Love pumpkin? This delicious Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spoon Cake is made with simple ingredients like canned pumpkin, cake mix, and spices and topped with pecans and a homemade glaze.
This cake is a must-make for the fall and winter season. Pair it along with my Pecan Pie, pumpkin spice lattes or pumpkin spice hot chocolate.
Is this similar to crock pot pumpkin dump cake?
Actually, it’s the exact same thing. Traditionally, a dump cake consists of “dumping” fruit or another filling into a pan and then dumping cake mix on top, I prefer to mix my ingredients. In this “dump cake” recipe, you’ll be using pumpkin puree and a powdered sugar glaze with whole pecans on top.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cake Mix: Yellow cake mix is the preferred one to use for this recipe.
- Pumpkin Puree: Instead of using real pumpkin, pumpkin puree provides the perfect amount of pumpkin flavor.
- For the Cake: Eggs, melted butter, water, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- For the Icing: Powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – In a large bowl, add the cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, melted butter, water, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
Step Two – Whisk all the ingredients together until well combined.
Step Three – Pour the pumpkin pie mix into the crock pot and smooth with a wooden spoon.
Step Four – Add the pecans on top of the pumpkin mixture (arranging them in a design is optional).
Step Five – Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Step Six – Drizzle homemade glaze on top (optional).
How do I serve this dessert?
- The most commonly asked question is if it should be served hot or cold. The answer is either way. It’s mostly about personal preference.
- You can also serve this dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. And since it’s pecan based, you can also serve it with pecan ice cream.
- Other toppings that pair well with this dump cake are chopped pecans, a sprinkle of cinnamon, whipped cream, or even a drizzle of maple syrup.
Recipe FAQs
Most people prefer to serve warm slow cooker pumpkin cake.
You can use any complimentary dry cake mix you prefer. White cake mix, spice cake mix or even a pumpkin flavored cake mix could work as well.
Place any remaining into an airtight container and store on the counter in room temperature. You can also place it in the fridge.
You can use pumpkin pie spice along with the other spices.
Yes, spray the crockpot very well with it to keep the cake from sticking.
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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Cake Recipe
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 15.25 oz. yellow cake mix
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup melted butter 1 stick
- ⅔ cups water
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp. cloves
- pinch salt
- ½ cup whole pecans
For the glaze:
Optional Toppings
- vanilla ice cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp. heavy cream or milk
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Add the cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, melted butter, water, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt to a large bowl. Whisk until combined, some chunks of cake mix are ok, don't over mix.
- Spray the slow cooker well with non-stick spray.
- Pour the cake batter into the slow cooker, spread until smooth.
- Add the pecans on top of the cake batter, arrange them in a design if desired.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hours and 45 minutes. (see notes)
- After the cooking time is done, turn off the slow cooker.
For the glaze:
- Place powdered sugar in a small bowl. Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream and stir until combined. I recommend adding the liquid slowly and stir until smooth and makes a thin, pourable consistency.
- Drizzle over cake. You can double the glaze recipe if you like lots of glaze.
- Spoon the cake into bowls and top with ice cream, if desired.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
- I keep an eye on the cake towards the end of the cooking time. If the slow cooker insert is askew and closer to one side of the warming device, it can burn there, check for that and move it away from that side.
- White cake mix, Spice cake mix or even a pumpkin flavored cake mix could work as well.
- Place any remaining into an airtight container and store on the counter in room temperature. You can also place it in the fridge.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
We have a Ninja crackpot and it has a metal insert not ceramic. I love it but will it work for this?
Yes, it will work great. Keep an eye on it towards the end of the cooking time for the timing may be slightly different.
I don’t care for pumpkin pie but I love pumpkin bread and now I have this delicious recipe! Have you tried this as a regular baked dish? I would like to try it that way too.
Thank you!!
That’s easy! Follow the recipe on the box for the size pan you are using.
Could this be made with a gluten free cake mix?
Yes!
No allowance for high altitude! Did not cook in the middle.
Hi. Your ingredients states water but your instructions do not.. please advise
You add it with all the other batter ingredients. Thank you. I added it.
If I use canned pumpkin pie filling that has spices added in it already, do I need to add the spices in your recipe? Thanks
I don’t think so. You could taste it before adding and see how much seasoning it has.
What could I use in place of butter?
Oil or applesauce would work.
Hi Sarah, my slow cooker doesn’t have the insert! What do I do??
You’ll have to get a new one I think! Can’t use it without.
an insert?
The ceramic piece that goes in the heating element.
I made this and wow was it great.
Question , can you use raisins or another type of cake mix. Just thinking out loud.
I will make this all the time
Jeff
Yes, raisins will be great. Any type of cake mix will work, keep the liquid amounts similar to whatever the box says.
instead of pumpkin could you use a different can fruit
I’m unsure Pat, sorry!
I never get a cake done on high in just 1 hour and 45 minutes. Also I always have to put paper towels under lid to keep cake from getting the moisture back on it and keeping it wet. So what do you suggest?
This one doesn’t get too wet. Are you keeping the lid on the entire time? If you can cook it longer without it burning, that’s what I would do!
Sarah
Awesome recipe… Thanx Sarah
Hi,
this looks & sounds wonderful… how long do you think it would bake in a 3 or 4 quart slow cooker ??
I appreciate any advise /help you can give me….Thanks
Hi Abby! I have not made a cake in that size before. If that is the size you plan to use for life I would suggest testing it out, my advice would be to keep the lid on the entire time.