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Home » desserts

The Easiest Moist Pumpkin Sheet Cake (8x8inch)

Published on September 20, 2020 - Updated on December 31, 2020 by Chahinez 20 Comments

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This easy 8×8 pumpkin sheet cake is what fall is all about! It has all of the autumn spices, it’s light, it’s a one bowl cake recipe, and it is made in an 8×8 inch pan. Can’t go wrong with this one! Whether you are making this pumpkin cake for Thanksgiving or just simple as an afternoon tea cake, this is one for the books.

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The easiest pumpkin sheet cake

Tis the season for anything and everything pumpkin and who’s really mad about it, you know? Not me, that’s for sure!

Here’s the deal though, I heard that there is a canned pumpkin shortage this fall so I’m silently freaking out. I had a large can of pumpkin puree in my pantry for like 6 months now and I was able to make three recipes out of it.

At this point I only have about ½ cup of pumpkin puree left, so maybe I will make something small batch or just look at it and cry because I can’t make anything glorious like this recipe right here…

On the bright side, at least I was able to make this glorious recipes right?! This pumpkin sheet cake has been something I dreamt of making and sharing with you for a while, but I just didn’t get to it until now!

This is my go to pumpkin sheet cake recipe to make on thanksgiving day!

Like I said previously in my Pumpkin Muffins with Pumpkin Streusel article, I love sweet pumpkin desserts. Pumpkin treats are something I didn’t discover until I moved to America so every time around this year I get so excited to have every thing pumpkin.

If it was a thing, I would probably turn orange because of how much pumpkin treats I have on the daily during the fall season! I’m saying this and eating leftovers of this sheet cake with a nice cup of hot tea.. I mean who can blame, right?

The best thanksgiving cake

What’s so special about this 8×8 pumpkin sheet cake?

Ohhh!! Where should I begin… This is the most fun part of this blog post. Here is why you need this pumpkin sheet cake in your life:

  • Rich- It’s what all your pumpkin dreams are made out of!
  • Moist.. It’s like a pillow type of moist!!
  • Packed with fall flavors. Think cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, all spice!
  • Melts in your mouth DELICIOUS!
  • Single layer cake made in an 8×8 inch baking pan instead of your regular 9×13. So perfect for smaller families.
  • One bowl pumpkin cake recipe.

Ingredients to make pumpkin sheet cake

Here are the ingredients that you will need to make this pumpkin sheet cake:

  • Butter– You will need to melt your butter and let it cool down slightly.
  • Eggs– The eggs need to be at room temperature.
  • Brown sugar and granulated sugar– We are using both sugars to get the best texture and flavors out of this pumpkin cake!
  • Pumpkin puree– I use Libby’s canned pumpkin because it always makes my pumpkin treats taste AMAZING!
  • Vanilla extract– The vanilla extract brightens the flavors of this cake so so much.
  • Flour– All purpose flour works great for this cake recipe.
  • Baking powder and baking soda – These will give our cake the height it deserves! Making it lighter and fluffier than ever.
  • Salt– Salt to balance out the cake’s sweetness.
  • Pumpkin pie spice– Can’t have a pumpkin cake without the pumpkin pie spices!
  • Vanilla frosting- I used this Simple Mills vanilla frosting.
The best thanksgiving cake

Can I make my own pumpkin pie spice?

Absolutely! Pumpkin pie spice is very easy to make. You can make your own by following this Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice.

Can I use something else instead of the butter?

Well, yes you can.

I personally love the butter addition because it makes this cake so much more moist. If you don’t have butter you can use oil at a 1:1 ratio. Meaning, you can substitute ½ cup of oil for ½ cup (1stick) butter.

You can also use unsweetened apple sauce to cut down on the fat content of this cake. To do this, you can use ¼ cup apple sauce and ¼ cup butter or oil.

  • Thanksgiving pumpkin dessert

How to make pumpkin sheet cake?

  1. First, start by preheating the oven to 350F and line an 8×8 baking sheet with parchment paper then set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl or a stand mixer bowl, add in the melted butter, the eggs, the brown sugar, the granulated sugar, the pumpkin puree and the vanilla extract and mix on medium speed or whisk until combined. Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice and mix again until the batter is thick and you don’t see any more flour.
  3. Pour the muffin cake batter into the prepared 8×8 baking pan and bake for 25 minutes or until you insert a toothpick in the center of the cake and it comes out clean. If the top of your cake is getting too dark loosely cover the cake pan with aluminum foil.
  4. When the cake is done baking, pull it out of the oven and let it cool in the baking pan for 30-60 minutes or until completely cool. Now you can either spread your vanilla frosting on top while it’s still in the pan or pull it out and put it on a serving plate and frost it. Decorate the cake with some star anise, cinnamon, and even flowers. Cut and serve!

Can I still make this pumpkin sheet cake if I don’t have a stand mixer or a hand mixer?

Oh yes! This cake can easily be made without an electric mixer. Follow the same instruction, just use a whisk instead of the stand or hand mixer.

The cake will turn out just as good, and you’ll be able to enjoy it in no time.

How to decorate pumpkin cake

How to decorate pumpkin sheet cake?

I went for a simple, yet elaborate decoration. I spread a layer of vanilla frosting on top of my sheet cake then topped it with beautiful orange flowers to symbolize fall perfectly.

  • To use flowers as cake decoration, cut most of the stem off, then cover the bottom part of the flower with aluminum foil to make sure that it doesn’t touch your frosting. When they’re ready top the cake with them and enjoy how gorgeous it make it look.

I also used star anise to embody the fall spirit as well as some cinnamon dusting.

Feel free to decorate your cake however you please though! That’s the most fun part 🙂

How to decorate pumpkin cake

Can I make my own frosting for this sheet cake?

Absolutely! I used my simple mill vanilla frosting because it tastes super good. It’s light and doesn’t taste too chemically, which is what I love about it the most.

But if you have time and you want t make your own frosting from scratch. Try this Small Batch Cream Cheese Frosting. It is the best homemade creme cheese frosting and will go amazingly with this pumpkin cake!

Tips to make the best sheet cake

Here are a few tips that everyone can benefit from when making sheet cakes.

  1. Don’t over mix the cake. We want a cake that’s light and fluffy.
  2. Make sure to line your baking pan with parchment paper or grease and flour it to make sure that the cake does not stick to the pan.
  3. If the cake top starts to brown a little too much loosely cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil to keep it nice and golden brown.
  4. Let the cake cool completely before you pull it out of the baking pan.
  5. Wait until the cake is completely cook to frost it. We don’t want to end up with a messy melted frosting!
8x8 inch pumpkin sheet cake

Moist pumpkin sheet cake with vanilla frosting

If you enjoyed this recipe make sure to give it a 5 star by clicking the 5 stars under the title and description.

Pumpkin sheet cake

8×8 Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Vanilla Frosting

This pumpkin sheet cake is perfect for small gatherings. Since this year many holidays might need to be celebrated through video conference, this 8×8 inch pumpkin cake would be the best choice of dessert! It is rich, moist, and has so much pumpkin flavor.
5 from 11 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 servings
Calories 132 Calories

Ingredients
  

  • 1 stick butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 7.5 ounces pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Instructions
 

  • First, start by preheating the oven to 350F and line an 8×8 baking sheet with parchment paper then set aside.
  • In a medium bowl or a stand mixer bowl, add in the melted butter, the eggs, the brown sugar, the granulated sugar, the pumpkin puree and the vanilla extract and mix on medium speed or whisk until combined. Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice and mix again until the batter is thick and you don't see any more flour.
  • Pour the muffin cake batter into the prepared 8×8 baking pan and bake for 25 minutes or until you insert a toothpick in the center of the cake and it comes out clean. If the top of your cake is getting too dark loosely cover the cake pan with aluminum foil.
  • When the cake is done baking, pull it out of the oven and let it cool in the baking pan for 30-60 minutes or until completely cool. Now you can either spread your vanilla frosting on top while it's still in the pan or pull it out and put it on a serving plate and frost it. Decorate the cake with some star anise, cinnamon, and even flowers. Cut and serve!

Notes

The calories mentioned above are for the cake without any frosting. 

Nutrition

Calories: 132CaloriesCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 221mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2355IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg
Keyword easy pumpkin cake, pumpkin cake, pumpkin sheet cake, thanksgiving, thanksgiving dessert
Tried this recipe?Follow us and tag us on Instagram! @chahinez_tbt

More thanksgiving recipes you will love!

  • Roasted brussels sprouts– This is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish!
  • Blueberry sour cream pie– For those who don’t love pumpkin desserts as much!
  • Pumpkin crunch– This is a different dessert that pumpkin lovers will drool over for sure!
  • Cranberry ginger punch- AKA my go to drink this Thanksgiving.
  • Maple butter rolls– Great bread is always welcome on my Thanksgiving table!
  • Sweet potato balls– If you’re feeling a little adventurous try these out!

Thank you so much for making it all the way down here! If you enjoyed this recipe make sure to let us know in the comments below! In the mean time, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.

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Filed Under: cake, desserts, Holidays Tagged With: pumkpin cake, pumpkin dessert, thanksgiving cake, thanksgiving dessert

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Donna D.

    November 20, 2021 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    Recipe looks delicious! Would homemade whipped cream work as a topping instead of a traditional frosting?

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      January 09, 2022 at 10:43 am

      Absolutely! Love a good homemade vanilla whipped cream on top of my cakes!
      Chahinez

      Reply
  2. Amy

    October 31, 2021 at 7:04 pm

    Could I cut the sugar by 1/4 cup?

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      November 01, 2021 at 6:46 pm

      Unfortunately no. hanging the amount of sugar might result in a completely different cake texture/flavor.
      Chahinez

      Reply
  3. Sophie

    October 11, 2021 at 10:00 am

    5 stars
    I LOVED making this cake!
    It was so moist and so light and fluffy! I almost ate the whole thing by myself!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 21, 2022 at 7:02 pm

      So glad to hear you loved this cake Sophie!

      Reply
  4. Fernanda

    October 10, 2021 at 9:53 pm

    5 stars
    This cake is so good and so easy to make. The recipe was super easy to follow, I had never made anything with pumpkin and this tasted amazing. Not too heavy but full of flavor. Made mine with vanilla whipped cream and everyone loved it!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 21, 2022 at 7:08 pm

      Vanilla whipped cream on this sounds DELIGHTFUL!!! Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Relle

    October 08, 2020 at 1:05 am

    Love pumpkin desserts. Can’t wait to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      October 17, 2020 at 7:31 pm

      You’re so welcome!

      Reply
  6. Jhuls

    October 07, 2020 at 10:59 pm

    This pumpkin sheet cake is calling my name. I think I am moving next to your home soon – haha! For now, send me some? 😀 Your photos are stunning, too!!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      October 17, 2020 at 7:31 pm

      Thank you so much! You’re welcome to move too! I always love sharing!

      Reply
      • I.am.Barb

        January 24, 2022 at 11:33 am

        5 stars
        I am OBSESSED WITH THIS CAKE. Holy guacamole. I’ve tried several pumpkin cake recipes before and I failed miserably. This one?? Made to perfection on the first try, without mixer or any special appliances. It’s truly fool proof, and oh so delicious. Love, LOVE, LOVE this recipe, and it definitely inspired me to bake more!

      • Chahinez

        April 11, 2022 at 6:44 pm

        AWH!! I am so happy that this turned out perfectly for you! Enjoy 🙂

  7. Alyssa

    October 07, 2020 at 5:42 pm

    I LOVE pumpkin cake! And this one looks so incredibly moist. I’ll be making this one ASAP!

    Reply
  8. Nart at Cooking with Nart

    October 07, 2020 at 3:38 am

    This cake is just beautiful. I love all things pumpkin so I know I’m gonna love this!

    Reply
  9. Ai | Ai made it for you

    October 02, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    Mmm this looks SO fluffy! This would be perfect for Thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      October 03, 2020 at 5:33 pm

      Exactly! It is the perfect thanksigivng cake in my eyes!

      Reply
  10. wonderandcharm

    October 02, 2020 at 10:25 am

    Just in time for fall. This cake looks amazing and we bet it taste just as good as it looks.

    Reply
    • Lifestyle of a Foodie

      October 03, 2020 at 5:32 pm

      It sure does! So happy you guys liked my fall inspired sheet cake 🙂

      Reply

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Hey there! My name is Chahinez, and I’m the brains behind the blog, Lifestyle of a Foodie. LOAF was started back in 2018 during my last semester ...

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