Indulge your taste buds in our Pumpkin Crunch Cake! This treat blends spiced pumpkin with a heavenly crunch for a bite-sized taste of autumn joy. Satisfy your cravings with each moist, flavorful slice – If you love pumpkin desserts then you'll love this pumpkin dream!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Tropical Twist: This Pumpkin Crunch Cake brings a taste of Hawaii to your kitchen.
- Seasonal Delight: A perfect way to incorporate pumpkin into your fall and winter baking.
- Crunchy and Creamy: Enjoy the harmonious texture mix of crunchy topping and creamy filling.
🥘 Ingredients
- Pumpkin Puree: Aka Pumpkin pie filling. Gives your cake a rich, moist texture and a deliciously earthy, autumnal flavor.
- Evaporated Milk: Adds depth and creaminess to your cake, enhancing the texture and flavor of the pumpkin.
- Eggs: Act as the binding agent in your cake, helping to hold all the ingredients together while also contributing to its structure and rise.
- White Sugar: Balances out the natural earthiness of the pumpkin and the tanginess of the evaporated milk.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: This warming blend of spices perfectly complements the pumpkin, giving your cake that classic fall flavor.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors in your cake, making them even more delicious.
- Yellow Cake Mix: Is a great shortcut that saves you time while ensuring your cake has the perfect texture and a sweet, vanilla flavor.
- Chopped Pecans: Add a delightful crunch to your cake, their nutty flavor pairing beautifully with the pumpkin and spices.
- Melted Butter: Contributes to the moist, rich texture of your cake and helps bind the cake mix and pecans into a flavorful topping.
- Frozen Whipped Topping (Thawed): Adding this on top enhances your cake with a light and creamy contrast, making each bite irresistible.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- There are a few different ways that you can make this crunch cake recipe even more delicious. One option is to add a layer of chocolate ganache.
- Another option is to add a layer of dulce de leche or caramel sauce on top of the cake. You could also opt for cream cheese if you prefer this to cool whip.
- Lastly, you could top it with a layer of fruit like strawberries or raspberries.
- Whichever way you choose to enjoy it, we know that you'll love this Hawaii Pumpkin Crunch Cake recipe!
Be sure to learn How To Freeze Pumpkin too. Frozen pumpkin can come in handy for baking tasty treats,
🔪 How To Make Pumpkin Crunch Cake?
Step One: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees°. Lightly grease one 9x13 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
Step Two: Mix well and then spread into the prepared pan.
Step Three: Sprinkle cake mix over the top of the pumpkin mixture, and pat down. Do not mix!
Step Four: Sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over the top of the cake, then drizzle melted butter or margarine on top.
Step Five: Bake the Pumpkin crunch cake for 60 to 80 minutes, or until done. Top with cool whip when ready to serve.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Use Quality Pumpkin Puree: Opt for 100% unsweetened pumpkin puree—whether homemade or canned—to ensure a pure, natural flavor that serves as the perfect base for your spices and sweet elements.
- Enhance with Warm Spices: Toast your spices (like cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger) briefly in a dry pan before adding them to the batter. This simple step helps release their essential oils and deepens the overall flavor of your cake.
- Master the Crunch Topping: For that irresistible crunch, combine old-fashioned oats, chopped nuts, and a bit of brown sugar with melted butter. Spread the mixture evenly over the batter, ensuring it bakes into a crisp, contrasting layer that elevates every bite.
- Monitor for Moisture: Keep a close eye on the baking time—start checking a few minutes early to ensure the cake remains moist inside. The goal is a tender, flavorful crumb paired with a delightfully crunchy top.
💭 FAQs
Crunch Cake is a dessert that originates from Hawaii. It consists of a layer of cake, followed by a layer of whipped cream, and then topped with a layer of crunchy graham crackers or pecans. The result is a delicious and unique cake that is sure to please any sweet tooth!
No, you don't have to use graham crackers for Crunch Cake. You can use any type of crunchy cookie or nut that you like. Pecans work great and that's what we use in this delicious Hawaiian pumpkin crunch cake recipe.
Yes, you can make Crunch Cake ahead of time. Simply bake the cake and then store it in the fridge until you're ready to serve. When you're ready to serve, simply top with the whipped cream and crumbs.
Yes, you can use pumpkin pie filling as a substitute for pumpkin puree in this recipe. However, keep in mind that pumpkin pie filling is usually sweetened and already contains spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Adjust the sugar and spice quantities in your recipe accordingly to avoid over-sweetening or over-spicing the final dish.
Certainly! You can use fresh pumpkin in the recipe as a substitute for canned pumpkin puree. To do so, peel and dice the fresh pumpkin, then cook or steam it until it's tender. Afterward, mash or puree the cooked pumpkin to achieve a texture similar to canned pumpkin puree. Using fresh pumpkin can add a slightly different flavor and texture to your dish, providing a more homemade touch to your recipe.
Certainly! If you're not a fan of pecans or have a preference to omit them, feel free to do so. You can still enjoy the essence of the recipe without pecans, and it won't significantly impact the overall outcome.
The best way to store Crunch Cake is in the fridge. Simply cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminium foil and it will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
🧂Serving Suggestions
- Serve with Whipped Topping: Add a generous dollop of whipped cream or Cool Whip on top of each slice for extra creaminess and contrast.
- Pair with a Hot Drink: Enjoy a slice of this pumpkin cake alongside a warm cup of spiced chai tea or hot chocolate to enhance the fall flavors.
- As a Holiday Dessert: This cake makes a great addition to holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving or Halloween, offering a comforting dessert for guests.
- Top with Caramel or Chocolate Drizzle: For an indulgent twist, drizzle some caramel or chocolate sauce over the cake before serving.
🍽 Related Recipes
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Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Ingredients
- 1 Can Pumpkin Puree
- 1 Can Evaporated Milk 12 Fluid Ounce
- 4 Eggs
- 1 ½ Cups White Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Cup Pecans Chopped
- 1 Cup Margarine Melted
- 8 Ounce Frozen Whipped Topping Thawed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees°. Lightly grease one 9x13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix well and then spread into the prepared pan.
- Sprinkle cake mix over the top of the pumpkin mixture, and pat down. Do not mix! Sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over the cake mix, then drizzle with melted margarine.
- Bake for 60 to 80 minutes, or until done. Top with whipped topping when ready to serve.
