Gluten Free Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This gluten free pumpkin cake is super moist and surprising light. It’s the perfect fall-inspired dessert and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

photos updated October 2017

This is my favorite pumpkin cake ever. The first time I had this cake was our first Thanksgiving in our new house (several years ago). Adam really wanted to have Thanksgiving at our house with his family and my family. Yes. That’s a lot of family. In my house. A month after we moved in.

So when Adam’s dad offered to bring a dessert I said sure, go ahead. (I’m usually the type to want to do it all on my own unless it’s my mom is bringing something.) Well that dessert turned out to be this spectacular pumpkin cake. I’m so glad I said yes because I (and you!) would have missed out on this gem of a cake.

We used to make this with regular flour before Adam started eating gluten-free and it was an easy recipe to convert. It’s great when things work out like that! This cake is so moist but not so moist where it’s almost too heavy/dense. It’s got the perfect cake texture. And the frosting? It’s cream cheese. The best cream cheese frosting everrr, it’s so good – sweet and not tangy. Yum, yum annnd yum.

I topped some of my slices with the candy corn pumpkins and some sprinkles. They’re not essential but I had them and thought they would be fun to add on top because both of my kids LOVE them. The sprinkles I used are gluten free (check your labels) but I don’t think the pumpkins are. So if you’re serving this to someone with Celiac Disease, don’t use them.

Just pipe on a little extra frosting or just serve it plain like I usually do (when I’m not styling it for pictures). If you want enough frosting for piping, be sure to make double the frosting called for in this recipe. Enjoy!

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Pumpkin Cake

Yield: 24 squares

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

This gluten free pumpkin cake is super moist and surprising light. It’s the perfect fall-inspired dessert and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

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Ingredients

For the Cake

• 4 large eggs
• 1 15-oz can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup avocado oil (can sub canola or vegetable oil)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups gluten free flour blend
• 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if using regular all-purpose flour)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the Frosting

• 3 oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 Tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, pumpkin, sugar, oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until combined.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, xanthan gum (if using), baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix together.
4. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir to combine. Pour batter into an UNGREASED 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a tester comes out clean and the cake springs back when poked.
5. Cool completely.
6. To make the frosting, beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Add in powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over the top of the cake and decorate with gluten free sprinkles (optional).

Notes

1.  If you want a thicker layer of frosting or enough to pipe onto individual pieces like in the pictures, double the frosting recipe.
2. I've tested this recipe with my Nightshade Free Gluten Free Flour Mix, my White Rice Gluten Free Flour Blend, and my Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour Mix with great results.
3. For dairy free frosting, use dairy-free cream cheese and 2 tablespoons shortening + 2 tablespoons vegan butter.
4. Feel free to add a teaspoon (or more to taste) of pumpkin pie spice if you're looking for a stronger spice flavor. I choose to keep the spices on the simpler side for a more pronounced pumpkin flavor.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Silicone Baking Utensils
• 
  KitchenAid Hand Mixer
• 
  Pyrex Smart Essentials Mixing Bowl Set
• 
  OXO Good Grips Cake Tester
• 
  Emile Henry Rectangular Baker, 13 x 9
• 
  Ateco Offset Spatula

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 227Total Fat: 13gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 221mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 2g

Nutrition Facts are estimated. Please consult a doctor if you have special dietary needs.