Impress your party guests with this cute Halloween Pumpkin Cake with a jolly face. Pumpkin spice cake and buttercream frosting make this a delicious addition to your Halloween party!
PIN IT NOW TO SAVE FOR LATER
Use 2 Bundt Pans for the Pumpkin Shape
What’s cuter than a Halloween Pumpkin Cake? This one is easy to make with 2 Bundt pans to create the pumpkin shape. It’s not only shaped like a pumpkin but it’s a pumpkin flavored cake too.
Make a Large Pumpkin or a Small One
I used 2 half-size (6-cup) Bundt pans to create this small sized Halloween Pumpkin Cake. If you don’t have those, then you could use 2 regular sized Bundt pans and double the recipe to make a large sized cake.
How to Make a Halloween Pumpkin Cake
The cake recipe is easy. Just a few ingredients:
1) Yellow cake mix
2) Canned pumpkin
3) 1 egg,
4) Vegetable oil
5) Pumpkin pie spice
(See below for step-by-step instructions.)
In addition to the 2 small (6-cup) Bundt pans, you’ll also need to make 4 mini muffins for this recipe. You just need 3 for the cake, but it’s always good to have an extra in case you mess up or maybe you would like to taste the fruits of your labor.
Fill 4 greased mini muffin cups with prepared cake batter. Then fill 2 greased Bundt pans with equal amounts of the remaining batter. Bake muffins and cakes as directed. Let cool.
Please note the image below as a visual instruction on how to assemble the Halloween Bundt Cake.
While the cake and muffins are baking, you can make the buttercream frosting. Color as directed in recipe.
Let cakes cool and frost as shown. Before frosting, place a mini muffin in the middle of each Bundt cake. (Note: A third muffin will be the stem on top and one muffin is extra.)
Place one cake upside down on serving plate. Add white frosting, then place another cake (right side up) on top. Frost the entire cake with orange frosting. You can initially put the orange icing on kind of messy. Then, once the cake is covered with a good amount of icing, use an offset spatula to spread the icing in an upward motion to create the pumpkin pattern. Use black buttercream to create the face. Draw the eyes, nose and mouth with a #5 round pastry tip. Fill in with an offset spatula.
Add an upside down mini muffin on top of the cake and frost with green icing. Create vines with a #5 round pastry tip and leaves with a #352 leaf pastry tip.
The cake is ready to serve!
I made the cake for Fall Fest at my church – Alpharetta First United Methodist. They needed cakes for the cake walk. Well, guess who won the pumpkin cake. My daughter, Savannah. True story! Ansley (a friend) and my son, Luke, each won a cake as well. So they decided to do a taste test. Any idea which cake won? That’s right, the Halloween Pumpkin Cake. It’s kid approved, folks.
Tools for success
Nordic Ware 6-Cup Bundt Pan (8″ wide)
Wilton Mini Muffin Pan (24 muffins)
Wilton 16-inch Disposable Pastry Bags
Kitchenaid 5-Quart Stand Mixer
Want even more? Subscribe to Mom Loves Baking to get new recipes and a newsletter delivered to your inbox. And stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for all my latest updates. If you make this recipe, share a photo on social media tagging @momlovesbaking and using the hashtag #momlovesbaking.
Halloween Pumpkin Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 yellow cake mix I used Pillsbury
- 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz or 425g)
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (60 ML)
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the frosting
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening (such as Crisco) (113 g)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (113 g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar (512 g)
- 2 tablespoons milk (or more for thinner consistency)
- food coloring (orange, green and black)
Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two half size Bundt pans and one mini muffin pan. Set aside.
- In large bowl, place all cake ingredients. With an electric mixer on low, beat until ingredients are combined. Turn speed up to medium and beat for 1 1/2 minutes. Spoon about 2 tablespoons batter into each of 4 mini muffin cups. Pour the rest of the batter in equal amounts into prepared Bundt pans. Bake mini muffins for 20 minutes. Continue baking cakes for 15-25 minutes (or total of 35-45 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted into middle of cake comes out clean. Let cakes cool completely.
- Meanwhile, prepare the frosting.
- Place shortening in large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium high for two minutes. Add the butter and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add half the sugar. Add the milk and vanilla. Beat on low for a few seconds. Keep mixer on low and add the remaining sugar. Turn the mixer up to medium high and beat for 2 minutes. Add more milk if it's too thick.
Frosting and Decorating the Cake
- Put 1/4 cup of frosting in a separate bowl for the green and 1/4 cup in another bowl for the black. Keep the remaining frosting white for the time being. Place the first cake (rounded side down) on a cake board. Place a mini muffin in the middle. Frost the top of the cake. Place the second cake on top (rounded side facing up). Place another muffin in the middle. Frost the center only with white. Color the remaining frosting orange. Frost the whole cake with the orange frosting. A small offset spatula works great for spreading (I used Wilton Brand). Frost a mini cupcake with green frosting. Place on top of cake. (The fourth mini muffin is extra.) Create vines in green with the #5 tip and leaves with the #352 tip. Draw the face in black with a #5 tip.
- Store cake in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Shelbie says
I’m having a fall-themed baby shower next month and this cake is going to be perfect!!! Wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing!!
Lise Ode says
I’m so glad you like it, Shelbie! What a cute idea for a baby shower. Enjoy! 🙂
JJ says
Hi there is this pumpkin pie filling or puree pumpkin
Lise Ode says
Canned pumpkin (not pie filling). Post a photo if you make it with #momlovesbaking ! 🙂
Jamie says
Will be trying this out..looks great n delicious! !
Tasha says
I’m slightly confused where the 4 mini muffins will go. I know one will be the stem. The other 3 I am not sure. Can you explain differently for me or have a pic? Thanks!
Tasha says
I see the 4th is extra! Missed that the first time I read. So the other two are on the inside to help make the cake higher/bigger?
Mom Loves Baking says
Tasha: Yes, 2 on the inside of the cake (to fill in the holes) and one on top for the stem. Hope that helps. 🙂
Cindy Rogers says
Trying this for our church fall pig roast. Can’t wait to try it out. My cake is in the oven!!
Susanne says
Hi, this is so cute and looks delicious! My only question is if you think it would be ok to substitute a cream cheese frosting instead of buttercream. Thanks!
Jess says
Do you have to cut or shape the cake? Or do you just apply enough icing that it looks rounded?
Mom Loves Baking says
Susanne: I wouldn’t use cream cheese frosting for this cake. It doesn’t work as well for decorating.
Jess: I did not cut or shape the cake. I just used lots of frosting to fill in the middle and decorate the outside.
Kelly says
How big are half size bundt cake pans and where can you find them? I only have the bigger size.
Sue says
Where are the pictures?
Shan says
How many servings are in 1 pumpkin?!
Mom Loves Baking says
About 12-14 servings, depending on how big you like your cake slices.
Helen Downs says
This is just what I was looking for! Thanks for sharing. Soo CREATIVE!
Alexia says
I am planning on making one bunt pan at a time(only have 1)so I am not sure do I add the wholecan of pumpkin and all if the spices to the box cake mix and then just split it in 1/2 for each cake??
Mom Loves Baking says
Please note that I used “half-size” bundt pans. They are the smaller ones, not the traditional sized bundt pan. If you have the half-size bundt pan, but just have one, make the entire recipe and divide in half. Bake half the batter in your pan, let cool. Then reuse the pan for the second half of the batter. If you are using the regular/full size bundt pan, then you can put all the batter in one pan. Then make another batch/full recipe for the second cake. I hope that helps, Alexia. 🙂
Anna says
Tjank you I eas wondering the same thing
Lise Ode says
Hello Anna, What is your question?
Peggy Deming says
If you are using the full sized bundt pan should you use regular size cupcake pan? Should we also double the icing requirements?
Mom Loves Baking says
Yes to both questions. Double the icing and use regular size cupcake pan if using a full-sized Bundt pan.