Easy to make Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is made with just five ingredients using spice cake mix, canned pumpkin, applesauce, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Easy to make pumpkin cake that’s perfect for the holidays!
This simple recipe comes together in minutes and is the perfect cake for pumpkin fans. Feel confident that you have a winner with this deliciously perfect pumpkin bundt cake made with spice cake mix!
If you love pumpkin treats, don’t miss my Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes, Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies, or Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake. And, be sure to check out these Pumpkin Biscotti, that are so much better than store-bought versions! If you love cake mix hacks, don’t miss these German Chocolate Brownies made with cake mix!
Why this Pumpkin Bundt Cake is the BEST!
If you are new to baking, or just looking for a quick and delicious holiday dessert, this recipe for Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is for you! Made with just a few ingredients, this recipe comes together fast and guarantees perfect results every time.
I make this recipe every year for the holidays and it’s always a favorite. The cake itself is super moist and flavorful. And the thick cream cheese frosting makes is super special.
Sometimes you need a quick and delicious show-topping dessert! This Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese frosting does just that while being stress free and perfect for parties.
To the spice cake mix I add a combination of pumpkin puree, apple sauce, and pumpkin pie spice. This gives the cake mix a ton of flavor and moisture, without a lot of added fats.
So, whatever the occasion, you should definitely try this recipe! Whether you’re a beginning baker or pro, you’ll appreciate the delicious shortcut using cake mix in this pumpkin bundt cake recipe.
Ingredients
Make a delicious Pumpkin Bundt Cake with just 5 ingredients: boxed spice cake mix, canned pumpkin puree, apple sauce, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice.
- Spice Cake Mix: boxed spice cake mix makes this cake extra special. I like to use the Betty Crocker spice cake mix.
- Canned Pumpkin: you can find canned pumpkin in the baking aisle during off season, or year round everywhere in the grocery store.
- Apple Sauce: the apple sauce keeps this cake super moist without adding an extra fat to the recipe. If you don’t have it, I’ve heard that plain yogurt is a good substitute.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: pumpkin spice is a delicious combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger. If you don’t have it, you can make your own homemade version or just substitute cinnamon.
How to Make Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Yes, you can get a delicious and nearly homemade pumpkin cake using a box mix! With a couple of additions, I guarantee you’ll have the one of the most flavorful and moist cakes you could imagine… and you’ll never know you had help from boxed cake mix.
To start, you will need to preheat your oven to 350 degrees and place a baking rack in the center of the oven. Then, spray a nonstick standard-sized bundt cake pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together the apple sauce, pumpkin puree, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until very smooth (no need to use a handheld mixer, whisk is fine).
Step 2: Add in the spice cake mix. Stir this in until just combined, being careful not to over mix the batter.
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Step 3: Pour the batter into a greased standard bundt cake pan (10 inches, 12 cups) and spread the top of the batter using a spatula. Place the bundt cake on the center rack of the preheated oven. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
Step 4: Remove the cake from oven and let rest in bundt cake pan for 5-10 minutes. Use a knife to loosen then pan, the flip in onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Be sure the cake is completely cooled before adding the frosting.
While the cake cools, prepare the frosting. Be sure not to add the frosting to a warm cake. You can speed up the cooling of the cake by placing it in the refrigerator.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
This thick and delicious cream cheese frosting makes the pumpkin bundt cake extra special! With just a few ingredients, you’ll love how simple this frosting is.
To make cream cheese frosting for a pumpkin bundt cake you will need: cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk, and pumpkin pie spice.
Step 1: Take the ingredients out to soften while the cake cools. You need room temperature butter and cream cheese for this recipe.
Step 2: In a bowl, use a handheld mixer or whisk to beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar, milk, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until all of the ingredients are well combined.
Step 3: Spread the cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake. You can use a piping bag to make the frosting more decorative, or just spread it on top using a knife like I did here.
And that’s it! This show-stopping cake is so easy to make and guaranteed to be the star of your holiday dessert table. You can make it a day in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Be sure you are using pumpkin puree, rather than pumpkin pie filling. It will say 100 percent pure pumpkin on the label.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can make your own or just use cinnamon.
- Apple sauce keeps the cake moist and replaces the oil and fat in this cake.
- When making the cream cheese frosting, be sure you are using room temperature butter and cream cheese. And, don’t add the frosting to the cake until it is completely cooled.
- Make the cake in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To make Pumpkin Bundt Cake from mix use spice cake mix, apple sauce, canned pumpkin puree, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Top with a cream cheese frosting.
A simple cream cheese frosting is the best way to top your pumpkin bundt cake. All you need is cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and milk. Add a dash of pumpkin pie spice to make it extra special.
More Pumpkin Recipes!
Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- standard bundt cake pan
Ingredients
- 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree (like Libby's)
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 15.25 ounce box Spice Cake Mix (like Betty Crocker's)
Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a standard bundt cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the pumpkin puree, applesauce, eggs, and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice until well combined. Add in the spice cake mix and stir until well combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared bundt cake pan and smooth top using a rubber spatula. Carefully place in oven and bake for 28-33 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes before flipping over and letting cool on wire baking rack completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- To make the frosting, place the softened butter and cream cheese in a large bowl and use a handheld mixer to cream together until well combined, about two minutes. Add in the powdered sugar, milk, and pumpkin pie spice and continue mixing, starting on the lowest speed and increasing as the sugar combines with the other ingredients.
- Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled cake.
Video
Notes
- Be sure you are using pumpkin puree, rather than pumpkin pie filling. It will say 100 percent pure pumpkin on the label.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can make your own or just use cinnamon.
- Apple sauce keeps the cake moist and replaces the oil and fat in this cake.
- When making the cream cheese frosting, be sure you are using room temperature butter and cream cheese. And, don’t add the frosting to the cake until it is completely cooled.
- Make the cake in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
What kind of butter for this recipe? Thanks
I always bake with unsalted butter but salted butter works too! Enjoy 🙂
Very moist. I added a cup of mini semi sweet chocolate chips too
Great addition! So happy you enjoyed them.
Easy and super moist I 😍
Thanks! Happy you enjoyed it 🙂
This is absolutely my favorite cake recipe. I cut it in thirds and freeze two portions for later. I don’t add the frosting, as to save calories. It is moist and delicious just the same.
Thanks so much, Martha! Great idea to portion and save for later 🙂
I don’t have applesauce and hate bananas….can I use something else?
Try Greek yogurt if you have it
Such an easy, crowd pleasing recipe! I made it into muffins for a family brunch, and added a sprinkle of brown sugar to the tops before baking. Once they cooled, I drizzled a maple glaze just to make it a little extra special. They were a hit!
What a great idea to make this into muffins! So happy you loved the recipe.
Your recipe calls for 1/2 stick of butter yet your video shows 1/4 stick. Your recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of both vanilla and pumkin pie spice but the video is clearing showing a lot more.
Hi Annna. I can assure you that the recipe card is the same as the video. Also, I do list 1/4 butter for the video and in the recipe card. Give the recipe a try, you’re going to love it!
Just made this today and it was definitely a hit! So moist and delicious!
The recipe calls for 2 Tbsps of butter? Please confirm
Yes, the butter is used to smooth out the cream cheese frosting. You can leave it out and use extra cream cheese if you’d like.
Easy and a lovely recipe to try this weekend. I love that it has healthy ingredients and the frosting is my favorite too. Looks yum.
Huge fan of making cakes from mixes, it’s just so convenient! And there’s something about the shape of a bundt cake that somehow makes it taste better, isn’t there? Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Yes! I completely agree 🙂
This looks so yummy and scrumptious! My family is going to love this! Can’t wait to make this!
This bundt cake is very cute and taste so delicious! Perfect for fall 🙂
This pumpkin spice came out perfectly! The cake mix makes it super easy, and it was so moist and just had the right kick of pumpkin spice. It’s definitely worth putting on your fall baking rotation.
what can i sub for the applesauce??
You can use a mashed banana in place of the applesauce. Let me know how it goes!
Made it tonight! We especially enjoyed this spiced cream cheese frosting! Yummy and delicious! Thanks for sharing.
So easy and so pretty and that cream cheese frosting has my heart!!