As the fall season approaches, it’s time to embrace all things pumpkin! This Pumpkin Caramel Sheet Cake is the perfect blend of cozy fall flavors, topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting and a swirl of decadent homemade caramel. It’s moist, spiced to perfection, and ideal for a crowd. Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner or simply craving a seasonal treat, this cake is sure to impress.
Recipe tips
Pumpkin Puree: Make sure you’re using pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. The latter contains spices and sugar that will throw off the flavor. I’ve used different brands, name brand or generic, and they all work!
Cream Cheese Frosting: For best results, use full-fat cream cheese and make sure it’s softened before mixing to avoid lumps. Always beat the cream cheese until totally smooth before adding any additional ingredients. Then beat for 30 seconds with the room temperature butter.
Baking Pan: This recipes calls for a 9×13 inch metal baking pan. I ALWAYS use a metal baking pan when it comes to sheet cakes, and I love this one because it comes with a lid!
TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE CARAMEL
If you want to use the leftover caramel to fill a cupcake or cookie, let it cool completely in the refrigerator. This will make it a thicker consistency, easy to spread and fill your treats. If you want to pour it over ice cream heat it up in the microwave for 15-20 seconds and wha-la, it’s back to the perfect drizzle consistency!
This recipe is super easy, the only thing that you need to watch is not to burn the sugar. When I make this recipe, I plant myself by the stove and stir constantly until it starts to turn amber. Depending on the heat and pan, this can take anywhere between 5-10 minutes. The deeper color you let the caramel get, the richer the caramel will be. Once all of the sugar melts and it gets that deep amber color, stir in the butter.
When you stir in the cream and the butter the mixture will bubble and steam. This may seem obvious, but DO NOT stick your finger in the hot caramel sauce. Be careful because this mixture is super hot.
This recipe is the perfect fall dessert. The pumpkin cake is super moist and packed with those incredible fall spices, the cream cheese frosting is tangy and smooth, and the buttery caramel on top makes the most incredible bite. To find other sheet cake recipes, click here!
Pumpkin Caramel Sheet Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup low-fat buttermilk room temperature
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
- 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
For the caramel:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream room temperature
- 5 tbsp salted butter room temperature
- ½ tsp kosher salt
For the frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup salted butter room temperature
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp milk room temperature
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350° and grease a 9×13 inch metal baking pan.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the vegetable oil, both brown and granulated sugars, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Add the buttermilk, both eggs and pumpkin puree and mix on medium until the whole mixture comes together, about 1 minute. Make sure your buttermilk and eggs are room temperature so the batter doesn't clump!
- In a separate medium sized bowl sift the flour, corn starch, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder and salt. With the mixer on a low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 35-45 minutes or until baked through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
For the caramel:
- Add the sugar to a sauté pan over medium-high heat. The sugar will look normal for the first few minutes, whisk occasionally. It will start to clump and melt, turning a deep amber color. Stir continuously until all of the sugar is dissolved. Once melted, stir in butter, one tablespoon at a time. After the butter melts completely, slowly drizzle in room temperature heavy cream, about 2 until completely combined. The mixture will bubble and steam up each time you add the heavy cream so be careful! Remove the caramel from heat and stir in the salt. Allow to cool to room temperature before using. Store for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
For the frosting:
- Once the cake has cooled, make the frosting. In the bowl of the stand mixer beat the cream cheese on medium high until smooth, about 30-60 seconds. Add in the butter and again beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Add in vanilla, powdered sugar, salt and milk. Add in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
For assembly:
- Once the cake has completely cooled, spread an even layer on the cream cheese frosting on top. Drizzle on about ½ cup of caramel (more in you prefer) and use a knife or spoon to swirl the caramel on top. Serve and enjoy! This cake should be stored in the refrigerator and will stay good for up to 5 days.