This pumpkin spice cake is pure fall magic-boxed mix, three ingredients, and not a single heavy mixer to to haul. You'll look like the mom who planned ahead (even if it came together during a commercial break).
🎧 Prefer to listen to the tips, FAQs, and storage information?
Take a break and listen to the important stuff on audio then join me in Picklefork for the Annual Picklefork Elementary Band Bake Sale.
Table of Contents
- 🎧 Prefer to listen to the tips, FAQs, and storage information?
- 🎥 Watch how easy this pumpkin spice cake really is
- 🗝️ Why this pumpkin spice cake with box mix is a fall favorite
- 🧾 Ingredients you'll need (and some you won't)
- 📖 Recipe
- 🔪 Instructions overview with step by step images
- 🥫 How to store leftover pumpkin spice cake
- 👩🍳 Can I swap the spice cake mix for yellow or white?
- 📚 More easy pumpkin recipes to love
- 💬 Before you go…
- 💬 Comments
🎥 Watch how easy this pumpkin spice cake really is
Why read when you can watch me throw three ingredients in a bowl and call it a seasonal masterpiece? Hit play, grab your coffee, and use it as an excuse to put your feet up.
🗝️ Why this pumpkin spice cake with box mix is a fall favorite
- Pumpkin cake made with spice cake mix is super easy to make and full of cozy flavor. Plus it freezes well!
- We loved it as a quick snack the during hectic back-to-school season but it's a delicious dessert any time. Consider 5 am with coffee and calling it breakfast.
- It literally takes less time to throw together than to find your toddler's shoes.
🧾 Ingredients you'll need (and some you won't)
Just three ingredients, y'all-and one of them is a box. This is fall baking for people who are overachievers at heart but running on caffeine and guilt. Bonus points if you already had all this in the pantry and didn't have to put on real pants.
- Spice cake mix - The boxed kind. We're not here to measure flour like it's 1953.
- Pumpkin puree - Just the pumpkin, not the pie filling. We're making cake, not regrets.
- Eggs - Room temp, because science. Or witchcraft. Either way, it works.
- Bourbon (optional) - For the cake or the baker. You decide who needs it more.
- Ground cloves (optional) - A pinch of extra fall flair, if you're feelin' fancy.
- Your favorite frosting - Cream cheese frosting, buttercream, or straight outta the tub. No judgment here.
You can also use this cake recipe for the pumpkin petit fours!
✨ Want frosting tips, cake pan swaps, and freezer hacks? Download the free Pumpkin Spice Cake PDF Kitchen Cheat Sheet-because yes, you can have your cake and organize it too.
📖 Recipe
3-Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Cake (made with a box mix)
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 15.25 oz spice cake mix, Use what you can find -some mixes can be downsized
- 15 oz pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
- 3 eggs
- 2 tablespoons bourbon, optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, optional
- 2 cups cream cheese frosting, or topping of choice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and grease a 13x9-inch pan.
- Add the cake mix, canned pumpkin, and eggs to a large bowl. Add in the bourbon and cloves if you're using them.
- Stir the ingredients together with a large spoon until smooth.
- Spoon into the prepared 13x9-inch pan.
- Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. An instant read thermometer will read 200℉.
- Cool and top with the cream cheese frosting or your favorite topping.
Notes
- The frosting is not figured in to the nutritional information.
- This batter will also make 2 8-inch layers or 24 cupcakes. Bake the layers for 20-25 minutes and the cupcakes for 15-20 minutes.
- If you leave out the bourbon there's no need to replace it. Just continue with the recipe.
- Keep the cake refrigerated if you use homemade cream cheese frosting. If you don't then the cake doesn't need to be refrigerated. This should be fine at room temperature for 3-4 days.
- Freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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🔪 Instructions overview with step by step images
This pumpkin spice cake recipe is super easy but don't let that fool you! It's absolutely delicious!
- Dump the cake mix, pumpkin, and eggs into a big bowl. Add the bourbon and cloves if you're feeling extra.
- Stir it all together until it's smoother than your last apology text.
- Spread that glorious batter into a greased baking dish or sheet pan-whatever's clean. I'm not telling you to like the spoon but I'm not NOT saying that.
- Bake until it smells like fall and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool it on a wire rack like the responsible adult you totally are-and try not to eat half of it before frosting.
🥫 How to store leftover pumpkin spice cake
This easy pumpkin spice cake can be left covered at room temperature for 3 to 4 days as long as you've used shelf-stable buttercream frosting. Freeze for up to 3 months. Download the free PDF above for more storage tips, frosting swaps, and cake mix tricks your grandma never told you.
👩🍳 Can I swap the spice cake mix for yellow or white?
Spoiler: You can-but it won't have that "Pinterest made me do it" level of flavor. More FAQs in the free PDF above the recipe card.
📚 More easy pumpkin recipes to love
- Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Scones -Skip the drive-thru and make these at home-because yours come with a maple bourbon glaze and don't cost seven dollars. Breakfast just became your favorite part of fall.
- Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes - Roasted pumpkin, warm spices, and just enough cuteness to make your coworkers think you actually enjoy baking. Go ahead and make a double batch-they'll vanish faster than your Halloween candy stash.
- Pumpkin Spice Quick Bread -This loaf smells like autumn and tastes like you had your life together. Sweet pecans, cozy spices, and a 10-minute prep time? Yes, please.
- Pumpkin Bundt Cake -The crowd-pleaser that never fails. It's pretty, it's spiced, and it looks way fancier than it actually is-just like your favorite aunt.
💬 Before you go…
Whether it's a school bake sale or your third pumpkin spice craving of the week, this easy pumpkin spice cake is the answer. I've made it for everything from PTA meetings to breakups, and it's never let me down. Pair it with cinnamon gelato or eat it straight from the pan-I don't judge.
What's your favorite topping for pumpkin spice cake? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Roberta says
These are delicious!!! I didn't use bourbon but everything else I used. I made cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Thank you for the recipe !
Camden Rusincovitch says
This recipe is exactly what I needed for my fall cravings. A pumpkin spice cake has to be a seasonal tradition now!
Alyssa says
This pumpkin spice cake is the perfect fall treat!