Here’s a detailed recipe for Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake, including ingredients, step-by-step directions, and baking tips to ensure a moist, spiced cake with a buttery crumb topping.
🎃 Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake Recipe
👩🍳 Yields: 1 (9×9-inch) cake | ⏱ Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
🧾 Ingredients
For the Crumb Topping:
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¾ cup (150g) brown sugar, packed
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¾ cup (95g) all-purpose flour
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1 tsp ground cinnamon
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½ tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more cinnamon)
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Pinch of salt
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6 tbsp (85g) unsalted butter, melted
For the Pumpkin Cake:
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1½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
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1 tsp baking powder
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½ tsp baking soda
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½ tsp salt
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1 tsp ground cinnamon
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1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
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½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
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½ cup (100g) brown sugar, packed
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½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil (or melted butter)
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2 large eggs, room temperature
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1 cup (240g) canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
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¼ cup (60ml) milk (any kind, room temperature)
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1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional Glaze (for drizzling):
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½ cup powdered sugar
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1–2 tbsp milk or cream
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Splash of vanilla extract
🥣 Directions
🔹 Step 1: Prepare the Crumb Topping
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In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
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Pour in melted butter and mix with a fork until clumps form (like wet sand).
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Set aside while you make the batter.
🔹 Step 2: Preheat and Prep
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease a 9×9-inch square baking pan or line with parchment paper for easy removal.
🔹 Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients
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In a medium bowl, whisk together:
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Flour
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Baking powder
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Baking soda
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Salt
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Cinnamon
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Pumpkin pie spice
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Set aside.
🔹 Step 4: Mix the Wet Ingredients
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In a large bowl, whisk together:
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Granulated sugar
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Brown sugar
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Oil (or melted butter)
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Add eggs one at a time, whisking well.
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Stir in pumpkin puree, milk, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
🔹 Step 5: Combine Batter
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Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
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Stir gently with a spatula or whisk just until no streaks of flour remain.
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Do not overmix, or the cake will be dense.
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🔹 Step 6: Assemble the Cake
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Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
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Sprinkle crumb topping evenly over the batter. Press it down lightly so it adheres.
🔹 Step 7: Bake
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Bake in preheated oven for 35–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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If the crumb topping starts to brown too much before the center is baked, tent the pan with foil for the last 10 minutes.
🔹 Step 8: Cool and Glaze (Optional)
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Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 20–30 minutes.
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For glaze: whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
🍰 Tips for Success
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Pumpkin puree: Use pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
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Storage: Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for 4–5 days.
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Freezing: This cake freezes well. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature.
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Spice swap: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, use:
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½ tsp ground nutmeg
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¼ tsp ground ginger
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¼ tsp ground cloves
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