Pumpkin bread is a classic fall treat and it's incredibly easy to make with just a few ingredients. This Pumpkin Bread with Spice Cake Mix has a moist texture and a delightful pumpkin flavor.

This simple hack saves time, reduces the number of ingredients you need, and provides a mouthwatering and delicious dessert.

Pumpkin Bread with Spice Cake Mix iced and sliced on white serving platter.

Pumpkin Loaf Cake or Pumpkin Bread is popular during the autumn season and throughout the winter season.

This was inspired by my Chocolate Pumpkin Marble Cake which is frosted with chocolate ganache frosting. It doesn't use cake mix but it is absolutely delicious.

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Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Top tip
Related
📖 Recipe

Sliced pumpkin loaf cake frosted with cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

In this pumpkin bread recipe, you'll only need a few ingredients to create a delicious and moist loaf. Here's what you need:

1 box spice cake mix
1 can (14 ounces) of 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

The primary ingredient for this pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting is a spice cake mix. The cake mix's spices with flavor this pumpkin loaf perfectly, and will eliminate the need to add extra spices making this recipe even easier.

Next, you'll need a 14-ounce can of pureed pumpkin. Make sure to get this ingredient right - use pureed pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix, as the pumpkin pie mix already has seasonings in it and will greatly alter the results of this pumpkin loaf cake. Whenever I'm baking anything with pumpkin puree, I always use 100% pure pumpkin.

Overhead picture of a pumpkin loaf cake frosted with maple cream cheese frosting.

This Pumpkin Spice Bread with Cake Mix also has a maple cream cheese frosting which adds to the moisture to this delicious pumpkin cake.

cream cheese
maple syrup
powdered sugar

Just three ingredients are needed to add a sweet frosting to this pumpkin bread. it adds sweetness and elevates your pumpkin bread, making it a delightful treat during the cooler months.

See recipe card for quantities.

An uncut pumpkin bread with spice cake mix frosted with cream cheese.

Instructions

To make a delicious Pumpkin Bread with Spice Cake Mix, follow these easy steps:

Preheat the oven: First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 9x5-inch loaf pan by greasing it with baking spray or lining it with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, beat two eggs together with the vanilla extract, and add in the pumpkin puree. Next, beat the spice cake mix into the pumpkin mixture until all ingredients are moistened.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Tap the pan on the countertop gently to release any air bubbles and smooth out the top of the batter.
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 42-48 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the pumpkin bread comes out clean. Oven times will vary so keep an eye on it as it gets close to the time being up. Adjust accordingly.
After checking the center of the pumpkin loaf with a toothpick, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Once it has cooled, run a knife along the edges of the cake to release it from the pan, and carefully invert the pan to release the pumpkin cake. Allow the pumpkin bread to cool completely before frosting.
If you choose to frost the pumpkin bread, allow the bread to cool completely before frosting.

Hint: Use 100% Pure Pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix. Pumpkin pie mix already has spices in it and it will greatly alter the overall flavor of the cake.

Substitutions

If you're looking to make pumpkin bread with a spice cake mix but don't have all the ingredients on hand, don't worry. There are some easy substitutions you can make to still create delicious and moist pumpkin bread. As always, when altering ingredients it will change the result in the end.

Cake Mix - if you don't have spice cake mix on hand you can use white or yellow cake mix in its place. You will need to create a seasoning mix to add to the white or yellow cake mix: 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of ground ginger, and ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg to your mix.
Fresh pumpkin - you can use fresh pumpkin puree by steaming or baking a pumpkin, then scooping out the flesh and pureeing it in a food processor or blender before adding it to the batter.

Sliced pumpkin bread with spice cake mix frosted with cream cheese.

Variations

If you're looking to add a twist to your pumpkin bread with spice cake mix, there are several variations that can make the recipe even more exciting and delicious.

One popular option is adding chocolate chips to the batter. Simply fold in 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips before pouring the mixture into the loaf pan and bake according to the directions.

Add Nuts - You can add some crunch to this pumpkin bread with spice cake mix by mixing in chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter before baking.
Add Fruit - Mix in cranberries, raisins, or other dried fruit to your pumpkin bread if you'd like. Keep in mind, it will alter the taste and texture of the bread.
Leave off the frosting - This pumpkin loaf cake is absolutely delicious with the maple cream cheese frosting but it can be eaten without the frosting. Although, the frosting adds a level of moisture and flavor to the overall experience while eating.

See this recipe for The Very Best Pumpkin Roll on my website! It also has a delicious maple cream cheese frosting as the filling.

This Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake is another easy pumpkin recipe perfect for the fall and winter months.

Side view of sliced pumpkin cake frosted with cream cheese and maple syrup.

Equipment

To make Pumpkin Bread with Spice Cake Mix, you will need a few essential kitchen tools and equipment to make this cake easy and quickly.

9x5 inch loaf pan: You can either grease the bottom and sides of the pan with baking spray or place parchment paper in it for easy removal.
Mixing bowl: This is a one-bowl recipe. It makes clean up quicker!
Electric mixer: To blend the pumpkin puree together well with the cake mix, an electric mixer is suggested to make it easier.
Spatula: A rubber spatula comes in handy for scraping the batter out of the mixing bowl and for smoothing out the top of the batter before baking.

A milk jug in the background of pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting.

Storage

Storing your pumpkin bread with spice cake mix properly can help ensure it stays fresh and delicious. Depending on whether it has cream cheese frosting or not will determine how you will store it.

Either frosted or unfrosted, store the pumpkin bread in an airtight container to keep it fresh longer.

For pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting, store it in the refrigerator for up to five days.

For unfrosted pumpkin loaf cake, you can keep your pumpkin bread at room temperature for up to three days. For a longer storage period, it can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days.

For long-term storage, you can freeze your pumpkin bread by wrapping frosted or unfrosted in plastic wrap and placing it in a freezer safe container. Frozen pumpkin bread with both cream cheese frosting and without can be frozen for up to three months. Allow it to thaw at room temperature before serving.

Top tip

Make sure to add the eggs in this recipe! It will create a more fluffy and tender cake that is moist and not dry.

Looking for other recipes like this? This Iced Pumpkin Spice Loaf is a must try and give these a try:

📖 Recipe