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This Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake is so moist and simple to make with a doctored up yellow cake mix! Ingredients like oil, sour cream, and pure pumpkin are added to a cake mix along with warm pumpkin spice. Top it off with an easy homemade cream cheese frosting for the ultimate Fall pumpkin dessert. It’s also perfect for the Thanksgiving dessert table too. 

Fore more pumpkin spice recipes be sure and try my Pumpkin Spice Cake and this Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake. 

A bundt cake sliced into pieces topped with cream cheese frosting sitting on a white plate.

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake Recipe

Some of my favorite desserts include using a ‘doctored up’ cake mix as the base of the recipe. This pumpkin spice bundt cake starts with a yellow cake mix, and then you add some super moist ingredients to it in order to “doctor it up” and make it taste homemade. 

It’s a quick way to get dessert ready for your family or friends without a lot of effort. Plus, any skill level can prepare this recipe!

Other family favorite desserts, that start with a cake mix, is this Easy Oreo Dirt Cake, Orange Pineapple Cake, and these Cake Mix Sugar Cookies. 

Overhead picture of a bundt cake topped with frosting sitting on a white plate.

Ingredients Needed

  • Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake Ingredinets

    • Yellow Cake Mix – I prefer the brand ‘Duncan Hines’ because their cake mixes have no added pudding to the mix. As long as you are using the correct sized box (15.25 oz) then any yellow cake mix will work. 
    • Light Brown Sugar – This pairs perfectly with the warm pumpkin spice in this bundt cake. It also provides additional warm sweetness to the cake. 
    • Pumpkin Pie Spice
    • Pure Pumpkin – Make sure you are using the 100% pure pumpkin for this recipe. There is a similar can titled ‘pumpkin pie filling’ and that is not the same thing. Use the pure pumpkin. 
    • Large Eggs
    • Canola or Vegetable Oil
    • Whole Milk – I recommend using whole milk because it has a higher fat content. 
    • Sour Cream – Full-fat sour cream has the best flavor, thickness, and texture. 

Ingredients for a pumpkin bundt cake with each one labeled in text with what it is.

  • Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

    • Cream Cheese – Again, as with any dairy in baking recipes, it’s best to use full-fat cream cheese rather than the reduced-fat cream cheese. 
    • Butter – I use salted butter but unsalted butter can be used as well. 
    • Powdered Sugar
    • Vanilla Extract
    • Whole Milk

Ingredients for cream cheese frosting with each one labeled in text with what it is.

How To Make Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake with a Cake Mix

Learn how to make this easy pumpkin spice bundt cake with the simple steps below. For the full recipe be sure and read to the bottom of this post where there is also a pin it button so you can save it for later, and a printable recipe card as well. 

  • Prep : Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a bundt cake pan (10 cup or 12 cup) with cooking spray and then sprinkle flour in it. You can also just use a baking spray (also called Baker’s Joy) instead. Baking spray is cooking spray + flour in one spray. 
  • Pumpkin Cake Batter : Whisk the dry ingredients first in a large mixing bowl. Yellow cake mix, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Add the pure pumpkin, large eggs, oil, whole milk, and sour cream. Using a hand mixer, beat on medium speed until it’s combined well and mix together. Pour this into the prepared bundt pan. 
  • Cook : Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean or with moist crumbs on it. 
  • Cool : Allow the cake to cool inside the warm bundt pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a serving tray or plate. Let it cool completely before frosting. 
  • Make The Cream Cheese Frosting : Using an electric hand mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth and combined. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of the whole milk. Beat until combined well. The frosting should be thin enough that you can pour it over the cake. If it’s too thick, add an additional 1 tablespoon of whole milk. 
  • Frost Bundt Cake : Pour the cream cheese frosting over the bundt cake. Slice and serve!

How to make a pumpkin bundt cake with pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting. Step by step process photos.

How to make a pumpkin bundt cake with pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting. Step by step process photos.

How to make a pumpkin bundt cake with pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting. Step by step process photos.

How to make a pumpkin bundt cake with pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting. Step by step process photos.

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake FAQ’s

  • How To Store Leftovers

    • Leftover bundt cake can be stored in an airtight container, or wrap the serving plate in plastic wrap, inside the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Because of the cream cheese frosting, leftovers do need to be stored in the fridge. 
    • If you are making the cake ahead of time, prepare as directed in the recipe, and let it cool completely. Cover the cake with plastic wrap or tin foil and leave it out at room temperature overnight. Frost it the following day before serving. 
    • If the bundt cake is unfrosted then leftovers can be stored at room temperature. 
  • Can I Freeze Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake?

    • Yes you can freeze this bundt cake. Prepare as directed in the recipe and let it cool completely to room temperature. Double wrap the bundt cake in tin foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight, or at room temperature. 
    • Make the frosting, frost the bundt cake, and serve. 
    • I do not recommend freezing the frosted bundt cake. 
  • Variation & Substitution Ideas

    • Cake Mix : Although I recommend using the yellow cake mix, you can substitute with a spice cake mix. If using a spice cake mix omit the pumpkin pie spice. I think the yellow cake mix paired with the pumpkin spice tastes the best. 
    • Pumpkin Pie Spice : Instead of using pumpkin pie spice you can use each individual spice instead. Use 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/4 teaspoon allspice.
    • Butter : I use salted butter in the cream cheese but you can use unsalted butter if preferred. If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt in with the powdered sugar.  
  • Can I Make This Ahead of Time?

    • Yes! As with anything pumpkin (or banana too!) it tastes even better the day after they’re made. I love making this bundt cake the day before I need it, storing it at room temperature overnight, and then frosting it the following day before serving. 
    • Prepare the cake up to 2 days before and store it covered at room temperature. 
    • I prefer this cake cold so I always chill it in the fridge for a couple hours before serving it. 

Close up of a sliced bundt cake

A bundt cake frosted sitting on a white serving plate.

Recipe Tips

Here are a few of my helpful tips so that you can have success making this recipe in your own kitchen ♥

  • Use Full-Fat Dairy Products : For the best taste, thickness, and texture make sure you are using full-fat sour cream, whole milk, and full-fat cream cheese. The reduced-fat cream cheese and sour cream have more water added to it, which makes it thinner and not as thick, and not as much flavor. 
  • Pure Pumpkin : Ensure you are using 100% pure pumpkin and NOT the pumpkin pie filling. The cans looks similar and they’re usually right next to each other at the grocery store. I use the Libby’s brand of pure pumpkin, which is just pureed pumpkin. The pumpkin pie filling has ingredients and other liquids added to it, which changes the thickness of it. You want the pure pumpkin.
  • Moist Cake : This recipe yields a very moist bundt cake. When you insert a toothpick into the center it might come out with wet looking crumbs. That is ok. If it comes out with wet batter then it needs to cook longer. 
  • Tin Foil : If the top of the bundt cake is browning too fast, loosely place a piece of tin foil over the bundt pan during the last 15 minutes of baking. 

A slice of bundt cake frosted with cream cheese frosting, sitting on a white plate.

A piece of cake with a fork taking a piece out of it.

More Bundt Cake Recipes You’ll Love

A bundt cake sliced into pieces topped with cream cheese frosting sitting on a white plate.
Together As Family Logo

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake


Author Jessica - Together as Family
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 12
This Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake is so moist and simple to make with a doctored up yellow cake mix! Ingredients like oil, sour cream, and pure pumpkin are added to a cake mix along with warm pumpkin spice. Top it off with an easy homemade cream cheese frosting for the ultimate Fall pumpkin dessert.

Ingredients
  

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake

  • 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup full-fat sour cream

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 ounces full-fat cream cheese softened
  • 4 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1¼ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons whole milk

Instructions

Make the Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350° F. Generously spray a bundt pan (10 cup or 12 cup) with cooking spray and flour it. Set aside.
    * To flour the bundt pan, spray it first and then sprinkle some flour into the bundt pan. Tap the pan and move it around to spread the flour all over the bundt pan inside. You can also use baker's joy spray which is cooking spray + flour. Sometimes also called 'baking spray'.
  • In a large mixing bowl add the yellow cake mix, light brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir with a wire whisk.
    How to make a pumpkin bundt cake with pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting. Step by step process photos.
  • Add the pure pumpkin, eggs, oil, whole milk, and sour cream. Beat on medium speed for 1-2 minutes, or until it's combined well.
    * You can use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer to do this. If using a stand mixer, add the dry ingredients and whisk them inside the bowl of the stand mixer.
    How to make a pumpkin bundt cake with pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting. Step by step process photos.
  • Pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt pan.
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
    * The cake is really moist so it's fine if the toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. If it comes out with wet batter, it needs to cook longer. Loosely cover the bundt pan with tin foil (during the last 10-15 minutes of the cook time) to avoid over browning, if wanted.
  • Allow the cake to cool in the warm bundt pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a cooling rack or serving plate.
  • Let the bundt cake cool completely before frosting it.

Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In a mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer, or use a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium-high speed until smooth and combined.
    How to make a pumpkin bundt cake with pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting. Step by step process photos.
  • Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of whole milk. Beat until combined.
    The frosting should be thin enough to pour over the bundt cake. If it is too thick, add more whole milk until it's at the right consistency.
  • Drizzle the frosting over the completely cooled bundt cake. Allow the frosting to set before cutting the bundt cake and serving.
    * You can just pour the frosting the bowl, put it inside a Ziploc bag and snip the corner off, or use a fork to drizzle it. You can get really fancy and place the frosting into a piping bag (with a large 1A tip) and pipe it on the bundt cake.
    How to make a pumpkin bundt cake with pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting. Step by step process photos.

Notes

Cake Mix : You can use a spice cake mix instead of the yellow cake mix. If using a spice cake mix, leave out the pumpkin pie spice. I recommend sticking with the yellow cake mix in this recipe, it tastes much better when combined with the pumpkin spice. 
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice : If you don't have pumpkin pie spice you can use each spice separately. Use 2 teaspoons cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/4 teaspoon allspice. 
Salted Butter vs. Unsalted Butter : I use salted butter for the cream cheese frosting which is why there is no added salt. If using unsalted butter, which is totally fine, add 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt along with the powdered sugar. 
Leftovers : Because if the cream cheese frosting, leftovers do need to be stored in the refrigerator, for up to 3-4 days. If the cake is unfrosted, like maybe you made it the day before, it can stay stored covered at room temperature. 

Nutrition

Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 406mg | Potassium: 164mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 5893IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 2mg

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5 from 2 votes

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3 Comments

  1. Melissa M says:

    5 stars
    This recipe turned out perfectly. Everything I was looking for. I used a Walmart spice cake mix and just left out the pumpkin pie spice.
    It only took 45min to bake perfectly. I’m glad I didn’t let it over bake.

    1. Together as Family says:

      Great idea to use the spice cake mix! Thanks for commenting!

  2. mary gaither says:

    5 stars
    great recipe. makes a really nice moist cake. great with maple syrup drizzed on top.