This Salted Caramel Pumpkin Oatmeal Cake is the perfect fall treat. It combines two of my favorite fall things in one amazing cake!
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I have been trying to space out all the pumpkin treats I have made so far for you. I realize not everyone is as into pumpkin as me.
Every fall I get really excited and bake a bunch of pumpkin goodness. These Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes from last year are still one of my favorites. And based on how well they are doing on Pinterest, you guys like them too! Do you follow me on Pinterest? Every day I share lots of fun things I find.
I also cannot get enough salted caramel in my life. I was obsessed last year, and I am still going gaga over it this year. Salted Caramel Brownie Cookies anyone?
This recipe actually was going to be oatmeal cookies, but at the last minute I decided to make it in a cake pan. Really I was just being lazy and didn't want to keep getting up to change out the cookie sheets. It is so much easier to do one cake and be done.
While the cake was cooking I started thinking about what flavor frosting would work. I thought about cream cheese, Nutella, chocolate, and then it hit me. Salted caramel!!! Believe me I could not wait for this cake to cool off.
Well, actually after I taste tested my frosting, all thoughts of putting it on the cake went out the window. All I could think about was hiding in the closet with the bowl and a spoon. It is so creamy with the right amount of caramel and salt. Feel free to add your sea salt slowly to your desired taste. I recommend using a coarse sea salt for any salted caramel treats you make. The finer salt dissolves and makes things a little too salty. Even for this crazy salted caramel lover!!!
Pumpkin cake and salted caramel frosting. It should definitely be the next thing you make!!!
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Salted Caramel Pumpkin Oatmeal Cake
Soft pumpkin oatmeal cake topped with a salted caramel frosting. Perfect fall dessert!
Ingredients
For the Cake
- Β½ cup shortening
- ΒΎ cup brown sugar
- Β½ cup sugar
- ΒΎ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1 Β½ cups flour
- Β½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Β½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 Β½ cups quick oats
For the Frosting
- Β½ cup butter
- Β½ cup marshmallow cream
- ΒΌ cup caramel ice cream topping + 1 teaspoon, divided
- ΒΌ -Β½ teaspoon coarse ground sea salt (add to taste)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Beat the shortening and sugars until creamy. Add the pumpkin, vanilla, and eggs and beat until mixed.
- Stir together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Slowly add to the sugar mixture. Stir in the quick oats.
- Spread the mixture in the prepared pan. Bake for 24 minutes. Cool completely.
- Beat the butter, marshmallow cream, ΒΌ cup caramel, and sea salt until creamy.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar until mixed in. Spread on the cooled cake.
- Drizzle the top of the cake with the the reserved caramel topping. Use a knife to gently swirl it into the frosting. Store the cake in a sealed container on the counter.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 213Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 226mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 1gSugar: 22gProtein: 2g
More pumpkin cake recipes for you to try this fall:
Brown Butter Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake
Pumpkin Toffee Angel Food Cake
Chocolate Covered Pumpkin Twinkies
Zac
First of all I apologize because in a lot of comment sections I see βgreat recipe but I made these substitutions...β and sometimes I feel it can take away from the hard work out in from the author. That said, Iβve made this recipe how designed and itβs marvelous (when I lived in the US). I now live in Poland and finding pumpkin and marshmallows can be tricky so I substituted sweet potato purΓ©e for pumpkin and also cream cheese instead of marshmallow and it also came out fantastic. Again, just hoping to show that this recipe was used as a blueprint and sharing my thanks to the author. Cheers!
Caroline
What is the marshmallow cream? Is that the same as marshmallow fluff?
Jocelyn
Yes, it is the same thing. I think the name depends on what brand you buy. I usually get Kraft Jet-Puffed.
Fiona
Wow this looks amazing! I truly love the combination of desserts and veggies - pumpkin is such an easy way to do it! Definitely trying this out soon.
Christina R.
Jocelyn,
I have been meaning to comment and just wanted to thank you for this recipe. As per my sister's request, I made it for her birthday on Halloween. Despite a little trouble with the frosting, everyone raved over it our party. Hope you and your family have a wonderful rest of the holiday season!
Best,
Christina
Traci
So excited to make this cake tonight! Sounds so amazing not sure if I'll be able to wait to try it before tomorrow. I promised a friend I'd make it for his birthday at work.
shawn
can we say home run? seriously, this recipe is a perfect combination of flavors and i can't wait to go home and make it. one question: why shortening and not butter? when i was learning cake decorating the instructor said shortening held up better than butter during the summer in frosting but said nothing about it in cake recipes. (the pumpkin twinkies are calling out to me, too.)
Jocelyn Brubaker
These flavors do work so well together. This cake is actually a variation of these Oatmeal S'mores Bars, https://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/07/oatmeal-smores-bars/ , where I did use half butter, half shortening. Because of the pumpkin, I had to adapt this slightly. You can totally use butter if you like that better. Butters and margarine have a little bit more water to them, so it affects the texture slightly, making it slightly drier. Shortening is full fat, so it adds/keeps that moisture. I can't wait to hear what you think.
Shawn
I made the recipe with shortening this time and will do butter next time. I didn't realize I only had old fashioned oats and not quick cooking so I added a quarter cup honey crisp apple cider. The yield was 48 mini and 8 regular cupcakes. They are SO GOOD! A tiny bit sweet for me without the frosting so the kids at church will love them! They'll be dressed as little mummies. (the cupcakes, not the kids) Thanks for a stellar recipe!
shawn
last night i made another batch with only butter and there was a difference! thanks for explaining that to me. with that killer frosting on top the ladies at work haven't noticed the cake is a teeny bit on the dry side so no worries. happy halloween!
Maria | Real Life Dinner
Jocelyn, This looks AMAZING!!! Pinned it!
Emily {Jelly Toast}
I am so into pumpkin right now! That frosting looks wonderful!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
I cannot even HANDLE how delish this cake looks! Salted caramel alone, but then you threw in pumpkin and oatmeal. Dying! Pinned π
Carmen P
I just said Ohhhhmyyyygawwdddd when I saw the marshmallow creme in the frosting. haha! YUM!
Chels+R.
That frosting! Oh My Word!
Kari@Loaves n Dishes
I was already smitten with this cake, and then I saw that there is marshmallow creme in the frosting; and that took me to head over heels!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking
Ohmygoodness Jocelyn, I've been looking at that gorgeous frosting for the past 2 minutes straight. No joke! It looks so perfect and I just want to eat it all with a spoon. No shame!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
I am in love with these bars! Pumpkin, oatmeal and salted caramel sound like the best combo ever! I would be hiding with that bowl of frosting too - it looks heavenly! I love pumpkin all year round so I'm loving all these pumpkin treats π Pinning!
shelly (cookies and cups)
There's no way this couldn't be amazing!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Shelly! π
Laura Dembowski
I'm so glad you made this cake instead of cookies. It looks wonderful. That gooey, drippy frosting is screaming my name.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Laura! π
Amanda
I love everything about this cake!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Amanda! π
Jess+@+On+Sugar+Mountain
I just picked up salted caramel mocha creamer AND have extra pumpkin puree in the fridge: I think this recipe is right up my alley in terms of fall flavors! π
Beth @ bethcakes
Yum!! This cake looks so perfect for fall. I love that you included oats in this recipe. And I could marry that frosting. Sounds so good! π
Jennie+@themessybakerblog
I love your new look! It's so fun and cheery--totally screams Jocelyn. Girl, this cake is to die for!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks girl!! I'm in LOVE with my site's new look! π
Amy | Club Narwhal
Jocelyn, I just swooned in a major way! I love pumpkin more than most humans so of course I just want pumpkin recipe after pumpkin recipe π I can't wait to make this!
Jocelyn+(Grandbaby+Cakes)
I screamed yes when I saw these They are all I ever wanted in life! Yes YES!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! You're too funny! π Thanks Jocelyn!
Chelsea+@chelseasmessyapron
That icing is amazing how its dripping off the sides of these bars like woah I need about five of these right now!! Pinned π
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Chelsea!! π
Johlene
Oh my word these look abslutely amazing!!!!!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks
I'm the same way with baking cookies. I hate having to change out the cookie sheets so I usually end up making cookie bars instead.
I like that you were feeling too lazy to make cookies because now I have this delicious cake to swoon over. Great recipe, Jocelyn!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'm glad I'm not alone in that! π Thanks Julie!
Dorothy+@+Crazy+for+Crust
Oh my gosh. That frosting and swirl. Dying!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
This cake looks a-MA-zing! Pinned and sharing on FB!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks for sharing and pinning!! π You're the best!
Vicki Bensinger
This sounds wonderful and looks delicious! Although I have to say that chocolate covered pumpkin twinkie is definitely calling my name.
I haven't been by in a while, seems that all my email requests stopped coming to my inbox. Glad I remembered to stop by.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'm glad you remembered to stop by too! π Thanks Vicki!
Julianne+@+Beyond+Frosting
OH DANG this sounds good! I love the frosting just dripping off this!
Aimee+@+ShugarySweets
Hi my name is Aimee and I love salted caramel. And pumpkin. And cake.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! You are my dessert soul mate. π
Averie @ Averie Cooks
All I could think about was hiding in the closet with the bowl and a spoon. It is so creamy with the right amount of caramel and salt. = OMG YES!! The minute I saw these images I thought the cake looks amazingly moist but the frosting, I don't even need the cake...just a bowl of that! Pinned π
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
Oh! Mygosh! These sound just amazing. These flavors together are divine!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Patricia! π
Amber+@+Dessert+Now,+Dinner+Later!
That swirly frosting looks amazing! I bet it tastes great with the pumpkin cake too!
Jocelyn Brubaker
It definitely did! π Thanks Amber!
Tiffany
Oh man, you are on a salted caramel roll and I'm lovin' it! π This looks so good!
marcie
I saw these on Google+ and almost flipped out, Jocelyn -- these look beyond amazing! Pinned. π
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Marcie!! π
Jessica+@+A+Kitchen+Addiction
Salted caramel and pumpkin is such a great combination!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel
Pumpkin and caramel are such an awesome combination! Love this!
Jocelyn Brubaker
They are fast becoming a favorite combo! π Thanks Ashley!
Mandy @ Baking with Blondie
Holy smokes, woman!! I'm loving on this cake - I just can't stop looking at those gorgeous caramel swirls on the frosting. So. Much. Fun!
Vanessa
I think we'd all be hiding in a closet eating that frosting! Yumm! Its nice to see other things made with pumpkin other than pie. Pinning this recipe!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks for the pin love, Vanessa! π
Melanie @ Carmel Moments
Whoa! Look at the icing. Great flavor combo here.
Lovin' it!
Happy Monday Jocelyn. Hope your week is off to a great start!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Melanie!
Heather+@+Shards+of+Lavender
I see nothing wrong with hiding in the closet with the frosting! Thanks for the tip on the coarse sea salt; I have both and don't want the frosting to be too salty. Pinned!
Jen @ Baked by an Inrtovert
Swoon! I'm loving everything about this cake. And that frosting! Totally delicious!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jen! π
Melissa from HungryFoodLove.com
This cake is perfection! Looks divine!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I'm glad you decided to turn the oatmeal cookies into a cake, Jocelyn! This sounds absolutely amazing! I love the caramel frosting on top, too. Pinning!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks for the pin love, Gayle! π
Renee@Two+in+the+Kitchen
Oh wow Jocelyn, what an amazing looking dessert. I would hide in the closet with a bowlful of that frosting too. And I wouldn't even need a spoon! π Pinned!!
Lisa+@+Garnish+with+Lemon
The salted caramel frosting takes this cake over the top! Can I come over for dessert? Pinned.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Absolutely! Come on over, girl! π
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Love everything about this cake! Pinned!
Mir
Wow, that frosting! I'd be hiding with a spoon, too. Or maybe a giant ladle.
I'm glad you decided to be lazy and put it in a pan! Otherwise, there would've been no frosting for this awesome cake!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Exactly! Great minds think alike! π Thanks Mir!