The Great Pumpkin Crunch Cake
September 18, 2025
Pumpkin, toffee, and cream cheese frosting in one unforgettable cake.
The Great Pumpkin Crunch takes everything we love about fall and bakes it into one irresistible cake. With soft pumpkin cake, tangy cream cheese frosting, and buttery toffee pieces sprinkled in, it’s basically a fall festival in dessert form. Serve it up after pumpkin carving, a hayride, or even while watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and you’ll have a new autumn tradition.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft, bakery-style pumpkin cake layers
- Cream cheese frosting that’s light, fluffy, and tangy
- Crunchy toffee pieces for texture and caramel flavor
- A fun fall dessert perfect for pumpkin patch season
- Easy semi-homemade recipe with a boxed mix upgrade
Ingredient Notes
- Pumpkin cake mix – Pillsbury Perfectly Pumpkin gives you that spiced fall flavor base
- Eggs + extra yolk – the yolk adds richness for a bakery-style texture
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt – keeps the cake moist and soft
- Cream cheese – softened for smooth, tangy frosting
- Salted butter – balances sweetness in the frosting
- Heath toffee crunch – adds caramelized flavor and a little crunch on top
Before You Bake
Do I need to soften the cream cheese first?
Yes, softened cream cheese is key for a smooth, lump-free frosting. Leave it out for about 30 minutes before mixing.
Should I use sour cream or Greek yogurt?
Either works, but sour cream gives a richer flavor while Greek yogurt makes it a little lighter.
Why add an extra egg yolk?
That one yolk boosts richness and helps create a bakery-style texture in the cake.
The Great Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 box Pillsbury Perfectly Pumpkin Cake Mix (15.25 oz)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 large eggs (use 3 whole eggs + 1 extra yolk)
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Filling & Topping
- Heath toffee crunch pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment circles.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, oil, melted butter, milk, eggs, yolk, sour cream, and vanilla. Mix until smooth and well blended—don’t overmix.
- Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake according to package directions, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cakes cool completely before frosting.
- For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually, mixing on low. Stir in vanilla, then beat on high for 2–3 minutes until light and airy.
- To assemble: Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous amount of frosting on top and sprinkle with toffee crunch. Add the second cake layer, then frost the outside of the cake. Pipe a border if desired and finish with more toffee sprinkled over the top.
FAQ
Can I use a different cake mix?
Yes, but the pumpkin cake mix gives the strongest fall flavor. If you swap, add 1–2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice to keep it seasonal.
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Absolutely. Bake the layers a day ahead, wrap tightly, and store at room temperature. Frost the next day for the freshest taste.
Can I freeze this cake?
Yes! Wrap individual slices or the whole cake in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw in the fridge overnight.
What’s the best way to store leftovers?
Keep the frosted cake covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Bring slices to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Can I turn this into cupcakes instead of a layer cake?
Definitely. Bake in lined muffin tins at 350°F for 18–22 minutes, then frost and top with toffee.
Sprinkle of Fun
Serve up a slice of The Great Pumpkin Crunch while hosting your own “pumpkin night in.” Queue up It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown or your favorite fall movie, light a pumpkin-scented candle, and set out a few mini pumpkins or gourds for decorating. You can make it interactive by letting everyone paint or sticker their pumpkin while snacking on cake. It turns dessert into a cozy little pumpkin-themed party.
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