The Ultimate Homemade Pumpkin Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: Your Perfect Fall Dessert

As the leaves begin to turn and a crispness fills the air, there’s one flavor that truly signals the arrival of autumn: pumpkin. And what better way to celebrate the season than with an exquisite, homemade Pumpkin Layer Cake? This recipe promises a dessert that’s not just delicious but incredibly moist and bursting with classic fall spices. Paired with a luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting, it’s a match made in heaven that delights the senses and evokes cozy memories. Every bite offers a taste of autumn, ensuring this cake remains a family favorite for years to come.

The annual arrival of pumpkin season often brings with it the familiar chatter of potential pumpkin shortages. Every year, whispers emerge about limited canned pumpkin supplies, urging home bakers to stock up early. Yet, more often than not, just before major holidays like Thanksgiving, the shelves are still brimming with this essential ingredient. Is it a clever marketing strategy to boost sales, or do the fickle Midwest weather patterns occasionally threaten our beloved pumpkin harvest? While the truth might be somewhere in between, one thing is certain: a homemade pumpkin cake recipe like this one is always worth having on hand, just in case! It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of pumpkin in our fall baking traditions.

For many, the craving for pumpkin-flavored treats is a seasonal phenomenon, meticulously timed between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. It’s almost as if a switch flips, ushering in a period of intense pumpkin desire that magically subsides right after Black Friday. This culinary rhythm isn’t about following trends; it’s a genuine bodily response to the changing seasons, a deep-seated appreciation for the comforting spices and rich flavors that pumpkin offers. This pumpkin layer cake has been a long-awaited creation, conceptualized last year and patiently waiting for its turn in the spotlight. Given the array of layer cake recipes already perfected, it’s truly a wonder that a pumpkin version hasn’t appeared sooner. Now, it’s finally time to embrace this classic.

Why This Homemade Pumpkin Layer Cake is a Must-Bake

This isn’t just any pumpkin cake; it’s a showstopper. Featuring two thick, perfectly baked cake layers that are incredibly moist and infused with an aromatic blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other warm spices, this cake is pure autumnal bliss. The star of the show, beyond the cake itself, is the generous slathering of creamy, dreamy cream cheese frosting. Made entirely from scratch, both the cake and frosting boast a depth of flavor that store-bought versions simply can’t replicate. Some flavor combinations are timeless for a reason, and pumpkin with cream cheese frosting is undoubtedly one of them. It’s a tradition that evokes warmth, comfort, and celebration with every single forkful.

Embracing Simplicity for Extraordinary Flavor

It’s often surprising how the simplest approach yields the most remarkable results. When developing this pumpkin layer cake, the thought inevitably crossed my mind: should I add crunchy nuts for texture? A decorative garnish for visual appeal? Perhaps a decadent drizzle of caramel sauce to elevate the sweetness? What about infusing the cream cheese frosting with an additional flavor, like maple or brown butter? After careful consideration and a taste test of the pure, unadulterated version, the answer became clear: nope. This pumpkin cake was perfect as it was, in all its elegant simplicity. The natural flavors of pumpkin and spice, balanced by the rich, tangy frosting, needed no further embellishment. It’s a testament to the power of well-executed classic flavors.

Baking Tips for Perfectly Flat Cake Layers

Achieving perfectly flat cake layers without the need for excessive trimming is a quest for many home bakers. For this pumpkin cake, I attempted a popular kitchen hack: homemade bake-even strips. The idea involves wrapping a wet (but not soaking) strip of towel around the cake pan. This method is designed to slow down the baking of the cake’s edges, encouraging the center to rise more evenly and result in a flat top. While I found it somewhat helpful, I still needed to do a bit of trimming. Perhaps my batter wasn’t spread perfectly evenly, or its thickness played a role.

For those of you striving for immaculate cake layers, here are a few additional tips that often help:

Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure all your cold ingredients like eggs and milk are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better, leading to a smoother batter and a more even crumb structure.
Don’t Overmix: Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in a tougher cake and potentially a domed top. Mix until just combined.
Even Batter Distribution: Carefully divide your batter equally between the prepared cake pans. You can even use a kitchen scale for precision. Gently tap the pans on the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles and settle the batter.
Oven Temperature: An oven that’s too hot can cause the cake to rise too quickly and dome. Use an oven thermometer to ensure your oven is at the correct temperature.
Consider Different Pans: Some bakers swear by heavy-duty aluminum pans for more even heat distribution.

Baking is an art and a science, and every oven is different. I’m always experimenting, and if you have any tried-and-true tips for achieving perfectly flat cake layers, please share them – the baking community thrives on shared knowledge!

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield:
8-10 servings

Prep Time:
1 hour

Cook Time:
30 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
Double batch of Cream Cheese Frosting (click here for the recipe)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Line the bottom of two 8-inch round cake pans (1 1/2 inches deep) with parchment paper then lightly grease with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda (do not skip this step). Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together on medium speed the oil, sugar, and brown sugar until combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin and vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, adding the flour in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions (begin and end with dry ingredients).
Divide the batter between the two cake pans and bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes then invert the cake pans. Cool completely on a wire rack.
If the cake layers are not flat, trim some of the cake off of the top until flat. Place one cake layer on a cake stand or plate. Slide pieces of parchment or wax paper underneath the cake for easy clean up later. Spread some of the frosting on top of the cake for the filling. Top with the remaining cake layer. Spread a thin layer of frosting all over the cake, sealing in the crumbs (don’t use more than half of the frosting). Refrigerate 15 minutes.
Finish covering the cake with the remaining frosting. Carefully remove the paper pieces. Refrigerate until the frosting is firm. Store the cake covered in the refrigerator. For best results, let the cake sit at room temperature 15-30 minutes before serving.

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you think! Rate the recipe above, leave a comment below, and/or share a photo on Instagram using #HITKrecipes

This delightful Pumpkin Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe is adapted from my popular apple butter layer cake, showcasing how versatile and adaptable cake recipes can be with a few seasonal twists. It’s perfect for any autumn gathering, from a casual family dinner to a grand Thanksgiving feast.

Serving and Storing Your Pumpkin Layer Cake

To ensure you experience this pumpkin layer cake at its absolute best, a few serving and storage tips are essential. While the cake and its cream cheese frosting are best stored in the refrigerator due to the dairy in the frosting, it’s highly recommended to let the cake sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before serving. This allows the cake layers to soften slightly and the frosting to reach its optimal creamy consistency, enhancing the flavors and texture. Cover any leftover cake tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out, and it will remain delicious for several days in the refrigerator.

Explore More Irresistible Layer Cakes

If you’ve fallen in love with this Pumpkin Layer Cake, you’ll be thrilled to discover more of my beloved layer cake recipes, each perfect for various occasions and cravings. From fruit-filled delights to rich chocolate indulgences, there’s a cake for every palate and celebration.

Caramel Apple Butter Layer Cake

Carrot Cake Layer Cake

Strawberry Layer Cake

Devil’s Food Layer Cake

Funfetti Layer Cake

Whether you’re planning a holiday feast, a birthday celebration, or simply craving a comforting homemade treat, these layer cake recipes are designed to impress and delight. Happy baking!