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This Pumpkin Crockpot Cake makes its own frosting! You can make this easy fudge cake in a matter of minutes: it’s simple to do and it’s like a dump cake! Just add it all together and bake.

hot fudge cake in a blue bowl with ice cream on top


Easy Pumpkin Crockpot Cake 

When it comes to pumpkin recipes, you’re going to love this one. You can eat it as it is, top it with ice cream or whipped cream, or just fill your bowl and not give it a second thought. The uniqueness of this hot fudge pumpkin pudding cake is that you don’t even have to make or add frosting. Yes, it’s that simple and that good! 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

  • Super simple – just a few ingredients
  • Rich and chocolate with tons of fall spice
  • Starts with a cake mix!
hot fudge cake in a blue bowl

Pumpkin Cake Ingredients

  • Yellow cake mix – You can also use other brands and flavors of cake mix. 
  • Pumpkin puree – Make sure that you’re not using pumpkin pie mix!
  • Water – It needs to be boiling hot. 
  • Oil – I like to use vegetable oil, but coconut oil works, too. 
  • Pumpkin pie spice – I like to make my own, but store bought is fine, too. 
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder and Granulated sugar – these combine with the hot water to make the frosting for the crockpot cake.

How to make Hot Fudge Pudding Cake 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13″ pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Place cake mix, pumpkin puree, water, oil, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until smooth. Pour into the prepared pan.
  3. Add cocoa, vanilla, and granulated sugar to the boiling water. Whisk until it’s dissolved – that’s why it needs to be hot! Pour carefully over the cake in the pan.
  4. Bake just until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake.
  5. Best served warm plain or with ice cream. Will last covered on the counter for up to 3 days. The hot fudge pudding sinks to the bottom, so the top will not look frosted.
hot fudge cake in a blue bowl with ice cream on top

Expert Tips

  • The fudge mixture is heavy in this recipe, so it’s going to sink to the bottom of the cake. When you scoop it out to eat, that’s when you’ll see everything, and you can then dump it in your bowl and enjoy it! 
  • Leftovers of this pumpkin pie dump cake recipe can be stored in the fridge. Just add a lid to the cake container, and store it up for 3 days. 
  • I don’t recommend freezing this dessert as it’s best eaten fresh! (You can, however, pair it with frozen ice cream!) 
  • Use any flavor cake mix and omit the pumpkin to make the perfect all year round crockpot cake!

FAQs

What is a dump cake? 

It’s a great dessert where all the ingredients are literally dumped together and baked. Dump cakes aren’t typically your “pretty” recipes, but they taste pretty dang good! 

Can I use other cake mix flavors? 

Since you’re using a box cake mix for this pumpkin dessert, a yellow cake mix or vanilla cake mix will be the most popular choice. I also think that using a chocolate cake mix would really change the flavor! 

Why is my cake dry? 

You may have overcooked the dump cake recipe if it’s dry. Just be sure that you’re careful with the measurements and follow the baking time. Use the toothpick test to see if the cake is done so that you don’t end up overcooking it! (Just insert a clean toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done and ready to cool.) 

Piece of pumpkin hot fudge cake on blue plate with fork

Pumpkin Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

5 from 18 votes
Pumpkin Hot Fudge Pudding Cake – this easy pumpkin cake recipe starts with a cake mix and is filled with hot fudge pudding. This is the perfect fall dessert!

Recipe Video

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Yield 12 -servings
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie mix
  • ½ cup water
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 ½ cups boiling water
  • cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • cup granulated sugar
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13″ pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Place cake mix, pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup water, oil, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until smooth. Pour into prepared pan.
  • Add cocoa, vanilla, and granulated sugar to the boiling water and whisk until dissovled. Pour carefully over cake in pan – do not mix.
  • Bake for 25-32 minutes or JUST until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake. Cool slightly before serving.
  • Best served warm plain or with ice cream. Will last covered on the counter for up to 3 days. The hot fudge pudding sinks to the bottom so the top will not look frosted.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 338mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 3258IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Pumpkin Pudding Cake is a hot fudge cake that’s pumpkin flavored – an easy dump cake that makes it’s own frosting – perfect fall recipe!

Favorite Crockpot Desserts



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

5 from 18 votes (18 ratings without comment)

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12 Comments

    1. I will tell you that chocolate and pumpkin DO go together. I have a recipe for chocolate chop pumpkin cookies that are marvelous! Oatmeal and cinnamon is added to the dough along with the chocolate chips. They have a cake like texture and taste awesome. I add more chips to my recipe.

  1. Oh no!!! When I was student teaching one of the little girls got lice and they were jumping off her head onto her desk!!! It was bad, really bad and I felt so sorry for her. Luckily this pumpkin cake will solve all problems, right!!!