Fall Pumpkin Crunch Cake
This layered cake brings together a moist, spiced pumpkin filling, a buttery yellow‑cake crust, and a crunchy pecan topping, finished with a light cream‑cheese whipped frosting. Perfect for Thanksgiving or any autumn gathering, it offers rich pumpkin flavor with satisfying texture contrasts.
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13‑inch baking dish.
In a bowl combine pumpkin purée, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla and salt. Mix until smooth and pour into the prepared dish.
Evenly sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix over the pumpkin mixture without stirring. Drizzle melted butter over the cake mix and scatter about ¾ cup of the chopped pecans on top.
Bake for 50–55 minutes, until the pumpkin layer is set and the top turns golden. Allow the cake to cool completely.
While the cake cools, beat the softened cream cheese with the ½ cup sugar until smooth. Fold in the thawed Cool Whip until the topping is creamy.
Spread the cream‑cheese topping over the cooled cake and garnish with the remaining chopped pecans. Slice and serve.
Tips
For an extra‑crunchy topping, toast the pecans briefly before adding them. The cake can be made a day ahead; keep it refrigerated and bring to room temperature before serving.
Video
“🎃 Fall Pumpkin Crunch Cake | The Ultimate Fall Dessert!” by WTF ARE WE EATING NOW?, watch on YouTube.
About this recipe
The pumpkin layer is flavored with classic fall spices—cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves—and baked beneath a dry yellow cake mix that turns golden and buttery as it bakes. A drizzle of melted butter and chopped pecans adds richness and crunch to the top. Once cooled, the cake is crowned with a silky cream‑cheese and Cool Whip frosting, then finished with extra pecans for added texture. Serve slices on their own or with a dollop of whipped cream for an extra‑special dessert.
This recipe is straightforward, requiring only one pan and about an hour of bake time. It’s ideal for home cooks looking for a festive, make‑ahead dessert that captures the flavors of the season.
