This delightful pumpkin spice cake is perfect for celebrating a first birthday. With its moist texture and warm spices, it’s a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults alike.
The recipe is simple to follow and can be customized with cream cheese frosting or a light whipped topping for a festive touch.
Creating the Perfect Pumpkin Spice Cake
The pumpkin spice cake is a delightful treat that embodies the essence of fall while celebrating a special occasion.
With its moist texture and warm spices, it’s a favorite among both children and adults.
This cake combines rich pumpkin flavor with cinnamon and nutmeg, making it a comforting dessert ideal for birthdays.
To achieve the best results, ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting.
This helps in creating a smooth batter that will rise beautifully in the oven.
Essential Ingredients for Success
Gathering the right ingredients is key to making a delicious pumpkin spice cake.
You will need all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt.
These dry ingredients create the perfect base for your cake.
For the wet ingredients, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, canned pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract are essential.
These elements work together to create a moist and flavorful cake that everyone will love.
Step-by-Step Baking Process
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and preparing your cake pans.
Greasing and flouring two 9-inch round cake pans will ensure your cakes come out easily after baking.
Next, whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl and combine the wet ingredients in another.
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
This method helps to avoid overmixing, which can lead to a dense cake.
Baking and Cooling
Once your batter is ready, divide it evenly between the prepared pans.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
This is a crucial step, as underbaking can lead to a soggy cake.
After baking, allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks.
Let them cool completely before frosting, as warm cakes can cause the frosting to melt.
Frosting and Decorating Your Cake
Once the cakes are completely cooled, it’s time to frost them.
Cream cheese frosting is a popular choice that pairs perfectly with pumpkin spice.
Spread an even layer between the two cake layers and on the top and sides of the cake.
For decoration, consider using small pumpkins and colorful sprinkles to add a festive touch.
A single candle placed on top makes it ready for the birthday celebration!
Serving and Enjoying the Cake
This pumpkin spice birthday cake serves approximately 12 slices, making it perfect for gatherings.
Each slice is rich in flavor, with a calorie count of around 320 per serving, which is reasonable for a dessert.
As you slice into the cake, the moist layers and creamy frosting will surely impress your guests.
Enjoy this delightful cake at your next birthday celebration or any festive occasion!
Delicious Pumpkin Spice Cake for a First Birthday

This cake features a rich pumpkin flavor combined with cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a comforting dessert that is ideal for a birthday celebration. The recipe takes about 1 hour from start to finish and serves approximately 12 people.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups canned pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the pumpkin puree and vanilla extract.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
- Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cakes: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Frost and Decorate: Once cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting or your choice of frosting. Decorate as desired for the birthday celebration.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 12 slices
- Calories: 320kcal
- Fat: 18g
- Protein: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
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