This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Simple and delicious pumpkin dump cake preps in minutes. With so many spices and sweet flavors, it’s perfect all fall long!
We love dump cakes—because of the simplicity, but also the TASTE! Our favorite flavors include peach and cherry, but in the fall, this pumpkin dump cake is the only cake we need!
A Perfect Fall Dessert!
It’s PUMPKIN time!! It’s that time of year when pumpkin and soup recipes start popping up everywhere and fall is on its way!
Today’s pumpkin recipe was shared by a family member. We stopped by on Thanksgiving to say hi and after they fed us this fall dessert, we fell in love and had to give it a try!
It’s called pumpkin dump cake, because you literally dump it, bake it, and enjoy it! It is so simple, and literally is the BEST fall cake.
making a Dump Cake
“Dump” cakes are as easy as they sound! Just mix and dump layers in a pan. Hence the name. Dump cakes are similar to cobblers, but a cobbler uses a biscuit or pie crust as the topping.
PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F.
BATTER. Mix pumpkin, milk, ginger, cloves, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Pour into a greased and floured 9×13 pan.
TOPPING. Sprinkle cake mix and chopped pecans on top. Cut butter very thin and cover all over the cake mix.
BAKE + ENJOY! Bake for 1 hour. Serve warm topped with Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream, and even a caramel drizzle if you’re feeling extra fancy.
Additional Topping Ideas
The pecans are totally optional on this easy pumpkin dump cake, but if you aren’t a fan of pecans try:
- crushed graham crackers
- toffee bits
- substitute for another type of chopped nut
recipe tips
Although we love this dessert as is, you can change up this pumpkin pie dump cake with a few of these suggestions.
Cake mix alternative. You are only using the dry cake mix, and not making it into a cake batter. If you don’t have yellow cake mix, use a pumpkin spice cake mix, or make a homemade mix.
Here’s how:
- Whisk together 2¼ cups all-purpose flour, 1½ cups granulated sugar, 3½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt plus 4 tbsp butter (½ stick).
- Use a pastry cutter to blend in the butter, and you’ve got a homemade yellow cake mix.
Variations.
- Replace the ginger, cloves, and cinnamon with an equal amount of Pumpkin Pie Spice.
- Forgo the Whipped Cream and add a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.
- Drizzle with Caramel Sauce.
- Sprinkle on mini chocolate chips.
Pumpkin puree. Note that this pumpkin cake with yellow cake mix calls for a can of pumpkin puree and NOT canned pumpkin pie filling. The pie filling already has spices and other ingredients mixed into it. Whereas pumpkin puree is only pumpkin.
Storing Info
STORE. We like to serve this pumpkin dump cake recipe warm, but you can store leftovers, covered, in the fridge. It should last for at least 2 days.
Reheat a slice by microwaving in 30-second intervals until it is the desired temperature.
FREEZE. To freeze a whole baked cake, wrap the entire pan with plastic wrap and again with foil.
For the leftover cake, divide it into individual freezer containers. Thaw overnight in the fridge and serve chilled or reheat the slices in the microwave.
Recipe FAQ
The bottom layer of this cake will be a bit gooey, but it should still be set enough to hold its shape when cut. The top section will have a more cake-like texture.
Canned pumpkin is pumpkin puree combined with sugar and extra spices. Pumpkin puree is pure pumpkin. Be sure to use pumpkin puree in the pumpkin dump cake recipe.
For More Pumpkin Recipes, Check Out:
- Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Magic Pumpkin Cake
- Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Bars
- No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes
- Libby’s Pumpkin Roll
Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix pumpkin, milk, ginger, cloves, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Pour into a greased and floured 9×13 pan.
- Sprinkle cake mix and chopped pecans on top.
- Cut butter very thin and cover all over the cake mix.
- Bake for 1 hour and serve warm with whipped cream. ENJOY!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this recipe for Thanksgiving and it is instantly a holiday favorite. I used more pecans, and more butter to cover the top. Hard to wait until dessert for this one. Super easy. That’s important for me because I can only make something simple. Thank you for the recipe.
Thank you so much! I agree…it’s a hard one to wait for 🙂
Thanks for this recipe. We love it! I have made 3x in the last year! It actually tastes better the next day as the flavors mellow so my advice is to make a day or two ahead. We had it for my niece’s birthday this month and everyone loved it! I spread whipped topping on top.
That makes me so happy to hear! We love it! Thank you for sharing!
Forgot to add the eggs ???? cooked it for a little over an hour and it still seems like the pumpkin is runny. Is that because of not having the eggs or do I need to cook longer? Any idea?
Oh, no..it will definitely need the eggs. I’m not sure if that is what makes it runny, but I would think so. Good luck!
We just forgot the eggs!
Was it edible?
DO I need to make another for TOMORROW’S party?
I’ve been making this same recipe, called pumpkin pie cake, FOR 20 years. I’ve frozen leftovers for months, and it’s AS delicious as when fresh. I’ve successfully COMBINED melted butter and canola or sunflower oil for the topping oil. SOMEONE mentioned mixing the melted butter into the dry cake mix instead of drizzling it on top. I DON’T know if or how that would work. my curiosity is piqued but not enough to try it. I use half each PECANS AND walnuts.
Thank you for sharing that 🙂
Brought this dessert to a halloween party last night and it got devoured! 8 ppl want me to send them the recipe! I made it exactly according to the recipe including the pecans and cool whip topping. Serve warm as suggested. Simply delicious!
Yay!! That’s what I love to hear! Thank you for sharing that!
Could you use sweet potato as eell?
I have never tried? One way to find out 😉
So, I made this and it smelled amazing and looked amazing and tasted pretty darn good. My only issue was, I felt like the pumpkin part was too eggy texture. I should say that it’s probably because I used large eggs and thought I should’ve used 1 less egg, but wanted to see what happened. So, needless to say, I love the flavor! I will adjust the recipe for big eggs and go with my gut next time. Thank you for a great recipe!
Thanks for sharing!! Glad you loved the flavor and found how to make it work best for you in the future. Thanks for giving the recipe a try.
Does these need to be refrigerated?
You could or keep it with a lid or covered well & it would be fine on the counter. ENJOY!
I would really love to try this recipe, but I am allergic to cinnamon. Do you think it would taste ok if I substitute nutmeg or should I use a little all spice? Or any other suggestions? I’m not a big baker so I’m unsure as to what I can do.
Those would be great!! I personally haven’t tried, but those are the ones I would suggest 🙂 Hope you like it!
can I make this a day ahead and just warm it before I serve it
Sure could 🙂 ENJOY!!
Made this and it tastes great. But it seems more like a pie than a cake. I could not cut it I had to spoon it out. Cooked for a hour an drink fifteen min.
Is it suppose to be this way?
It should be like a cake. I’m not sure what could have happened. I mean you could scoop it out, but you should be able to cut it, like cake.
Delicious!! Making it again this weekend. And sooo easy!
I’m so happy to hear you like it! Thank you for letting me know!
Do you mean a 30 ounce can of pumpkin pie filling? Or a 30 ounce can of pumpkin purée?
It’s a 30 ounce can of canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling 🙂