Small Pumpkin Cake Recipe (2024)

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This one layer 6 inch Small Pumpkin Cake recipe with cream cheese frosting is made from scratch using canned pumpkin. Make it for your Thanksgiving For Two dessert!


Small Pumpkin Cake Recipe (1)

Thanksgiving. It’s a tough food holiday for those who cook for 1-2 people. So much food. So many leftovers.

Over the years I’ve learned most Thanksgiving recipes don’t cater towards small serving sizes. Luckily for you, I’m solving that problem with my Thanksgiving Dinner For Two menu!

Not everyone has a giant family gathering for Thanksgiving. If that’s you, then you need a small Thanksgiving dessert. Or maybe you want to make multiple desserts but don’t want a ton of leftovers.

A few years ago I posted my Pumpkin Layer Cake.

Although it’s a holiday favorite, it makes too much cake for a proper Thanksgiving for two.

I decided it’s time I scaled it down and turn it into a one layer 6 Inch Small Pumpkin Cake with cream cheese frosting.

It’s moist and pumpkin-y, perfect to get you in the mood for fall. Serve with a dusting of cinnamon on top.


Small Pumpkin Cake Recipe (2)

How To Make A Pumpkin Cake From Scratch

The pumpkin cake batter is really easy to make because it uses vegetable oil instead of softened butter, meaning there are less steps to do.

Plus you don’t have to worry about creaming together the butter and sugar.

With this small pumpkin cake recipe, you beat together the sugar and liquid ingredients together until smooth. Then you gradually add your dry ingredients.

Once the batter is made, you transfer it to a 6 inch cake pan and bake.

Your pumpkin cake is done baking when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

If you don’t have one already, you’re going to need a 6 inch round cake pan. You can buy one either on Amazon (affiliate link) or you can buy one in the cake decorating section of your local craft store.

Don’t have a cake pan? Make Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes in a muffin pan instead!

How do you make a pumpkin cake for two from scratch moist?

This pumpkin cake for two stays incredibly moist thanks to the vegetable oil, brown sugar, and pumpkin.

The best oil to use in pumpkin cake is either vegetable or canola, which are both neutral oils.

Can I use butter instead of oil in pumpkin cake?

Don’t have vegetable oil? Use an equal amount of melted butter.


Small Pumpkin Cake Recipe (3)

Which frosting pairs best with pumpkin cake?

Cream cheese frosting is definitely a classic pairing for pumpkin. Its tanginess balances the pumpkin spice.

Because it’s a 6 inch cake, I made my Small Batch Cream Cheese Frosting. The best part is you won’t have any leftover frosting!

Not a fan of cream cheese? Check out my other small batch frosting recipes.

You can also frost pumpkin cake with small batch whipped cream.


Small Pumpkin Cake Recipe (4)

How To Store Pumpkin Cake

Store unfrosted pumpkin cake at room temperature in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.

Store frosted pumpkin cake in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Let the cake sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before serving.

Can you freeze pumpkin cake?

You can freeze unfrosted pumpkin cake for up to 6 months. Wrap it in plastic wrap first then place in a freezer bag.

What To Do With Leftover Canned Pumpkin

Because you won’t use a whole can of pumpkin, you’ll have extra pumpkin. Check out my other easy pumpkin recipes to use up your leftover canned pumpkin including pumpkin bread mini loaves.

More Small Cake Recipes

Looking for more small cake recipes? Check out my 6 Inch Cake Recipes guide. Some favorites are:

  • Small Chocolate Cake
  • Small Vanilla Cake recipe
  • Small Yellow Cake
  • Small Carrot Cake recipe
  • 6 Inch Gingerbread Cake
Small Pumpkin Cake Recipe (5)

Small Pumpkin Cake

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This one layer 6 inch Small Pumpkin Cake recipe with cream cheese frosting is made from scratch using canned pumpkin. Make it for your Thanksgiving For Two dessert!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg, room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting (Choose One)

  • 1 recipe Small Batch Cream Cheese Frosting (get the recipe here)
  • 1 recipe Small Batch Homemade Whipped Cream (get recipe here)
  • 1 recipe Small Batch Vanilla Buttercream (get recipe here)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease one 6-inch round cake pan then line the bottom with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
  3. In another large bowl, beat together the pumpkin, oil, brown sugar, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
  4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture. Mix together until incorporated.
  5. Transfer the batter to the cake pan. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes then invert cake onto cooling rack. Cool completely.
  6. Frost cake with Small Batch Cream Cheese Frosting (get the recipe here)

Notes

  • Don't have a 6 inch pan? Check out my small batch Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes!
  • Enjoyed this recipe? Check out my full list of 6 inch small cake recipes, including vanilla, yellow, and more.
  • Got leftover canned pumpkin? Check out my other pumpkin recipes.
  • Making this for Thanksgiving? Check out my Thanksgiving Dinner For Two menu for more recipe ideas.

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Small Pumpkin Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my pumpkin cake too moist? ›

If you find that your pumpkin cake is too moist, isn't holding it's shape and is gummy in certain areas, it's usually caused by too much liquid in your recipe.

How many cups in a can of pumpkin puree? ›

How Many Cups in a Can of Pumpkin, Really? Fifteen ounces of canned pumpkin is just shy of 2 cups (16 ounces would be 2 cups). By comparison, a 3-pound pie pumpkin will likely give you enough puree for a recipe that calls for a can of pumpkin.

What is the best way to cook pumpkin? ›

Place pumpkin cubes on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper (add any other spices you'd like!) Roast at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until pumpkin cubes are fork-tender, flipping halfway through.

What is pumpkin cake made of? ›

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp salt. 2. In a second medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients: 3 large eggs, 1 cup oil and 1 can pumpkin, until well combined.

How do I make sure my cake is moist and not dry? ›

If a recipe calls for all-purpose flour, opt for cake flour instead to create a more moist, tender crumb. Additions like sour cream, buttermilk, or applesauce can also infuse moisture and prevent a dry cake. Baking soda or baking powder also ensures a nice lift in baked goods.

What makes a cake less moist? ›

A dry cake is usually the result of one of the following pitfalls: using the wrong ingredients, making mistakes while measuring or mixing the batter, or baking the cake too long or at too high a temperature.

Can I use canned pumpkin instead of puree? ›

Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.

Is 100% canned pumpkin the same as pumpkin puree? ›

Canned pumpkin (labeled as "100% pure pumpkin") is a purée of pumpkin that is sometimes mixed with other kinds of winter squash. It is unsweetened and does not contain any added spices. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks.

How many cups of pumpkin are in a small can of pumpkin? ›

A 15-ounce can of canned pumpkin holds nearly 2 cups. It's actually 2 1/2 tablespoons short of 2 cups, about 29 1/2 tablespoons total.

What can you use small pumpkins for? ›

For Sweet Pumpkins

Scrape out seeds and use the minis the same way you would a ramekin. fill with pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pie or creme brulee batter. Bake at the temperature called for in the recipe; you may have to bake a little longer as the pumpkin's sides and flesh are thicker than most ramekins.

Why is canned pumpkin better to use in baking? ›

Baking is a science and the formula for the perfect pie filling changes with the consistency of the pumpkin puree. A wetter puree yields a runny pie and a drier one a more firmly set pie. Consistency is of course another great reason to stick with canned pumpkin.

What is the best pumpkin to bake with? ›

When shopping for pumpkins, look for the ones usually generically labeled “sugar pumpkins” or “pie pumpkins.” Some specific names are Baby Pam, Autumn Gold, Ghost Rider, New England Pie Pumpkin, Lumina (which are white), Cinderella, and Fairy Tale.

What is Princess cake made of? ›

Swedish Princess Cake (Prinsesstårta) is a classic Scandinavian torte with layers of sponge cake, raspberry jam, vanilla custard, and whipped cream. It is traditionally dome-shaped and covered with a layer of sweet marzipan tinted green. Princess Cake has been on my baking bucket list for ages.

What can I use instead of pumpkin purée for cake? ›

You may use carrot purée in place of pumpkin purée when making cakes,specially that of orange carrots,although the red ones will be okay too. But for pie filling,the taste of pumpkin will slightly miss out in carrots. Go in for sweet potatoes then,although I doubt their texture to be similar.

What causes a cake to be too wet? ›

A cake that's wet in the middle, in most cases, has not baked long enough. Put it back in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to check every 5 minutes with the toothpick test for any changes. If sliced, cover with aluminum foil to prevent the top from browning even more.

What causes moisture on pumpkin pie? ›

If you notice that the pie is dewy when you remove it from the fridge, it's just condensation. It simply means that the pie was still warm when you placed it in the refrigerator.

Why is my pumpkin pie so moist? ›

Used too much liquid, not enough egg or depending on the recipe, not enough thickener like flour or starch. Used fresh pumpkin instead of canned pumpkin. Docked the pie crust. Put it in the refrigerator before it was completely cooled.

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