Pumpkin Cake with Crumb Topping
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyThis Pumpkin Cake is an easy recipe for when those pumpkin spice cravings hit. With its crunchy crumb topping, this delicious cake will quickly become your new go-to fall baking treat!
Did you know that pumpkin spice season begins on the morning of September 1!? I’m not sure how it is with other folks, but I’m already excited about celebrating all things fall. While I’m still soaking up every ray of sunshine, the warm weather doesn’t stop me from also savoring yummy autumn goodies such as this Pumpkin Cake!
Pumpkin Cake:
Over the years, I’ve shared a variety of delectable pumpkin-based recipes. Some of my favorites include Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal, and Frosted Pumpkin Cookies. I’ve been wanting to add a quick, no-fuss pumpkin cake to the collection, and this easy recipe is it!
My favorite thing about this recipe is that you can put it together in under 15 minutes without the use of a mixer. (Win-win!) That means clean-up is almost as fast as the preparation!
The resulting Pumpkin Cake is moist and packed with the fall pumpkin spice flavor that so many of us love! And don’t get me started on the crumb topping! You don’t need frosting when you have a crumb topping as good as this one.
Let me walk you through the recipe for this easy Pumpkin Cake with Crumb Topping.
How to Make Pumpkin Cake:
Start by preparing the crumb topping on the stove. This comes together with brown sugar, butter, vanilla, salt, and flour.
Once it’s mixture is ready, transfer it to a sheet of wax or parchment paper and allow it to cool. (Don’t make the mistake I did of letting the topping sit in the pan. It will stick to the pan and be a bit of a challenge to remove.)
While the crumb topping cools, prepare the pumpkin cake batter by mixing the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. No mixer is required!
Then add the wet ingredients to the dry ones until everything is just combined. As with any cake, be careful not to over mix.
To bake this recipe I used one of my favorite 8×10-inch baking dishes from Staub. I have this baking set and I used them constantly! I adore the quality of Staub products.
With the batter in the pan, break the cooled topping into chunks/crumbs and evenly sprinkle them on top.
Now, you’re ready to bake! Once your cake cools, dig in!
You can serve this Pumpkin Cake warm, but it will be equally tasty in the next day or two. Just store it in the pan covered with plastic wrap.
Enjoy this Pumpkin Cake? You’ll love these pumpkin-inspired treats:
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies
- Pumpkin Spice Cream Horns
- Pumpkin White Chocolate Bread Pudding
- Pumpkin Slab Pie
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies
- Pumpkin Whoppie Pies
This Pumpkin Cake with Crumb Topping is truly that simple. My dad and his wife visited my house (to check out my new kitchen) a couple of days after I made this cake, and they gave it rave reviews.
Happy Baking! And Happy Pumpkin Spice Season!
Pumpkin Cake with Crumb Topping Recipe:
Pumpkin Cake with Crumb Topping
Ingredients
Topping:
- 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups flour
Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the topping. In a medium saucepan, cook the brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir until smooth. Remove from the heat and then whisk in the flour until smooth. Transfer to a sheet of wax (or parchmenpaper. Cool completely.
- Next, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Spray an 8x10-inch rectangular baking pawith cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture, whisking until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Then break the cooled topping into chunks/crumbs and sprinkle on top of the batter.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Can you tell me what the pumpkin can size is used for this recipe.
As listed in the recipe card, it’s a 15 ounce can. I hope that helps!
xo Michael
Thank You!
I’m making this tonight! We have snow on the ground and this recipe will be a perfect dessert tonight!
As always, you have the best recipes!
Yay!! So happy to hear that Cheri. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
xo Michael
This cake looks simply delicious! I would like to know if the nutritional value is for the whole cake or by the slice and if so how big?
Thanks! The nutritional facts are based on an individual serving. Cut into large pieces, this serves 12.
xo Michael
The cake itself is outstanding. We grow Kabocha pumpkin so I use our freshly roasted puree in this recipe. I’m also Gluten-free so I substitute an all-purpose GF flour. It comes out great. We skip the crumb top. Sometimes I top with cream cheese thinned out with about a teaspoon of maple syrup and a couple teaspoons of milk. OR I take some butter, walnuts, and cinnamon and chop together in a mini chopper and spread on top before we bake. The crumb never worked for us, but crumb with GF flour is always a little weird. I have probably made this cake recipe at least 20 times. It is really that good!. I also sometimes substitute shredded carrots for the pumpkin, and add a bit of raisins and walnuts- makes a great carrot cake! Even though this is not a gluten-free recipe, it restored my hope that I could eat good cake again!
I just made this cake and am having a piece while it is still warm. Very good and I love the spiciness!
I really wanted to love this cake but the crumb topping bakes up hard, dry and flavorless.
The cake bottom is good.
You could cover the top with a piece of foil to prevent it from browning too much on the top. I think that may help.
xo Michael
Delicious and easy to make! The only pan I had available was a bit larger than the recipe recommended, but the cake still turned out quite nice.
So glad you hear that! Thank you!
xo Michael
I’m gonna have to make this! Looks so good
I believe more explanation of how to cook the crumb topping needs to said. Didn’t indicate how long to cook ingredients on the stove.
I love all things pumpkin, looks so good. Is it moist or dryer like a coffee cake?
It’s moist. 🙂
xo Michael
Love this! So delectable and satisfying!:))
It really is!! Enjoy!!
xo Michael
My husband and I love this cake! It’s definitely a keeper in my recipe binder and my buttermilk substitution for sour cream was fine. We have family who live close by, so I shared the cake with my adult kids and grandkids. They ALL loved it. The ultimate compliment was from my jr. higher granddaughter. She wanted the last piece to take in her school lunch today to share with her friends. I thought that was so sweet!
Wow!! What an amazing compliment!! Thank you so much for sharing, Marla! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it.
xo Michael
❤️Love this recipe and can’t wait to make it. Can I substitute buttermilk for sour cream? I have no sour cream on hand.
I assume that should be okay. Sour cream is a bit thicker, but I don’t think it should cause too much trouble. Happy Baking!!
xo Michael
This looks amazing. I can’t wait to try this.
Thank you! Enjoy!
xo Michael