Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe

By
María del Mar Cuadra
A headshot of Maria del Mar Cuadra, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
María del Mar Cuadra
María del Mar Cuadra is a food stylist, recipe developer, and art director. She has written three cookbooks and worked for America's Test Kitchen.
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Updated August 30, 2018
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And everything nice. . María del Mar Sacasa

This spice cake gets revamped with pumpkin, bold spices, molasses, and bold fresh ginger.

Recipe Details

Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe

Active 20 mins
Total 2 hrs
Serves 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

  • Baking spray
  • 2 1/2 cups (about 12 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 cup mild molasses
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (about 8 ounces) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch springform pan with baking spray. Press a square piece of parchment into bottom and up sides of pan and coat with baking spray. Press second piece of parchment into pan; coat with baking spray.

  2. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together molasses and boiling water until thoroughly combined.

  3. In large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula as needed. Beat in pumpkin puree and ginger. Reduce speed to low, then add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with molasses mixture.

  4. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until cake tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

  5. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Release springform and transfer cake directly onto cooling rack. Cool completely, at least 1 hour. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve.

Special equipment

9-inch springform pan, parchment paper, electric mixer, 2-cup liquid measuring cup or small bowl, rubber spatula, cooling rack


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