (or make your own!)
*Watch our easy video tutorial on how to measure correctly
Ingredients for the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 package (8oz) Cream Cheese, room temp, cut into quarters
1 stick (8 Tbsp) unsalted butter butter, room temp
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp real vanilla extract
Pecans to decorate, optional
How to Make Easy Pumpkin Cake:
Prep: Preheat oven to 350˚F. Using cooking spray or oil, grease a 9×13 non-stick baking pan (like this one) or a Glass pyrex dish. Tip: If you’re serving it out of a metal pan, line it with parchment paper so you don’t scratch up your pan.
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp salt.
2. In a second medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients: 3 large eggs, 1 cup oil and 1 can pumpkin, until well combined.
3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake at 350˚F for 35-40 min (my oven took 35 mins), or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool completely in pan then spread the top with frosting (see below) and decorate with pecans or sprinkles.
How to Make Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting:
1. Combine all of your frosting ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer (here’s the mixer I use) and using the whisk attachment, beat on medium speed until combined, then beat on high speed 2-3 min or until fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed.
More Dreamy Pumpkin Recipes:
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with the same dreamy frosting
- Pull-Apart Pumpkin Bread just melts in your mouth
- Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel
- Pumpkin Flax Granola – we keep a steady batch on hand
Watch Natasha Make Pumpkin Cake:
You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make this pumpkin cake!
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Easy Pumpkin Cake Recipe

Ingredients
Ingredients for Pumpkin Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, *see note on measuring
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda, sifted to get rid of lumps
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 3 large eggs, room temp
- 1 cup oil, extra light olive oil, vegetable or corn oil will work
- 15 oz pumpkin puree, can
Ingredients for Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temp, cut into quarters
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter butter, room temp
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pecans to decorate, optional
Instructions
How to Make Pumpkin Cake:
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease a 9x13 non-stick baking pan or a Glass pyrex dish.** In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp salt.
- In a second medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients: 3 large eggs, 1 cup oil and 1 can pumpkin, until well combined.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake at 350˚F for 35-40 min (my oven took 35 min), or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool completely in pan then spread the top with frosting (see below) and decorate with whole or chopped pecans. I sprinkled pecans over individual slices since my son doesn't eat them.
How to Make Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Combine all of your frosting ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and using the whisk attachment, beat on medium speed until combined, then beat on high speed 2-3 min or until fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed.
Notes
**If you're serving it out of a metal pan, line it with parchment paper so you don't scratch up your pan.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Now the question is when are you going to be making this? At the very least, pin it for later. This one’s a keeper!
Thank you Natasha for this amazing cake recipe! This is the third time I’m making it and it’s a family favorite already!
I’m so glad you found a family favorite Aida! Thank you for that wonderful review!
I made this yesterday. Love it !!!
My husband, daughter and grandson give a big thumbs up. will definitely be making this again. The cake is soooooo moist and the creamcheese is light and fluffy. We love pumpkin recipes!!!
That’s just awesome CJ! I’m so happy you’re enjoying our recipes!
what if i forgot the flour
Hi Leslie, the cake wouldn’t really work without it. It does need the flour.
So I am planning on making this cake today but when I plug in the ingredients into 2 different calorie counters, I keep getting 520 calories per serving even though the website is saying 391 calories per serving.
Either way I will be making it, just wanted to know if there is some kind of discrepancy?
Hi Rachel, the nutrition label is just an estimate, but make sure you are calculating for 12 slices. If you decrease the serving size, the calorie count will be higher.
Should this cake be refrigerated after it is frosted?
Hi Carol. You can cover and refrigerate for 5 to 7 days. It does keep very well in the fridge
Hi Natasha,
I’m from Curaçao, the most wonderful island of the Caribbean.
I tried a lot of your recipe’s and I loved this pumpkin cake. My question is, is it possible to use less sugar in the pumpkin cake?
We do not use that much sugar at home, and for us we could taste the sugar in it.
I know that sugar in a cake does have a specific reason, but still. If it is possible to use less sugar, how much would you suggest to use?
Stay safe!
Best regards,
Hi Emmely, We also don’t love overly sweet frostings and believe this makes a perfect balance. I haven’t tried this with less sugar, but if you do the experiment I would love to know how you like that!
Hi Natasha,
Do you think I can make this in a bundt pan? If yes, do you have any suggested adjustments for baking time, etc.?
Thank you!
Hi Patricia, I haven’t tried in a bundt pan so I can’t provide advice on that, but I think it’s worth an experiment! If you test it out, let me know how you liked it.
Did you end up making it in a bundt pan? I was going to try that this weekend!
Hi Kelly..Did you try out in the bundt Pan
I baked this cake in a 10 inch bundt pan at 350C for 40 minutes. Turned out beautifully.
This recipe is right up there for the nicest cake I have ever made. I have to use gluten free flour but the cake was so moist. It took exactly 35 minutes and was perfect. Thank you so much.
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing that with us, Janette. I am so glad that you loved it!
Another winner!! I LOVE cinnamon so really enjoyed this!! Light and fluffy and comes out of the pan in a snap. I made it in a glass pan – took about 35 min. The frosting is as you said is a bit like marshmallow – yummy. One thing I particularly like is how easy this is to put together!!! I’m 75 and have always done a lot of cooking and baking, but as I get older I like having something that goes together with ease. THANKS!!!
Super love your comment! Thank you so much, Judi. I’m happy that you loved this recipe!
Hi Natasha. I love everything you post. I try to make at least one of your recipes a week. I also share them on facebook. Now everyone thinks I am a great cook.
I have been trying to purchase the can opener you use but I am unable to find it on the links you posted.Could you please help me?
Hello Marlinda, thank you or sharing that with me. I hope you love the recipes that you try. Have you already checked out our Amazon Affiliate Shop?
Hi can I opt out the oil for something else? Or use less
Hi Mila, I haven’t tried an oil substitute to advise. IF you happen to experiment I would love to know how you like that!
Have made this several times for friends & family holidays. So moist & so easy! Everyone raves about it!
Sounds like you found a new holiday tradition! I’m so happy you and your family enjoyed this recipe Linda!
Hi,
I made the pumpkin cake with your recipe, https://natashaskitchen.com/easy-pumpkin-cake-recipe/ I also made the puree myself, https://natashaskitchen.com/easy-homemade-pumpkin-puree/ but the cake lacks pumpkin flavor, do you know why this happened? I followed the amounts as it comes in the recipe
Hi Gabriel, I’m not sure why that would be, possibly that the pumpkin puree needed to be drained more? Or it could have been a pumpkin without much flavor. Make sure to use “sugar pumpkins” they have the small brown speckles all over them and are best for cooking and baking with pumpkin.
I loved this recipe and decided to make it as a Fall-inspired birthday cake for my husband today. It came out great and it was hit!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
WHere did get the can opener? The pumpkin cake looks delicious. Will try it this weekend.
Hi Rose, you can find our favorite tools on our Amazon shop HERE or on our blog Shop HERE.
Natasha, I absolutely love your recipes and videos. I have made many of your recipes. Your meatloaf recipe is definitely my got to recipe. I made this cake today. AMAZING!! Frosting was delicious. I added some ground cinnamon to the frosting. Only because I love cinnamon and pumpkin together. Only down fall is I only got a few pieces before my fiancé took it work to share
Sounds like you found a new favorite Amanda! That’s so great!
AMAZING, MUST TRY!!! I do have a question though about the cake, why isn’t there salt in this recipe, usually every cake I make has salt. I’m just wondering, it was delicious
Thank you for your recommendation, Ruth. I’ve never noticed or had any reports that it was lacking in flavor, but you are welcome to add it if you like! I do agree with adding salt to very sweet desserts like cookies and some very sweet frostings – it helps to cut the sweetness but this is not an overly sweet cake. 🙂
Can you use pumpkin pie spice instead of just cinnamon for more flavor and what would be the measurements if I did and how do you think that would turn out
Do you have a red velvet cake recipe?
Hi Tina, we do not have it at this time but that is a great idea, thank you for that suggestion.
Can I use a regular can of pumpkin that is not “pumpkin pie” instead of pumpkin puree?
Hello Pam, yes that will work too. Enjoy this recipe!
Hey, I’m using metric system so how hot is oven in ˚C when it is 350˚F? It would be really helpful if you could write the recipes in ˚C and ˚F. Not everyone use cups and ˚F.
Thank you for that suggestion Katja! We recommend using a conversion chart or a search engine like Google to convert the temperate. We use Fahrenheit being in the U.S. 350 F = 176 C. I hope that helps.