My Pumpkin Crunch Cake is the original version that you see all over the internet. And believe me when I tell you it will be the best cake you’ve ever tasted! In fact, your family and friends will verify that statement when you serve it to them.
When I was asked to come up with a dish that was Holiday tradition in my homes, it was a no-brainer for me. One very special dessert came to mind, a dessert that usually makes one or two appearances a year, depending upon the parties I host.
But you can be guaranteed that sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you’ll see this extra special cake. It’s also a cake I made for our engagement party the very first year Lisa and I were together.
Since I usually end up eating 75% of the cake by myself, it’s a good thing I don’t make it more often…sigh. Last year I did start distributing wedges of cake to the neighbors, which got me a marriage proposal in the process….luckily her husband took it in stride as did Lisa!
So when you make this cake for your family and friends, be prepared, and also have extra copies of the recipe on hand because you’re going to need them! This cake is just that good!
Holidays can be a very special time; we have been blessed as food bloggers; not only do we have enough to eat, but we have enough to make dishes to blog about……not everyone is that fortunate, and although it should be in our thoughts the entire year, this time of year it needs to be at the top of our list.
Ingredients to make the Crunch Layer
These are the ingredients in their ready form to make the crunch layer and crunch topping for the outside of the cake. Vanilla wafers and walnuts ground in a food processor. Brown sugar and melted butter.
Blend all the ingredients together to make the crunch topping. The crunch topping should be just wet enough to form it. If it’s too dry add a little more melted butter.
Add one very full cup of topping to each pan.
Ingredients to make the pumpkin crunch cake
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Pumpkin Crunch Cake. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”
Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
**Make sure to get pumpkin puree NOT pumpkin pie mix. Eggs, butter and yogurt should be at room temperature.
How do I make the pumpkin cake batter?
There are four steps in making the cake batter.
- Whip the softened butter and sugar for about 5 minutes to get it light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl frequently.
- Add in the pumpkin, Greek yogurt, vanilla and pumpkin pie seasoning. Mix well.
- Add the flour mixture (flour, baking soda, baking powder). Mix just enough to incorporate the flour.
- Add the eggs and mix just enough to blend.
When the cake batter is completed, split it equally among the four prepared cake pans.
**Be careful spreading the batter. You don’t want to pull up the crunch topping. Using an offset spatula makes this process much easier.
When the cake has completely cooled, you can start frosting the layers.
**Don’t rush this step, or the layers will start sliding off the cake. You can let the cakes cool overnight to be sure and make the cream cheese frosting ahead of time and let it chill. If the frosting is too hard, whip it with your mixer to soften it up enough to spread.
Repeat the process with the layers until all four have been stacked. Then put a crumb coat of cream cheese frosting on the entire cake.
**If you are better at frosting than I am, you can skip the crunch topping that covers the cake.
Coat the cake with the crunch topping by placing your hand along the side of the cake and dropping the topping along the sides. Keep turning the cake until the entire cake has been coated. Add a layer of the crunch on the top of the cake or leave the top plain, it’s up to you.
Once your incredibly delicious Pumpkin Crunch Cake is finished, it should be allowed to chill for a few hours before cutting; it will help firm up this cake. (When you do cut it, make sure to use a serrated knife). So try to be patient.
FAQ Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Yes, you can; this cake can be made up to 2 days ahead of time.
Yes, it does. The cake should be taken out of refrigeration 30 minutes before serving but kept in the refrigerator the rest of the time.
Yes, you can. Just make sure that the fresh pumpkin is not loose or liquid. The texture needs to be thick and dense.
Yes, you can. Just cut the recipe in half?
No, you don’t. You can eliminate the additional crunch topping and frosting. Just frost between the layers if you like and serve it topped with whipped cream.
More Dessert Recipes You’ll Love!
Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Ingredients
Crunch Topping
- 3 cups walnuts finely chopped or pecans
- 3 cups vanilla wafers about 75 cookies
- 3 cups brown sugar
- 8 oz unsalted butter
Pumpkin Crunch Cake
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- 6 oz unsalted butter softened
- 16 oz can solid pack pumpkin not pumpkin pie mix
- 2 ½ cups flour
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 24 oz cream cheese
- 16 oz mascarpone * you can use cream cheese instead of mascarpone
- 8 oz softened butter
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla
Instructions
Crunch Topping
- Melt Butter
- In a food processor, pulse cookies to a fine crumb
- Pulse walnuts to a fine chop
- Mix cookie crumbs, walnuts and brown sugar together, blending well.
- Add in Melted Butter and mix together.*if the mixture is too dry add additional melted butter
- Divide mixture into 4 prepared (greased and floured) cake pans – standard 9-inch rounds (One very full cup per pan), pressing into bottom and spreading it evenly into the cake pans. Reserve about 2 cups of the mixture which will be baked to use on the sides of the cake.I** like using a parchment cake circle in the bottom, the cake releases easily.
- Set pans aside and begin cake.
- Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
- Bake the reserved crunch mix for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees F. Or until it crisps up a bit. Don't let it burn!Allow to cool before adding to the sides and top of the cake.
Pumpkin Cake
- In your mixer beat sugar and butter for about 5 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the bowl frequently.
- Add in the pumpkin, Greek yogurt, vanilla and pumpkin pie seasoning. Mix well.
- Add the flour mixture (flour, baking soda, baking powder). Mix just enough to incorporate the flour.
- Add in the eggs, one at a time just until blended.
- Divide batter equally into your 4 prepared cake pans, smooth it out and make it as even as possible in the pan.**Be careful spreading the batter, you don't want to pull up the crunch topping. Using an offset spatula makes this process much easier.
- Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you use 2 racks to bake on in the oven, at the halfway mark rotate the pans.
- Allow pans to cool about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack and allow to completely cool.
- while your cakes are baking prepare a Cream Cheese Frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Whip the cream cheese, mascarpone, and butter till very smooth and creamy
- Slowly add in the confectioner's sugar while the mixer is on low setting
- Add in vanilla and mix well. Set aside till needed.
Assembly
- After your cake is completely cooled (you can even refrigerate for a few hours) begin frosting the layers and putting the cake together.**Don't rush this step, or the layers will start sliding off the cake. You can let the cakes cool overnight to be sure and make the cream cheese frosting ahead of time and let it chill. If the frosting is too hard, whip it with your mixer to soften it up enough to spread.
- When you have assembled all the layers with some frosting between them, start to spread the remaining frosting on the sides and top.
- Coat the cake with the crunch topping by placing your hand along the side of the cake and dropping the topping along the sides. Keep turning the cake until the entire cake has been coated. Add a layer of the crunch on the top of the cake or leave the top plain, it's up to you.
Video
Notes
After heating place a plate on top of the pan, and invert quickly. Tap the pan with the heel of a knife to help release the cake.
YiaYia
My family pronounced this the best cake ever and talked about it for days. I enjoyed it more the next day as I was still in a sugar/butter coma from baking it!
Chef Dennis Littley
ha… I know what you mean, I love this cake but have to make sure I only get a few pieces. Thanks for the great review!
Sarah
Would I be able to half the recipe and make it in a 9×13 pan instead? We’re only having 4 people for thanksgiving this year and as much as I would like to eat all the leftovers of a cake that serves 20, I don’t think it’s something that I NEED to do.
Chef Dennis Littley
that will work. Or just make two layers
Sarah
I made it in the 9×13 pan and it turned out great. I did make a few more adjustments since I wouldn’t be making it into a layer cake. I eyeballed the amount of sugar for the crunch topping, probably under by 1/2c., and added almost the whole 15 oz. can of pumpkin in the batter simply because I didn’t feel like throwing it out or putting it into the fridge so I could throw it out later. I also used only two 8oz blocks of cream cheese for the frosting instead of the mascarpone, and I still ended up with a 1/2” layer on the cake. I baked it for 25 minutes. It definitely lived up to the reviews!
Leslie
Just made this for my niece’s 16th birthday. Huge hit; rave reviews. Thank you for publishing your recipe!
GailMarie
Wow Thanks so much I used you dry Brine and bagged the Turkey it was wonderful and so moist.
The cake was perfect in every way!! Oh so very good. Glad I ran into your site.
Chef Dennis Littley
Thank you so much for bringing two of my recipes to your Thanksgiving table and thank you for the great review!
Jason P
My crunch Topping Did not turn out as dark as yours it is mainly more like just a grahamo cracker kind of crust and I’m not sure what I did wrong.
Chef Dennis Littley
Mine stayed in the oven longer which is why its darker. I’ve made this cake quite a few times a sometimes it comes out dark and others not. It’s still delicious!
Farrah
I haven’t baked a cake in the longest time but this looks so good! *-* Perfect for the holidays!
Ryan Biddulph
Dennis as I read this I am salivating. Fabulous.
Ashley
This cake is absolutely delicious. It’s even better 2 or 3 days later.
Chef Dennis Littley
It is my favorite cake! I think I need to make one soon!
Barbara Fozard
I want to make this cake for Thanksgiving, but I’m traveling a 2 hour drive away. Any suggestions for this? Do I wait to frost? Do I wait to assemble? Do I make it and box it up and it be okay till I get to my destination? What’s your opinion for travel? We will eat shortly after arrival, so I don’t want t to “haul” ingredients to make it there!!
Chef Dennis Littley
I would not wait to frost it. The cake needs to set up for a few hours or overnight if possible in the refrigerator. Otherwise its going to be hard to cut. I would put it all together and try to keep it as stationary as possible on the floor of the car. Since it has the crunch topping around the cake, you could even wrap it in plastic wrap to keep everything in place.
Ariana
Might be a dumb question but what does the “g” in g cups mean for flour and sugar? Generous?
Chef Dennis Littley
sorry that was just a misprint. Thanks for catching it
Erika
Is it possible to incorporate a little bit of chocolate? Maybe on the topping?
Chef Dennis Littley
hi Erika
of course you can add chocolate! You could add in some chocolate chips to the cake or add some shavings or bits to the top of the cake as a topping instead of the crunch mixture or combined with the crunch mixture.
Saunya
My husband loves all things pumpkin, I made this for his bday and he LOVED it!! Big hit, will do again for the holidays. I am not a pumpin lover but I do like this cake! The cake was moist and delicious but the tangy frosting made my day. Thank you for sharing!!
Chef Dennis Littley
thanks Saunya, it is one of my all time favorite desserts!
Kim Castaneda
This is the BEST CAKE EVER! I have made it every year for our big family Thanksgiving since 2012, and I have been instructed to not even show up without the cake. And they are serious! I suggested I might make something else this year (and I meant in addition to this, but I guess I didn’t make that clear), and I thought I was going to be disowned from the family. Several people have told me that it’s the best thing they have EVER tasted. Many thanks to you for creating this masterpiece of a recipe!
Chef Dennis Littley
Thank you so much for your comment Kim, I’m always happy to hear when someone has success with one of my recipes and more so when you make it one of your family’s traditions.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Diana
Is this a dense cake? I have made it 2x in a row today, -and both times it came out very dense.
Thank you!
Chef Dennis Littley
the cake itself is fairly dense. It should also be fairly moist.
Saunya
Hi Diana, I found the batter to be very thick but the finished product was very moist. I appreciated that the dense batter did not dome during baking, which made it easy to assemble and frost. I bought an 8oz container of greek yogurt and only expected to use half but the full container was equal to a 1/2c. In the past I didn’t use the correct amount of yogurt.
Tammy Gablehouse
I plan on making this very soon, but I was a little confused, do you use all the cream cheese and the mascarpone or is it one or the other. Thank you
Chef Dennis Littley
the full amount of both is required. You can use all cream cheese if you like.