Description
This Pumpkin Spice Cake is soft, rich, and loaded with cozy spices and real pumpkin. It starts with a box mix but tastes fully homemade. Great for fall celebrations or weeknight baking—ready in under an hour!
Ingredients
Scale
1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz / 432 g)
5 tbsp all-purpose flour (42 g)
½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)
½ cup vegetable oil (107 g)
1 cup canned pumpkin (235 g, not pumpkin pie filling)
½ cup milk (121 g)
1 tsp vanilla extract (4 g)
4 large eggs
2 tsp ground cinnamon (6 g)
1 tsp nutmeg (2 g)
½ tsp ground ginger (1 g)
Optional: chopped pecans or mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat & prepare pans
Preheat your oven to 350°F (≈ 175°C). Grease and flour two 8‑ or 9‑inch round cake pans, or one 9×13‑inch pan. You can also make cupcakes if you prefer. - Mix dry ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix and 5 tablespoons of flour. Whisk these together so the flour is fully incorporated. - Add liquids & pumpkin
To the dry mixture, add sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, canned pumpkin, and milk. - Add spices and eggs
Add cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger (or pumpkin pie spice if you like), then crack in the 4 eggs. - Beat the batter
Using a mixer set to medium speed, beat the batter for about 2 minutes until smooth and well blended. Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl once halfway through to ensure even mixing. - Pour & bake
Pour the batter into your prepared pans. If using round pans, divide evenly. Bake in the preheated oven. For round pans, bake about 25‑30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If using a 9×13 pan, check it a little earlier or near that same time depending on your oven. - Cool & frost
Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely before frosting. Once cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting or spiced cream cheese frosting.
Notes
Substitute spice cake mix and omit added spices for a shortcut version.
Makes great cupcakes—bake 18–22 mins at 350°F.
Use room temperature ingredients for best results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: ~460
- Sugar: ~38 g
- Carbohydrates: ~60 g
- Protein: ~5 g