‘Tis the season for Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and today I’m going to share the most AMAZING way to enjoy all of the warm and cozy flavors of your favorite fall drink in the form of a homemade, knock-your-socks-off, Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake!
This flavorful Pumpkin Spice Cake is adapted from our popular scratch Pumpkin Cake recipe, with a few modifications. The result is a fantastic flavor combination of pumpkin, spices, and espresso.
For an additional flavor boost, we brushed our pumpkin cake layers with an espresso simple syrup, and filled and frosted our cake with a creamy, heavenly cinnamon espresso cream cheese frosting.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake
*You can find the full, printable Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake recipe further down in this post. Here is a quick look at the steps!
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease and flour three 8-inch round pans. I also like to add a circle of parchment paper to the bottom of each pan.
Next, in a medium size bowl, add the cake flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk at least 30 seconds to blend. Set aside.
In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients: add the milk, canned pumpkin, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and espresso dissolved in water. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer (fitted with paddle attachment), beat the softened butter until smooth. Add the white and brown sugar and mix on medium speed 5 minutes until fluffy.
Next, add the room temperature eggs one at a time, mixing until the yellow of the yolk disappears.
Add the flour mixture and the milk mixture alternately. Begin and end with the dry ingredients (3 additions of dry and 2 of wet)
Mix just until combined- be careful not to mix above medium speed.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. Let cool 10 minutes ini the pans on a wire rack, then turn out.
How to Make Espresso Syrup
The espresso syrup in this recipe gives us a nice boost of coffee flavor which is so delicious with the pumpkin and spice flavor.
To make the syrup, add the sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, remove from the heat and stir in the espresso granules.
You can refrigerate the mixture or allow to cool until you are ready to use. When it’s time to assemble the cake, use a pastry brush to lightly spread the syrup on the top of the cake layers.
How to make Whipped Cream- so easy!
Homemade whipped cream is the easiest thing in the world to mix up, and it can add so much to a dessert! In today’s recipe, it is the perfect finishing touch.
First, chill the mixing bowl and beaters or whisk attachment in the freezer for 10 minutes. Pour the whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla into the chilled mixing bowl, begin beating on low speed gradually increasing to medium high speed.
The cream will thicken after about 1-1 1/2 minutes. Mix until you reach soft peak stage. When you lift the whisk attachment from the bowl, you’ll notice the cream lifts to a soft peak that just slightly curls at the tip. When this happens, it’s ready!
How noticeable is the Espresso in the Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake?
*The espresso in the Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake is noticeable without being overpowering.
However, if you would like even more coffee or espresso flavor, try incorporating 1-2 teaspoons of coffee extract in the cake batter, and then additional extract to the frosting (to your liking).
Assembling the Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake
To assemble the cake, place the first cake layer onto the pedestal or cake platter. Using a pastry brush, apply a light coating of the espresso syrup. Follow with a layer of Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting.
Repeat this step for the second cake layer and then the third.
Next, frost cake with Cinnamon Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting. I piped a top and bottom border using a star tip 21 but you can decorate the cake however you like!
Finally, to add the whipped cream, load it into a piping bag with the tip snipped away and pipe cloud-like puffs of whipped cream over the top of the cake. Follow with a light dusting of cinnamon. Yum!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake from Scratch
This delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake recipe has the perfect blend of pumpkin, spices, and espresso! It's always a favorite recipe for fall!
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 1/2 sticks (170g) unsalted butter, slightly softened
- 1 cup (200g) white sugar
- 1 cup (217g) light brown sugar
- 4 large eggs - room temperature ( can be brought to room temperature in a bowl of very warm water)
- 3 cups (342g) cake flour —** if you do not have cake flour, see substitution below
- 1 Tablespoon (5g) pumpkin pie spice —** if you do not have, see substitution below
- 1/2 teaspoon (3g) salt
- 1 Tablespoon (14g) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda
- 1/2 cup (121g) milk
- 1 can (15oz/425g) pumpkin ( not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/4 cup (54g) vegetable oil (I used canola oil)
- 1 teaspoon (6g) vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons (8g) instant espresso granules (or instant coffee) dissolved in 1 Tablespoon (13g) water
For the Coffee Syrup
- 1/4 cup ( 50g) sugar
- 1/4 cup (114g) water
- 1 Tablespoon (4g) espresso granules or instant coffee granules
For the Cinnamon Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 Sticks (226g) unsalted butter, slightly softened
- 2 (8oz) (226g) packages cream cheese (full fat), soften only slightly - Do not use reduced fat or the spreadable cream cheese. It will be too soft.
- 1 Tablespoon (6g) espresso granules dissolved in 2 teaspoons (8g) vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon (2g) cinnamon
- 6 to 6 1/2 cups (690g to 747g) more if needed, powdered sugar
For the Sweetened Whipped Cream (for the top of the cake)
- 1 cup (240 g) Heavy Cream
- 1/4 cup (29 g) Confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon (4 grams) Vanilla
Instructions
For the Pumpkin Spice Cake Layers
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour three 8 x 2 inch pans
In a medium size bowl, add the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk at least 30 seconds to blend. Set aside.
In another bowl, add the milk, pumpkin, vegetable oil, vanilla and espresso dissolved in water. Set aside.
In the bowl of your mixer, beat the softened butter until smooth. Add the white and brown sugar and mix on medium speed 5 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until the yellow of the yolk disappears.
Add the flour mixture and the milk mixture alternately. Begin and end with the dry ingredients (3 additions of dry and 2 of wet)
Mix until just combined, do not mix above medium speed or over mix.
Pour into prepared pans, smoothing tops with the back of a spoon. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. Let cool 10 minutes, then turn out.
For the Coffee Syrup
In a small saucepan, add the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, remove from the heat and stir in the espresso/coffee granules.
Allow to cool. You can refrigerate this until you are ready to use. Do not spread on the tops of the cakes until you are ready to decorate. Using a pastry brush, spread lightly on the top of the cake layers. Do not make them too wet. You will have some coffee syrup left over.
For the Cinnamon Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting
Cut the butter into slices and add to the bowl of your mixer. Beat on low to medium speed until the butter is softened.
Cut the cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, beating at low to medium speed until blended. If using a hand mixer, you may need to soften the cream cheese a bit more.
Add the cinnamon
Add the espresso that has been mixed with the vanilla
Gradually add the powdered sugar beating on low to medium speed until blended. Do not over mix or it will become too soft. If it does become too soft, just refrigerate for a few minutes, then continue.
This frosting will pipe best if used while somewhat chilled. You can make this in advance, refrigerate and when ready to use, let soften to spreading consistency (do not microwave) and stir or remix with mixer.
Will fill and frost a 3 layer 8 or 9 inch cake
For the Whipped Cream Topping
Chill the mixing bowl and beaters or whisk attachment in the freezer for 10 minutes. Pour the whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla into the chilled mixing bowl, begin beating on low speed gradually increasing to medium high speed.
The cream begins to thicken (approx. 1 1/2 minutes) and soft peaks form….peaks that slightly bend over. Watch closely as this happens quickly. Do not over beat or it will turn into butter.
Assembling the Cake
To assemble the cake, place the first cake layer onto the pedestal or cake base. Using a pastry brush, apply a light coating of the espresso syrup. Follow with a layer of Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting. Repeat this process for the other cake layers.
Frost cake with Cinnamon Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting, and using a piping bag with a very large round tip (or with the tip of the piping bag snipped away), pipe cloud-like puffs of whipped cream over the top of the cake. Follow with a light dusting of cinnamon.
Notes
Substitution for Cake Flour
** If you do not have cake flour, you can use all purpose flour (plain in the UK) and the following substitution: for each cup of flour in the recipe, remove 2 Tablespoons and replace with 2 Tablespoons cornstarch. For this recipe, measure our 3 cups of all purpose flour, remove 6 Tablespoons of the flour and replace with 6 Tablespoons cornstarch. Whisk to blend.
Substitution for Pumpkin Spice
** If you do not have pumpkin pie spice, you can substitute with : 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon allspice 1/8 teaspoon cloves
A few additional notes…
Can I Cover the Cake with Fondant?
Does the Cake Need to be Refrigerated?
Due to the Cinnamon Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting and whipped cream, you will want to refrigerate this cake.
If you are thinking ahead, you can remove the cake from the refrigerator approximately 30-45 minutes before the cake is to be served. (It will still be chilled but not quite so cold at the time of serving.)
That’s not to say that a big ‘ol slice of Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake isn’t amazing in the middle of the night, fresh from the refrigerator. Haha. This was well tested by me and my family! I never have the patience to wait for it to warm up on the counter ;0)
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Looks & Sounds Delish! Adding this to my To Bake List :-) Thanks ladies!
This looks amazing! I love coffee but never tasted pumpkin in a cake before. Have just printed recipe out as I have most of the ingredients and I can get canned pumpkin but pureed, hope that is okay.
Thanks for recipe :)
Hi Glossy, Yes, the canned pumpkin should be pureed. Hope you like the cake!!
The cake looks gorgeous and delicious. Thanks for share!!
Absolutely stunning! When I make cakes like this, they usually taste very good, but I never get them looking so good… congratulations!
This is the best recipe ever written. I love how you included weights and substitutions. I always have to guess at some ingredient amounts because everyone has a different take on how to measure it. Even online info gives different weights for flour. So refreshing to follow a recipe that is this thorough. Cake is in the oven now and it smells delicious!
Thank you so much for your feedback, Jacqueline! I’m so happy to hear it. We hope that you enjoy the cake!
I thought it was absolutely delicious and I bake something almost everyday. The flavor was spot on and the crumb was perfect. I will be making this for my family’s Thanksgiving. Thank you!
What are your suggestions on covering the finished cake while in the fridge and transporting? My cake stand lid is too short, and I don’t want to ruin my “foam” on top! Thanks!
Hi Abigail, you can place the cake in a bakery cake box. The cake should be on a cake board that is slightly bigger than the cake, then the cake will not touch the sides of the box during transport. Close the cake box lid as close as it will go and not touch the top of the cake, tape it into that position. You can then add plastic wrap over the opening so the cake will be covered. Hope that is clear.
Any chance this cake can be made gluten-free?
Hi Heather, I am sorry that we have not tried a gluten free version. Do you have a gluten free scratch recipe or even a gluten free boxed cake mix that you could adjust by adding maybe a cup of pumpkin for the liquid and add the pumpkin pie spice. The Coffee Syrup as well as the Cinnamon Espresso Cream Cheese Frosting add greatly to this being a spice latte cake. Hope something works out.
This was way to spicy – I would cut back on the pumpkin pie spice to 1/2 T