Pumpkin Crunch Cake Recipe using Yellow Cake Mix - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

November 13, 2017August 24, 2023

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases.

With a crisp topping and a dollop of whipped cream, this Pumpkin Crunch Cake – made with a cake mix – is perfect for a crowd. Sometimes people call this Pumpkin Crunch Cake or Pumpkin Crunch Bars. We think it should be called the Best Ever Pumpkin Crunch Dessert of all time.

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Easy Pumpkin Crunch Dessert with yellow cake mix is a simple pumpkin dessert to make. The ingredients include canned pumpkin, eggs, evaporated milk, sugar, cinnamon, cake mix and butter. This really is a pumpkin dump cake as opposed to a traditional cake recipe.

Instead of making the same old boring pumpkin pie, try this Pumpkin Crunch with yellow cake mix instead. You won’t be disappointed. Barbara loves this dessert, and she claims it as one of her favorites. She lost the recipe a couple years ago, but recently found it again.

A co-worker shared this recipe with her years and years ago. Even though Barbara hasn’t seen her for almost 10 years, she thinks of her each time this Pumpkin Crunch goes into the oven.

Pumpkin Crunch Cake Ingredient List

• Canned Pumpkin (not canned pumpkin pie filling)
• Evaporated Milk
• Large Eggs
• Ground Cinnamon
• Sugar
• Yellow Cake Mix (dry mix, unprepared)
• Butter

A Pumpkin Crunch Cake with Cake Mix

Cake mix is the secret ingredient in the “crunch” part of this easy fall dessert. The bottom layer is essentially the pumpkin pie. Then, a dry cake mix is sprinkled right on top of the pumpkin pie layer. Melted butter is poured right over top the dry cake mix to form the beautiful, delicious crunch.

For even drizzling of the butter, use a liquid cup measure or something that allows the melted butter to pour evenly. If you’ve got dry clumps of cake mix, spread out the butter or add more drizzled butter to get the entire top.

I sometime even give the top of the cake a spray with nonstick cooking spray to make sure it’s all wet on top for an even crunch.

How To Make Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Step By Step Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, eggs, sugar, evaporated milk, and cinnamon.
2. Pour pumpkin batter into a prepared 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
3. Sprinkle cake mix over pumpkin pie mixture, and pour melted butter over top of the cake mix, being sure there’s no dry spots.
4. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F.
5. Serve topped with whipped cream, Cool Whip or scoop of vanilla ice cream (if served hot).

Storage Instructions

Cover dish with a tight-fitting lid, plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store in the fridge for up to a week.

For the full recipe steps and ingredient amounts for pumpkin crunch bars with yellow cake mix, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Does pumpkin crunch cake need to be refrigerated?

We would recommend to serve immediately, or let cool and refrigerate. If you are going to eat later, we would recommend not letting it sit for more than four hours at room temperature before covering and putting it into the refrigerator.

Can you freeze pumpkin crunch cake?

Yes, if you’ve got too many desserts at thanksgiving, place individual pieces of pumpkin crunch cake in a freezer dish or separate multiple slices with waxed paper in a larger freezer-safe container. Place in the refrigerator to thaw.

Recipe FAQs

• Use evaporated milk, not sweetened condensed milk.
• This pumpkin crunch cake uses regular canned pumpkin, not to be confused with pumpkin pie filling.
• The topping of this dessert reminds us a bit of the crunchy topping of our Peach Batter Cake. We know it sounds odd to just sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top of the wet ingredients, but we promise it works! Just be sure to evenly distribute the melted butter and use a bit more butter if you have large dry spots of cake mix.
• Use a liquid measuring cup to drizzle the butter more evenly.
• You know what would make this even better? Toasted nuts, praline almonds, or these cinnamon glazed pecans sprinkled on top of the dollop of whipped cream!
• This pumpkin crunch with yellow cake mix is versatile. You could swap out different types of boxed cake mix if you prefer. A spiced cake mix would be delicious!
• We are huge fans of using boxed cake mixes in desserts other than cakes. Some of our favorites are Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls, Easy Cake Mix Caramel Bars, Sweet Maple Walnut Bars and Yellow Cake Mix Gooey Bars.

Recipe Variations

• Add chopped nuts such as chopped pecans or walnuts to either the pumpkin mixture or sprinkle over the cake mix.
• Swap yellow cake mix for white cake mix.
• Use a variety of pumpkin pie spices such as ground nutmeg, cloves, ginger or allspice with the cinnamon.
• Serve with a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Old Fashioned Pumpkin Recipes

Love pumpkin? Try our favorites old fashioned pumpkin desserts.

Pumpkin Woopie Pies

Grandma’s Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Pumpkin Waffles

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Frozen Pumpkin Dessert.

Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread

Linking up to Weekend Potluck. Linking up to Meal Plan Monday.