Halloween Pumpkin Cake
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!
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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)
Kitchenaid 5-Quart Stand Mixer
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Halloween Pumpkin Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 box yellow cake mix, I used Pillsbury
- 15 ounces pumpkin puree, 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.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let us know by leaving a star rating and review!
How many servings are in 1 pumpkin?!
About 12-14 servings, depending on how big you like your cake slices.
Where are the pictures?
How big are half size bundt cake pans and where can you find them? I only have the bigger size.
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.
Do you have to cut or shape the cake? Or do you just apply enough icing that it looks rounded?
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!
Trying this for our church fall pig roast. Can’t wait to try it out. My cake is in the oven!!
Tasha: Yes, 2 on the inside of the cake (to fill in the holes) and one on top for the stem. Hope that helps. 🙂
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?
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!
Will be trying this out..looks great n delicious! !
Canned pumpkin (not pie filling). Post a photo if you make it with #momlovesbaking ! 🙂
Hi there is this pumpkin pie filling or puree pumpkin
I’m so glad you like it, Shelbie! What a cute idea for a baby shower. Enjoy! 🙂
I’m having a fall-themed baby shower next month and this cake is going to be perfect!!! Wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing!!