Name: Easy Pumpkin Layer Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 38 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup canned pumpkin; 2 large eggs; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ginger; 1/4 teaspoon cloves; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature; 1 cup confectioner’s sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1 cup chopped pecans or toasted pepitas

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Easy Pumpkin Layer Cake is a holiday favorite! A basic quick bread recipe baked in a sheet pan, stacked, and then piled high with the best cream cheese frosting.

This post dates back to 2012. But it's a recipe I have made for yearrrrrssss. It's simple, quick, and makes for an impressive dessert at a party! So impressive that I used to sell them around the holidays. Updated photos, same great recipe. It never fails me.

This Easy Pumpkin Layer Cake.

Is one of my favorite things EVER.

I'm not even kidding.

I also have no idea why it's taken me so long to post the recipe. Nevermind - I take that back. I know exactly why it's taken me so long to post this recipe. It's because the resulting cake is kind of gigantic and completely wonderful, and I was sort of worried about having it hanging around my house lest I end up eating the entire thing all by myself.

Back in the day I used to sell these cakes. They come together reeeeally easily and they make a serious impression.

What Tools Do I Need to Make an Easy Pumpkin Layer Cake?

Not many!

I adapted this recipe from one of the very first things I ever learned how to bake all by myself when I was 9 - banana bread. Which means that it's really simple and requires no fancy tools or techniques. A few years back my sister and I were playing in my kitchen having one of our talk/play with food/drink two bottles of wine meeting of the minds, and this cake just kind of happened. No doubt one of our very best happy accidents to date.

To make it you'll need

How to Make This Cake

It's crazy easy. It comes together in one bowl like a quick bread recipe. And it bakes up quickly because it's spread in a thin layer instead of poured into a deep pan.

Bake, frost, stack.

This quick pumpkin layer cake would make some people very happy on Thanksgiving probably. Same old flavors, different presentation. Go crazy.

I love playing around with toppings here, too. Pictured: toasted pumpkin seeds! You can also try candied or toasted pecans. Chocolate chips are another excellent route.

I have a few other awesome and slightly off-tradition holiday dessert recipes for you. My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes are all right here! It's almost Thanksgiving!!!!

What are your dessert plans for the holiday? I need to know all about them.

Love easy pumpkin recipes? You should also try...

Pumpkin Donut Mini Muffins are covered in cinnamon sugar. These are like little baked donut holes that you can easily make in a mini muffin pan!

No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars have a cinnamon toast crunch crust. The filling is smooth and creamy and the best part is there's no baking required!

Brown Butter Pumpkin Cake with Vanilla Bourbon Glaze is a must have at Thanksgiving. I love a good loaf cake and the vanilla bourbon glaze really sets this one apart.

Pumpkin Pull Apart Muffins are made with refrigerated biscuits! The biscuit dough is layered with pumpkin, pumpkin spice, and melted butter for a quick, simple pumpkin spiced treat!

serves 10-12