Name: Pumpkin Earthquake Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 box Betty Crocker spice cake mix (15.25 ounces); 3 large eggs; 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned); ¾ cup water; ½ cup vegetable oil; ⅓ cup granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice; 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature); ½ cup salted butter (room temperature); 3 cups powdered sugar; ½ cup mini chocolate chips

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This easy pumpkin earthquake cake recipe starts with a spice cake mix and has a creamy cheesecake layer swirled in the cake batter. Top the pumpkin cake with a few chocolate chips for a delicious easy pumpkin dessert.

Why is it called an earthquake cake? Dollops of cream cheese filling goes on top of the cake batter. During baking, the cream cheese sinks down, making cracks and crevices in the cake and creating an uneven texture. There’s no need for icing in this fall dessert!

Pumpkin Earthquake Cake Breaks Apart in the Oven and It’s Pure Magic

We’ve shared quite a few new pumpkin recipes lately. Pumpkin spice chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin crisp, pumpkin bundt cake and pumpkin cheesecake bread are just a few.

This pumpkin earthquake cake is unique though. It doesn’t need a frosting because of the cream cheese dollops that sink down into the cake, creating a creamy, sweet filling.

Earthquake cakes with have been popular for years and often feature pecans or coconut, but this pumpkin version with chocolate chips is a classic during the holiday season.

I often freeze cakes after making them and the kids found this in the freezer immediately. It didn’t last long! Try it served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It will quickly become one of your favorite pumpkin desserts.

You’ll also love our chocolate chip pumpkin bread and cinnamon roll cheesecake!

Enjoy! -Julie

What Readers are Saying

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hope says, “I made this recipe for the first time about a couple of months ago, my family fell in love, and I have made it 3 times since then. My family says it is better than pumpkin pie! They request it for every get-together and holiday now! Thank you for the best recipe, it is so easy!! Win – Win 😀”

Ingredients

A spice cake adds flavor that pairs well with the pumpkin, but if you’d like you can use a yellow cake mix.

Pumpkin Earthquake Cake

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This easy pumpkin spice earthquake cake starts with a spice cake mix and has a creamy cheesecake layer swirled in the cake batter. Top with a few chocolate chips for a delicious easy pumpkin dessert.

Servings 13

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Total Time 50

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Ingredients

For the cake batter:

1 box Betty Crocker spice cake mix 15.25 ounces
3 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree canned
¾ cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
⅓ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

For the cream cheese filling:

8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
½ cup salted butter room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix together the dry cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, water, oil, sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Pour batter into the prepared pan. 1 box Betty Crocker spice cake mix, 3 large eggs, 1 cup pumpkin puree, ¾ cup water, ½ cup vegetable oil, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
In another bowl, use a hand mixer to mix together the room temperature cream cheese and butter. Add in the powdered sugar and mix until well combined. 8 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup salted butter, 3 cups powdered sugar
Place spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture all over the top of the cake mixture. Using a knife, gently swirl through the cream cheese. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and bake for 40-50 minutes or until center is set. ½ cup mini chocolate chips
Allow the cake to almost completely cool before cutting. If you cut before it cools, the cake will be very soft and won't cut cleanly.

Notes

Cover with plastic wrap, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

The calories shown are based on the cake being cut into 15 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 456

Keyword pumpkin cake

How to Make Pumpkin Earthquake Cake: Step by Step

Make the cake batter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick spray. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, water, oil, sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Make the cream cheese filling. In another bowl, melt the butter and mix together with the room temperature cream cheese. Stir in the powdered sugar and mix until well combined.

Dollop and swirl. Place spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture all over the top of the cake mixture. Using a knife, gently swirl through the cream cheese.