One Bowl Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
This ultra moist vegan pumpkin cake recipe uses a full can of pumpkin puree and just one bowl! Topped with a silky vegan cream cheese frosting, this easy pumpkin cake is full of warm spices and is so tender, and rich!
You’re going to LOVE this vegan pumpkin cake:
If you love all things pumpkin (like vegan pumpkin spice latte, vegan pumpkin coffee cake, vegan pumpkin cheesecake, and of course vegan pumpkin pie) then you need to try this ultra rich and fluffy vegan pumpkin cake.
It’s soft, moist, and full of pumpkin spice flavor. Next to my chocolate vegan pumpkin cake, this is the ultimate Thanksgiving cake recipe (and for more vegan Thanksgiving desserts, check out our vegan Thanksgiving dessert recipes and vegan Thanksgiving menu!).
Like my pumpkin roll cake and pumpkin cupcakes, this pumpkin spice cake is full of fall flavors, super tender and soft, and deliciously sweet yet tangy, thanks to the dairy free cream cheese frosting.
AND the best part?! It’s made entirely in one bowl and we’re using a full can of pumpkin puree (though you could totally use homemade pumpkin puree as well). I mean, talk about easy!
Oh, and non-vegans will never be able to tell that this pumpkin cake is entirely dairy free, made without eggs, and vegan. My mom, who is the *toughest* critic of any dessert, said this cake literally blew her away. She couldn’t put it down.
I KNOW, right?!
Get ready for the best pumpkin cake you’ve ever had as well!
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cake Ingredients
Here’s all that you need to make the best damn vegan pumpkin cake you’ll ever taste:
- Flour: you can use gluten free 1:1 baking flour here or cake flour. I note in the recipe card below to use cornstarch or arrowroot powder if you’re not using cake flour! This yields an extra tender cake texture.
- Pumpkin pie spice: or a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, and cloves!
- Leavening agents: baking soda and baking powder
- Vegan buttermilk: a mixture of dairy free milk (keep this vegan cake recipe entirely nut free with my oat milk) and apple cider vinegar.
- Pumpkin puree: This replaces any need for eggs in our vegan pumpkin cake.
- Vegan butter: I like Miyoko’s here.
- Neutral oil: I like to use avocado oil for extra moisture, but you can also use olive oil or sunflower oil.
- Sugar and light brown sugar: I recommend Florida Crystals sugar here, as they are vegan and sustainably produced.
- Vanilla extract
How to make a vegan pumpkin cake with vegan cream cheese frosting
The vegan pumpkin cake
You just need one bowl to make this pumpkin spice cake!
With pumpkin, it’s a very dense ingredient, so the cakes take slightly longer to cool than any of my other vegan cake recipes.
I recommend allowing the cakes to cool in the pans first, then transfer them to a cooling rack to fully cool evenly. Only when the cakes are fully cool should you begin to frost! Otherwise, you’ll have cake layers slipping onto the floor!
The vegan cream cheese frosting
This is my favorite touch to this pumpkin cake that I think just really sets it apart.
My biggest tips for making an ultra velvety smooth and sweet yet tangy vegan cream cheese frosting are these:
- Bring the vegan butter and vegan cream cheese to room temperature: you should be able to easily dent the two with your index finger.
- Sift the powdered sugar: this ensures that there are no clumps of sugar in your frosting, and the dairy free frosting is so creamy and smooth.
- Use dairy free milk for an ultra velvety texture: this ties together the entire recipe
- Add in cinnamon for an extra fall kick!
How to decorate vegan pumpkin cake
My absolute favorite part about make a vegan cake recipe is the decorating part.
I love topping this pumpkin cake with some homemade vegan salted caramel. For an even quicker topping, you could melt some biscoff cookie butter spread.
You can also top with homemade vegan cream cheese “pumpkins” or candies!
Here is what the cake looks like with the homemade cream cheese frosting pumpkins!
You’re just going to LOVE this vegan pumpkin cake! If you make it, let me know down below in the comments section, as well as giving it a rating so that others may find it.
As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there!
Happy pumpkin cake baking!
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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!
Print
Soft & Fluffy Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 35
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This ultra moist vegan pumpkin cake recipe uses a full can of pumpkin puree and just one bowl! Topped with a silky vegan cream cheese frosting, this easy pumpkin cake is full of warm spices and is so tender, and rich!
Ingredients
Vegan Pumpkin Cake:
- 1 1/4 cup (300 mL) vegan buttermilk
- 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour (or gluten free 1:1 baking flour + 1 tbsp arrowroot or cornstarch)
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (113 g) vegan butter, melted
- 1/2 cup (110 g) neutral cooking oil
- 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup (60 g) dairy free yogurt, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 batch vegan cream cheese frosting
- 1 batch vegan salted caramel
Instructions
- Prepare the vegan buttermilk first: whisk together the dairy free milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside for 5-7 minutes to curdle. You’ll start with the dry ingredients while this is setting.
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350F and line three 8″ cake pans with olive oil and parchment paper.
- Make the batter: In a large bowl, add in the pumpkin puree, sugars, vegan butter, oil, dairy free yogurt, and vanilla extract. Whisk together until combined. Then add in the salt, baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin spice. Whisk to incorporate again. Then add in the flour, along with the vegan buttermilk, and whisk just until incorporated.
- Bake: Divide the batter into the three cake pans evenly and place the cake pans into the oven to bake for 32-35 minutes, or until the toothpick comes out clean.
- While the cakes are baking: You can prep the vegan caramel if you’d like to use that for decoration.
- Cool: Remove the cake pans from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer the pumpkin cake layers to a cooling rack to fully cool before frosting. This should take between 35-40 minutes.
- Make the frosting: Once the cakes are cooled, you can prepare the vegan cream cheese frosting. Beat together the vegan butter and vegan cream cheese until fluffy. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer. Sift in the powdered sugar and continue to beat. Add in the cinnamon, maple syrup and dairy free milk while beating the vegan cream cheese frosting. The frosting should be fluffy and smooth.
- Frost the cake: Place one cooled cake layer onto a serving plate. Scoop about 2/3 cup of frosting on top of the first layer and spread the frosting to the edges of the cake. Then place a second layer on top, and repeat. Then place the third layer on top. Frost the outside of the cake, then place the cake into the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes.
- Top with the caramel: Once set, pour the vegan salted caramel on top, and spread to spill over the edges of the cake. Top with flaky sea salt.
- Serve and enjoy! Slice the pumpkin cake, serve, and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Gluten free: Swap in King Arthur’s Measure for Measure gluten free baking powder for a gluten free pumpkin cake.
So good! I made this for my family and family friends, none of which are vegan and all of which love sweets. They loved it! Personally it can’t top your vegan vanilla cake, which is so moist and fluffy, but this is a keeper!
Aw my goodness!! You are too kind!! So happy to hear it (and so glad you also love the vanilla one!! I’m making that for my birthday again in 2 weeks ha!!). Thank you so much again and enjoy!!
What is the vegan cream cheese you use? I’m super interested in making this cake with this frosting but I haven’t found a tasty dairy free one yet.
Hi Liliana! I’ve tested this with both Kite Hill and Miyoko’s- I really like them both!! I find that Miyoko’s (the classic version- NOT the lox version, it’s not so clear on the packaging at first glance!) tastes the most like a cream cheese frosting when paired with the vegan butter, but Kite Hill is also good! For nut-free, I believe Go Veggie has a nut-free vegan cream cheese!
Can you use regular milk or buttermilk instead? My niece has an egg allergy, but no issues with milk
Hi Danielle! Yes you can use regular buttermilk here, in the same quantity!
What temperature do I set the oven to and how long do I bake it for? Thank you so excited to try it!
Hi Cara! So excited for you to try it! The temperature is 350F and the recipe card says the bake time depending on what size cake pans you’re using! Enjoy 🙂
I’m awful at baking but I am determined to make this cake!!
Yes!! You got this!
I made this last year for a work friend’s birthday. Noone but me is vegan… So today I just got a request for it again. The girl who asked said she’s been wanting to ask for it again all year but now that it’s fall she feels justified! So big props from my friends at work…
Hi! Planning on making this soon!
What kind of pumpkin would you use if you’re making the pumpkin puree from scratch? We don’t have canned pumpkin puree in our stores.
Hi Kristel!! Absolutely! I recommend sugar pumpkins (sometimes called pie pumpkins)- I know they’re really popular in CT (where I’m located) but I think they can be found nationwide at grocery stores!
I’m going to make this recipe as cupcakes. How long should I bake the cupcakes for?
Hi Ashlee! I do have a pumpkin cupcake recipe if you’d like to try that- https://thebananadiaries.com/healthy-pumpkin-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting/ this is what this cake is based off of! But if you’d like to use this recipe in particular, they will bake a bit longer, because of the denseness of pumpkin. I’d check the cupcakes after 28 minutes and see where they are!
So good! I used 2 c Tigernut flour, 1 c Arrowroot starch and 1/2 c coconut flour as a replacement for the all-purpose flour to make it grain/gluten free.
Any other frosting that would pair well? My niece is not a fan of cream cheese
Absolutely! You can use my vegan buttercream frosting, and add some cinnamon to it so that it’s a bit more exciting! 🙂
I am currently making this and am so excited! If I decide to use regular cream cheese, how much would I use?
Oh that’s wonderful!! You can use regular cream cheese, it would be the same amount actually! Enjoy 🙂
I made this for thanksgiving and this was so delicious! A moist fluffy cake that no one can even assume is vegan and the frosting is the perfect pairing. Everyone loved it! It was really quick and easy to make 🙂 thank you!
This cake was absolutely amazing! It tastes like a pumpkin roll but in cake form. I made it for Thanksgiving this year & now have a recipe (and reason) to make a “fall” cake anytime from September to November… 😹🎂🎃 Super delicious!
Omgsh I’m so happy to hear that!! Enjoy!! So glad you loved 🙂 Thank you!!
Can anything be subbed for yogurt??
You can use dairy free sour cream, applesauce, or more pumpkin puree, but the best results will be with the yogurt or the sour cream!
Omg Wow! I made this cake and it was the star of the holiday dessert table. Everyone went crazy for it. Super moist cake, fluffy cinnamon spiced cream cheese frosting but the salted caramel was the show stopper! (I struggled on two attempts with your caramel recipe. The sugar seized up and recrystalized both times. Not sure what I did wrong so I used my caramel recipe.) Overall a fantastic cake recipe. I’ll make it every Thanksgiving!! Thank you.