Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

User Reviews

5

129 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    15 mins

  • Cook Time

    30 mins

  • Decorating

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    55 mins

  • Servings

    12 slices or 1 (9x13-inch) cake

  • Calories

    695 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert

  • Cuisine

    American

Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Brown Butter Frosting is a moist cake featuring pumpkin puree and warm pumpkin pie spices, topped with a rich, nutty brown butter frosting. The one-bowl cake method simplifies preparation, while the frosting uses browned butter for a deeper flavor. This cake serves as a seasonal dessert with soft crumb and sweet-spiced notes.

Description

The Pumpkin Sheet Cake blends all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, pumpkin pie spice, salt, eggs, neutral oil, pumpkin puree, and vanilla in one bowl for a moist, flavorful cake. Baking in a 9x13-inch pan creates a generous sheet cake with a tender crumb. The pumpkin puree and spices bring autumnal warmth, balanced by a moderate sweetness.

Its brown butter frosting adds a dimension of nuttiness and complexity. Butter is first browned, then combined with powdered sugar, vanilla, sea salt, and heavy cream to produce a creamy, flavorful spread that complements the spice and moist texture of the cake. The frosting is spread with casual swirls for a decorative but informal finish.

This cake works well as a dessert for fall gatherings or holidays, and the recipe can be adapted into cupcakes or layer cakes with adjusted baking times. Using different neutral oils like vegetable or avocado impacts the cake's subtle flavor and moisture content. A homemade pumpkin pie spice blend can substitute store-bought spice mixes.

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Ingredients

Servings

One-Bowl Pumpkin Sheet Cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar white
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 egg large
  • 3/4 cup neutral oil (such as avocado, vegetable or safflower oil)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree pure
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure

Brown Butter Frosting:

  • 1 1/2 cup butter divided (2 sticks are just room temperature, unsalted
  • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract pure
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt fine-grain
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

To Make the Cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch cake pan with cooking spray and line with a sheet of parchment (this makes it easier to remove it from the pan) and set aside. Alternatively you can make cupcakes and cake pans
  2. In the a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt.
  3. In the bowl of a stand-up mixer (or a large bowl using an electric mixer), whisk together the eggs, neutral oil, pumpkin puree and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth it out using an offset spatula or butter knife. Transfer to the oven to bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes and then invert it onto a cooling rack. BE CAREFUL IT'S A BIG CAKE.

To Make the Brown Butter Frosting:

  1. If you’ll notice in the recipe it calls for the butter to be divided so! Two sticks (1 cup) are going to be room temperature. One stick (1/2 cup) of the butter is what we’re going to brown.
  2. Go ahead and start by adding the room temperature butter to the bowl of a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment (OR a medium bowl using an electric mixer).
  3. Cube up 1/2 cup of the butter (1 stick). In a small saucepan, set over medium heat, add the cubed butter. Once it’s melted, it will begin to foam up and bubble a bit. Allow it to cook until you begin to see lightly browned specks beginning to form. Give it a stir and cook until it’s browned. You should also start to smell its nutty aroma. Remove it from the pan and continue to stir to cool it down.
  4. Transfer it to a small bowl (freezer-safe) and place it in the freezer to chill, for about 10 to 15 minutes. We want it to be around room temperature butter. After it gets to that room temperature butter-firmness (it can be a bit softer—that’s ok), transfer it to the bowl with the other room temperature butter.
  5. Sift in the powdered sugar and add the vanilla extract, salt and heavy cream. Beat the frosting for about 3 minutes. The fluffiness from the heavy cream really lightens up this frosting so be sure to beat it for the full 3 minutes.

To Assemble the Cake:

  1. Pour all of the frosting on the cooled sheet cake and spread it around, creating cute swoops as you go. Top it with some sprinkles and cut it up and slice! Cake will stay moist for about 3 days when wrapped properly.

Notes

  • For decorative frosting, place all frosting in the center and push outward using a spatula to create casual swirls.
  • Make 24 cupcakes by filling liners 3/4 full and baking 20-24 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
  • For layer cakes, divide batter into two 8- or 9-inch pans and bake 30-35 minutes until a skewer tests clean.
  • Pumpkin pie spice can be homemade by combining cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a pinch of cloves.
  • Use neutral oils such as vegetable, avocado, or coconut oil; coconut oil adds a slight flavor.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 695kcal (35%) Carbohydrates 86g (29%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 39g (60%) Saturated Fat 17g (85%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g (18%) Monounsaturated Fat 16g (80%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 105mg (35%) Sodium 258mg (11%) Potassium 135mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 69g (138%) Vitamin A 819IU (16%) Vitamin C 0.1mg (0%) Calcium 57mg (6%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12slices or 1 (9x13-inch) cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 695 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 695kcal 35%
Carbohydrates 86g 29%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 39g 60%
Saturated Fat 17g 85%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 16g 80%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 105mg 35%
Sodium 258mg 11%
Potassium 135mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 69g 138%
Vitamin A 819IU 16%
Vitamin C 0.1mg 0%
Calcium 57mg 6%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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5

129 reviews
Excellent

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