Enjoy all the flavors of fall in this easy Pumpkin Cobbler. The creamy pumpkin pie layer with a crunchy toffee pecan topping makes this the ultimate fall dessert.
Looking for other pumpkin recipes? Try adding this pumpkin coffee cake or a pumpkin cheesecake pie to your fall plans.
This pumpkin dessert with yellow cake mix is one of my favorite things to make every fall. Years ago, I won first place at a fall dessert contest with this same pumpkin cobbler recipe. It's that delicious.
If you love pumpkin pie or pumpkin bundt cake, you will adore this sweet pumpkin dessert. It is easy to make, and everyone loves the creamy pumpkin pie filling with a buttery streusel topping.
It also goes by other names, such as pumpkin crunch cake or pumpkin dump cake. As long as you call it delicious, I don't care what you name it.
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Why You Will Love This Pumpkin Dessert
Our pumpkin cobbler is the ultimate fall dessert because it is easy to make. Our secret shortcut is to use a cake mix for the streusel topping.
This dessert can be assembled and placed in your oven in under 15 minutes. All you have to do is mix, dump, and bake. Then, sit back and enjoy your kitchen's fantastic pumpkin spice smell as the cake bakes.
Want to impress your holiday guests with a fantastic pumpkin dessert? Make this easy dump cake for Thanksgiving dinner or any fall party, and watch it be devoured.
Key Ingredients
You can create this delicious pumpkin cobbler recipe with a few essential ingredients, a yellow cake mix, and a can of pumpkin. The creamy pumpkin pie filling and a crunchy, buttery cake topping work so well together.
- Pumpkin Puree - Buy pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. The canned pumpkin pie filling has sugar and spices added to it.
- Sugar - A mixture of brown sugar and granulated sugar sweetens the filling.
- Spices - Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and sugars blend well together.
- Cornstarch - Helps to thicken the pumpkin pie filling.
- Milk - Adds moisture and makes it creamy. We usually use 2%, but you could also use whole or low-fat.
- Dry Cake Mix - A yellow mix is the traditional flavor for this pumpkin dessert, but you can use white or spice.
- Toffee Bits - Find these in your grocery store by the baking aisle. If you don't like toffee, you can leave them out.
- Pecans - This gives a nice nutty flavor and a great crunch.
- Butter - Melted and drizzled over the top will give it a nice buttery flavor.
How to Make Pumpkin Cobbler
This easy pumpkin dump cake recipe comes together in minutes. Follow our easy instructions, and your dessert will turn out perfectly every time.
- Make the pumpkin filling. Add the pumpkin puree, sugars, spices, salt, cornstarch, eggs, and milk to a large bowl.
- Whisk or use a hand mixer to mix the wet ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- Make the cake mix topping. Pour the dry cake mix, chopped pecans, and toffee bits into a bowl.
- Stir the dry ingredients together very well.
- Assemble the layers. Pour the pumpkin mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mixture evenly on top of the pumpkin batter.
- Slowly drizzle melted butter over the top of the cake mix. Make sure you pour it evenly over everything.
- Place the pan in a preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. The butter and yellow cake mix will come together as the pumpkin crisp bakes.
Serving Suggestions
After this magic pumpkin pie cake comes out of the oven, you have two options for eating it.
- Warm - Scoop a large serving of warm pumpkin pecan cobbler into a bowl. Top it with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and chopped pecans. The ice cream starts to melt and get all gooey with the pumpkin filling.
- Cold - Let the pumpkin dump cake cool at room temperature for 2 hours, then refrigerate it for a few hours. It will be set up, and you can slice out a piece that resembles a cake. Spoon a big helping of homemade whipped cream on top, add a few nuts, and dig in.
Storage Recommendations
You can keep the pumpkin cobbler at room temperature for a few hours. Once it has cooled, cover it with a tight-fitting lid or plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator for 5-6 days.
👩🏻🍳 Tips and Tricks
- Do not use a pumpkin pie mix because the added sugar and spices will affect how your filling bakes.
- A white or spice cake mix can be used instead of a yellow one. A chocolate cake mix would also be fantastic.
- Change up the nuts by using walnuts or almonds.
- Make the dessert nut-free by omitting the nuts from the dessert.
- Serve this easy pumpkin cobbler with a copycat Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew and enjoy the fall season.
FAQs
Dump cakes like this got their name because you basically "dump" everything in the pan and bake it. I love how easy it is to have a delicious dessert with little work.
The pumpkin cobbler can be kept on the counter for a few hours. After that, it needs to be refrigerated in a tightly sealed container.
Yes, a pumpkin cobbler is a great dessert to make ahead of time. It will keep for a few days if properly refrigerated.
If your family is like mine, it will be eaten up quickly! But if you eat a little slower than we do, leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Technically, you can, but the texture may change as it thaws. I would recommend making it one or two days ahead of time. You can eat it cold or reheat it for your family gathering.
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Recipe
Pumpkin Crunch Cobbler Recipe
Warm up that oven because you are going to love this crunchy Pumpkin Cobbler. A creamy pumpkin pie layer covered with a crunchy toffee topping is the ultimate fall dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 - 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 cup pecan chips
- ½ cup toffee bits
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Whisk together the pumpkin, sugars, spices, salt, cornstarch, eggs, and milk. Pour into the prepared pan.
- Stir together the cake mix, pecan chips, and toffee bits. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the pumpkin mixture.
- Drizzle the melted butter on top. Bake for 60 minutes.
- Remove and cool slightly. Serve warm with ice cream, or refrigerate and serve cold with Cool Whip or whipped cream.
Notes
- Do not use a pumpkin pie mix because the added sugar and spices will affect how your filling bakes.
- A white or spice cake mix can be used instead of the yellow cake mix. A chocolate cake mix would also be amazing.
- Change up the nuts by using walnuts or almonds.
- Make the dessert nut free by omitting the nuts from the dessert.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 403Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 380mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 2gSugar: 35gProtein: 5g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Easy Pumpkin Crunch Cobbler was first published in September 2016. The post was updated and republished in September 2022.
Karen
Can you tell me if this recipe uses a 15.25 oz cake mix? So many recipes don't say and most recipes won't work with the new size if the recipe calls for the 18.25 oz size, It sounds delicious and it is now pumpkin recipe season.
Jocelyn
Yes, I just used a 15.25 ounce cake mix. In fact, I just checked and all the cake mixes in my pantry are 15.25 ounces. I believe most cake mix brands are this size now. Because you are only using the dry mix, either size will work in a dump cake. I hope this helps and you enjoy the pumpkin cake.
Karen
Thank You. I have run into many recipes on Pinterest that just say cake mix and they are talking about the old size. I try to look at the date the recipe was published but that doesn't always help. We are planning to make this tomorrow.
Jane Buirgy
How much pumpkin pie spice instead of other spices?
Jocelyn
I would use 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice if you are not going to do the individual spices. I hope you enjoy the cobbler.
Delaney Evol
This may have already been addressed and I overlooked it. Are "whole" cloves required for this recipe or may I use a ratio of ground cloves to whole cloves? I am afraid whole cloves are much too expensive in my area ( I would not mind, but I shall only use whole cloves for this recipe). I would greatly appreciate a response---I would truly love to make what sounds to be a delicious Pumpkin Crunch Cobbler for my Vets and staff and local Police Department.
Jocelyn
This recipe just uses the ground powdered cloves as it is being mixed and baked into the batter. I hope you and those you share it with enjoy the recipe!!!
Delaney Evol
Thank you very much.
Lola Osinkolu | Chef Lola's Kitchen
This surely looks like an award winning dish! Can't wait to try it!
SANDRA L MORAN
i found that the cake mix on top really didn't seem to fold in after baked, i put more butter than it asked for
Jocelyn
I took a look at this and realized that most dump cakes I have done before called for 12 Tablespoons of butter, so I updated the recipe to reflect that. It will taste great with 8, but 12 helps get the cake mix all the way baked on top. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Jill
Can you make it without the pecans my friend can’t have any nuts
Jocelyn
You sure can. Just leave the nuts out and bake it as directed. Enjoy!!!