This Maple Streusel Pumpkin Cake is perfect for the holidays! Layers of pumpkin cake, cinnamon streusel, and maple cinnamon frosting.
I have a cake book addiction. I suppose there are worse things to be addicted to, but I am seriously running out of places to store them. The recent ones are all in a (somewhat) neat pile in my photography room, eagerly awaiting some free shelf space. If I ever get around to cleaning and organizing it…
Like any good addict (ahem), I was more than happy to add a new cake book to my collection: Simply Beautiful Homemade Cakes by Lindsay Conchar. I’m so excited to bring you a recipe from it today, with this Maple Streusel Pumpkin Cake!
Lindsay blogs over at Life, Love & Sugar and if you haven’t checked her out, you need to! She makes some seriously fabulous desserts, and her book is every bit as stunning as her blog. Simply Beautiful Homemade Cakes is packed with delicious recipes. Everything from Cannoli Cupcakes to Rocky Road Ice Cream Cake to Red Wine Chocolate Cake. There is something for everyone and it was so hard to choose a recipe!
After much deliberation, I finally decided on the Maple Streusel Pumpkin Cake because I clearly can’t get enough of pumpkin recipes. Plus, US Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I really can’t think of a better way to wrap up your Thanksgiving dinner. Step aside pumpkin pie! This cake is where it’s at.
My favorite part of this cake has to be the cinnamon streusel. It’s such a delicious flavor and texture addition! It’s possible I was snacking on the streusel the whole time I was decorating this cake. SO yummy. And it pairs really well with the pumpkin cake and maple frosting.
Aside from to-die-for recipes, Simply Beautiful Homemade Cakes also has a ton of incredibly helpful tips, tricks, and detailed tutorials. Everything from levelling cakes to ombre frosting techniques to making chocolate decorations, and more. It is packed with everything you could need to make stunning cakes at home.
Simply Beautiful Homemade Cakes is a must-have for any cake baker, or really just anyone who loves to look at pretty desserts. It’s the perfect holiday gift for the baker in your life!
Get your copy of Simply Beautiful Homemade Cakes HERE!
Note: I modified the original recipe to make a smaller but taller cake. Recipe below is as written in Simply Beautiful Homemade Cakes and makes a 3-layer 8″ cake.
Maple Streusel Pumpkin Cake
Ingredients
Pumpkin Cake:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 large egg white room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon ground
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
- 1/8 tsp cloves ground
- 1 3/4 cups pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
Maple Cinnamon Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable shortening
- 12 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon ground
- 1 Tbsp maple extract I used maple syrup
- 1/4 cup water or milk room temperature
Cinnamon Streusel:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon ground
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
Instructions
Pumpkin Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 8″ cake rounds, line with parchment.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
- Beat butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat on med-high until pale and fluffy (2-3mins).
- Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition. Add oil and vanilla and mix until incorporated.
- Alternate adding flour mixture and pumpkin puree, beginning and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of pumpkin). Mix until just combined.
- Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the tops with a spatula.
- Bake for 20-25 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10mins then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.
Maple Cinnamon Frosting:
- Beat butter and shortening until smooth. Slowly add 6 cups of powdered sugar, fully incorporating after each addition. Add the maple extract, cinnamon, and water or milk and mix until smooth. Add remaining powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Mix thoroughly until smooth.
Cinnamon Streusel:
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients with a fork until combined and crumbly. Spread evenly on baking sheet and bake for 6-8mins. Cool completely and crumble into pieces if needed.
Assembly:
- Trim off any domes with a serrated knife. Place one layer of the cake onto a cake stand or serving plate. Top with 3/4 cup of frosting and spread evenly. Sprinkle the frosting with 1/3 of the streusel. Lightly press the streusel into the frosting. Repeat with remaining layers. Frost and smooth the outside of the cake. Decorate with drop flowers or dollops and remaining streusel. I used Wilton Tip 1G.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container. Best eaten within 2-3 days.
Kimberly says
Hi Olivia- I am making this cake today for my daughters “Friendsgiving” and I am currently making the frosting- I am confused because is says to add the 6 cups of powdered sugar that is called for slowly then add the remaining ingredients but then says to add the remaining powdered sugar- should there be more than 6 cups total?
Olivia says
Hi Kimberley! My bad, thanks for catching that. Lindsays original recipe in her book calls for 12 cups of powdered sugar. I used less than that, but you could just use anywhere in between that amount to taste 🙂
Marie says
Hello! Will the streusel go soft in the middle of the cake if it’s assembled the day before it’s served?
Olivia says
Hi Marie! The streusel should stay crunchy!
kaylene hinson says
I’ve been loving your recipes recently. I double all of them so I can get 3 layer 9″ cakes out of them and they are so perfect. I’ve made this one and the mint chocolate chip, and turned the espresso chocolate one into cupcakes so far!
Olivia says
Hi Kaylene! Thanks so much, I am so happy to hear that you like them!
Alexis says
What size cake pans did you use for your taller cake version?
Olivia says
Hi Alexis! I used 6″ round cake pans that are 2″ tall.
Sarah says
Hi Olivia!! How many cupcakes do you think this recipe would yield?
Olivia says
Hi Sarah! I’m not totally sure…. best guess is about 20?
Sammy says
Hi Olivia!
So my best friends are getting married this fall and they’ve asked me to make their wedding cake and I am SO EXCITED! They don’t want to go with any classic flavors so I told them (obviously) to just look at your blog and tell me which cakes they would want to taste test. So I’ll be using 3 Wilton mini spring form pans (4×1.25) to make a few of your cakes into tester size cakes (although I’m sure my friends wouldn’t mind all the leftovers if I did them all regular size;)). So I’m just wondering if you think that halving all of your recipes would be the right amount for 3 4″ pans? Thanks for the help!!
Olivia says
Hi Sammy! Sorry for the delayed reply! I answered your question on the other post, but I’ll paste it here as well 🙂 I *think* halving the recipes would work fine, and would probably be best for ease of measurements. Just be sure to not fill the pans more than 2/3 full.
Becca Pickett says
Hi Olivia!
I am so excited to make this cake! I am curious if I could make it in a 9×13? I am making it for a potluck and want the option of small servings.
Olivia says
Hi Becca! The recipe as written makes three 8″ cakes, so I think that would be too much for a 9×13 cake pan. Although, you could make cupcakes with the excess batter?? Otherwise, I would try to 2/3 the recipe maybe. Let me know what you decide!
Rebekah says
I baked this cake, and it was delicious! The frosting was divine!! However, I noticed that two of the items in the ingredient list (vegetable oil and vanilla) aren’t mentioned in the instructions.
Olivia says
Hi Rebekah! I’m so glad you liked it! I’ve updated the recipe to include those in the steps. Thanks you!
Megan Wilson says
Hi Olivia!
I made the cakes the other day and prepared my buttercream and streusel tonight. I then assembled the three layers with a crumb coat and am letting that sit in fridge overnight before I decorate tomorrow. I just realized you said to bake the streusel. I plan to bake the remainder of the streusel per the directions before using on the exterior of the cake – is it a big deal that I didn’t bake before putting on the interior?
Thanks!
Olivia says
Hi Megan! I wouldn’t say it’s a crazy big deal, the only thing is there won’t be any crunch between the layers! The streusel will likely just mush into the frosting, but the flavour will still be there and still be delicious 🙂
Christine says
Maybe it has then. 🙁 Thanks for replying though. Officially obsessed with everything you do now! Lol
Christine says
Hi there. I started prepping tonight by making the butter cream. My shortening is still good but find the icing has an odd taste. I’ve never made icing with shortening before so not sure if this is normal. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Olivia says
Hi Christine! The shortening shouldn’t give the frosting a weird taste, unless it’s gone a bit rancid, which can happen even if it’s within the expiry date :\.
Cathy |whatshouldimakefor.com says
love everything about this cake, especially the streusel! going on my Thanksgiving menu!
Olivia says
Hi Cathy! Please let me know how you like it 🙂
Sharon says
Wow…i will be making this cake very soon. Thanks for sharing Olivia. This will be another “first time project” to look forward to..am excited.
Olivia says
Hi Sharon! You have to let me know how you like it! 🙂
Lalita Kothari says
Hey hii!!!
Can we substitute egg in the recipe???
Actually i don’t eat eggs!! So if eggs can be substituted then please let me know!!
Olivia says
Hi Lalita! You can try using one of these egg substitutes: http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/955371/baking-without-eggs. I can’t guarantee the results though as I haven’t tried it!
Lalita Kothari says
Thanks olivia 🙂
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar says
It looks amazing! I’m so glad you enjoyed it – the streusel is totally my favorite part too! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing it!
Olivia says
You’re welcome! I can’t wait to try the other recipes 🙂
Jacquie says
Hi Olivia!! I can’t wait to unpack my baking supplies and make this cake. Deeelish!! I too have a baking “library” but may be adding the cake book you refer to and recommend!!
laura@motherwouldknow says
What an incredibly beautiful cake! And since I’m obsessed with streusel, it has an allure that even chocolate would find it difficult to compete with. It would be perfect on a holiday table.
Olivia says
I agree! There is just something about that delicious crunch that streusel adds. It really enhances any cake!
Jacquie says
Hi Olivia! I can’t wait to unpack all my baking supplies to make this. I can almost taste it!! I think I may have to get that cake book too! I have my fair share of a baking “library”.. I assume that I could make this in two 8″ rounds with same baking time?
Olivia says
Hi Jacquie! The recipe listed makes three 8″ rounds so I think it would overflow your pans :(. You could try to 2/3 the recipe. That’s what I did to make a smaller cake.
Mel @ The Refreshanista says
Omg OLIVIAAAAA! Maple cinnamon frosting?! AND streusel?! I need this in my life!
Olivia says
You DO! I agree 😀
Kristen Chidsey says
That struesel in this cake is divine!! Love it!
Olivia says
LOVE the streusel 🙂