Pecan Praline Pumpkin Cake

Pecan Praline Pumpkin Cake is my favorite new pumpkin dessert recipe, and that’s saying a lot.  This cake has the perfect tender crumb, a lightly spiced pumpkin flavor, and an out of this world pecan praline frosting — get ready to drool.

This pecan praline pumpkin cake speaks my language

Is it talking to you too?  It’s the kind of cake pumpkin dreams are made of…light and springy, with a rich golden color, touched with all my favorite fall spices — and don’t even get me started on that frosting.  The cake is made in one bowl, and the frosting in one saucepan, so the cleanup is a dream.  And guess what?  Cover the pan with foil, set it on the counter, and the whole thing is just as good the next day.  Dream cake, I’m telling you.

This simple pumpkin sheet cake is a people pleaser!

I love to share recipes like this with you that are utterly perfect from start to finish.  The pecans, the caramel, and the spices all elevate this pumpkin cake to company status.  Or make it whenever you’re charged with bringing something wonderful to a gathering.

It’s simple and familiar enough that you can count on everyone loving it, but at the same time it has that wow factor.

Can we talk praline frosting for a minute?

Sheesh the stuff is good.  It’s as easy as whisking together some butter, brown sugar, and 1/2 and 1/2 in a saucepan, bringing it to a boil, and then stirring in some powdered sugar.  It gets poured over the cake and then showered with toasted pecans.  It doesn’t get any better.

TIP: The praline frosting is like caramel, and it sets up fast.  Plan to have a spreading knife handy when you pour the warm frosting over the cake, and spread quickly before it firms up. 

I make no apologies for my pumpkin love, and this Pecan Praline Pumpkin Cake is just the first of many pumpkin-centric recipes to come.  Stock your cabinets with lots of those orange cans, people, you’re going to need them!

TIP: Did you know you can use canned pumpkin as a substitute for eggs, butter, and oil in recipes?  1/4 cup pumpkin = 1 egg     3/4 cup pumpkin = 1 cup butter    and 1/2 cup pumpkin = 1/2 cup oil!

more perfect fall cakes ~

• Easy Apple Fritter Bread
• Nyackers Gingersnap Cake
• Caramel Apple Bundt Cake
• Gingerbread Crumb Cake

Reader Rave ~

“I made this cake yesterday and it has received rave reviews. It is delicious! I made it exactly as directed and it turned out perfectly….and it’s so easy. Thank you, Sue, I think this will quickly become a family favorite!!”  ~ Juliana

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4.06 from 53 votes

Praline Pumpkin Snack Cake

Pecan Praline Pumpkin Cake is my favorite new pumpkin dessert recipe, and that's saying a lot.  This cake has the perfect tender crumb, a lightly spiced pumpkin flavor, and an out of this world pecan praline frosting --- get ready to drool...

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Yield 16 servings

Ingredients

cake

• 15 ounce can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda

praline frosting

• 1/2 cup half and half or light cream
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 heaping cup pecan halves toasted and chopped

Instructions

• Set oven to 350F Lightly spray a 9x13 pan
• Whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, oil, and eggs until well blended.
• Mix in the spices and salt. Fold in the flour and baking soda until everything is well incorporated, but don't over beat.
• Spread the batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 25- 30 minutes or until done in the center and a toothpick comes out without wet batter clinging to it.
• To make the frosting, heat the half and half, butter, and brown sugar in a saucepan until it comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Take off the heat and beat in the vanilla and sifted confectioner's sugar. Quickly spread over the cake, the frosting will set up quickly.
• Top with toasted pecans.

Notes

• Don't skip toasting the pecans, it makes ALL the difference, it brings out the flavor and crisps the nuts.  You can do it ahead of time, but don't skip it.  To toast them put the nuts in a dry skillet and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they become fragrant and start to brown.  Watch them carefully, they can burn easily.
• I love my heavy duty USA 9x13 pan for baking, it bakes perfectly evenly.

*Recipe was adapted from Chef in Training

*This recipe was originally published in 2016, and has been updated in 2020.