If you love easy pumpkin desserts, you need to try this simple cake mix and canned pumpkin shortcut! With just two main ingredients, you can make several delicious fall desserts, including pumpkin muffins, donuts, whoopie pies, bars, and cupcakes.
All you need is a box of spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin puree. No eggs, butter, or oil are needed for the basic recipe.
This recipe is so versatile it can be turned into bars, cake, muffins, or donuts.
If you have been following me on Instagram lately, I have been posting recipes you can make with a box of cake mix (15.25oz) and 1 150z can of pumpkin. People loved it! This pumpkin recipe is simple and only requires 2 ingredients. All the other ingredients listed in the recipes below are OPTIONAL which can fool a lot of people into thinking that this recipe is more than 2 ingredients. The keyword above is optional folks.
Check out this other cake mix hack - Cake Mix Hack!
If you like pumpkin desserts for Fall try Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Chips, Pumpkin Fluff, or Skinny Pumpkin Pie Bars.
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Why You'll Love These Pumpkin Desserts
- You only need 2 main ingredients
- No mixer required
- They're quick and easy to make
- Perfect for fall and pumpkin season
- You can turn the same batter into several different desserts
- Easy to customize with chocolate chips, cinnamon, nuts, or frosting
- Great for beginner bakers
The 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake Mix Recipe
The base recipe couldn't be easier.
You need:
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box spice cake mix
- 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
Depending on which dessert you're making, you may want to add a little water to loosen the batter or add optional ingredients such as chocolate chips, cinnamon, or frosting.
Important: Use plain canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
What Can You Make with Cake Mix and Canned Pumpkin?
The same basic pumpkin batter can be used to make several different desserts. Here are five of my favorite ways to use it.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Pumpkin Donuts
Turn the same easy pumpkin batter into baked donuts! These are especially good with a cinnamon-sugar coating.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
If you want something a little more substantial, turn the pumpkin cake mix batter into bars.
Adding an egg gives the bars a slightly different texture and helps create a softer, more cake-like dessert.
Some ingredients such as egg and water help the batter consistency and type of dessert you are making.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
Chocolate and pumpkin are one of my favorite fall combinations. Start with the basic two-ingredient pumpkin batter and add your favorite chocolate chips.
For extra pumpkin spice flavor, you can also add a little pumpkin pie spice.
This recipe for pumpkin muffins is really stupid easy. The recipe makes 24 muffins/cupcakes and the base which is cake mix and canned pumpkin is only 3 points. If you add the chocolate chips the total will be 4 points.
Weight Watchers Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Number of Servings
Depending on how you divide the number of servings per recipe the points can vary. 24 servings are 3 points. 48 servings are 2 points. You figure out cake mix points by what the box says per ounces. In the recipe builder there is an option for oz if you look for yellow or chocolate cake mix.
Recipe FAQS
Yes, you can but from what people are telling me on Instagram there is not a sugar-free spice cake mix flavor out there. You can, however, use yellow or chocolate sugar-free cake mix. Add a little cinnamon or pumpkin spice to the batter, but that is optional as well. So many options! Please use your recipe builder to figure out the points. I'm not a fan of sugar-free cake mix.
Whenever I make a batch of these muffins, I will only make half of the recipe at a time so I am not wasting a whole lot of muffins before they start getting bad in the fridge.
The recipe builder app from WW is what I use to figure out points for all my recipes. It comes with your WW membership. I would suggest entering my recipes into the builder once you’ve tried it and liked it. That way you can easily track your day. It is also helpful to use if you have a question about the points regarding a recipe.
This could be quite a number of reasons and here are a few that I have come across.
Number of servings
Low-Fat vs Fat-Free ingredients
Zero Point foods are different for all 3 plans
Using the nutrition info calculator instead of the recipe builder
If you tried this 5 Easy Recipes Using Canned Pumpkin and Cake Mix orany other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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5 Easy Recipes with Cake Mix and Canned Pumpkin
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 12-15 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 24 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This pumpkin recipe is simple and only requires 2 ingredients. All the other ingredients listed in the recipes below are OPTIONAL
Ingredients
Base Recipe
1 15 oz box of spice cake mix
1 15 oz can of pumpkin
½ cup of water (does not count as an ingredient)
Pumpkin Muffins 3 Points, 24 muffins
Chocolate Chips (optional)
Whoopie Pies
1 can of Dairy-Free Almond Reddi Wip (filling)
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
¼ cup of sugar (optional)
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
1 egg
½ cup mini chocolate chips
Pumpkin Cupcakes
Frosting:
1 15 oz can of pumpkin
1 1 oz box of instant vanilla pudding mix(sugar-free)
¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
1 container of cool whip
Instructions
Muffins or base recipe: Mix all the base ingredients together in a bowl. Fold in chocolate chips (optional) to the batter. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners and scoop the batter into each cupcake liner. Bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes. Do not add any of the other ingredients on the back of the box. Just the 3 base ones.
Makes 24 muffins, 3 smart points each
Whoopie Pies: Using a tablespoon, scoop the batter on to cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes.
Makes 4 dozen cookies: 3 smart points
Donuts: Add about 2 tablespoons of cake mix into each donut pan hole and bake them in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Continue with the rest of the batter. In a small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon. Dip each side of the donut into the cinnamon and sugar mix. Enjoy. Smart Points per donut 3. You can spoon the batter into the donut pan or use a ziplock bag and cut a hole in the bag to pipe the batter into the pan. Makes 24 donuts 3 smart points per donut
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars: In a bowl, mix together to the cake mix, pumpkin, and egg until well combined. Spray a 9 X 13 pan with cooking spray. Spread the cake mix batter onto the pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips all over the pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean. Makes 24 servings 4 smart points per bar
Pumpkin Cupcakes
Mix together cake mix and pumpkin puree. Add in about ¼ cup of water if the consistency is too thick or if you please. Divide batter in muffin tins.
Meanwhile, mix together a box of instant vanilla pudding (dry) and 1 can of pumpkin puree until the instant pudding is dissolved. Add in ¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Gently, fold in the whole container of cool whip. Once the cupcakes have cooled, frost the cupcakes with the pumpkin fluff frosting. Enjoy! Makes 24 cupcakes, Smart Points 4 (1 cupcake)
Notes
Points listed above includes all 3 WW plans
Jean says
Do you hand mix the ingredients till well combined or is a mixer used and for how many minutes?
Jenna says
Anywhere from 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp sounds plenty good enough.
Lisa C Hubacek says
I have used the basic spice cake mix/can of pumpkin for years...from a Libby brochure. I've also done chocolate cake as well. I'm wondering if I can add a little pumpkin pie spice to the spice cake mix to bring out the pumpkiny flavor a bit more. Have you tried this? I find that I'm looking for an almost pumpkin pie taste and I feel like I get just more spice than pumpkin. What do you think about adding a bit of pumpkin pie spice and about how much do you think would be ok if so? Thanks for any help! Lisa
Jenna says
I have never tried to make a pumpkin roll cake with this idea! If you do let me know how it turns out. 🙂
Linda M Blendt says
Do you have a recipe for pumkin roll cake using cake mix
Jenna says
There's so many different cake mixes specific to your diet now. That's great!
Debbie Durham says
I am making this cake for my husband but we are using a Gluten Free Cake, because he has Celiac Disease, he can't have wheat,
Jenna says
I haven't tried this recipe using oats at all. Just pick a ratio that you think would work. Hope it works out.
Jen says
Do you think you could add oats to the spice cake and Pumpkin muffins? What ratio do you think would be good? Thanks!
Carol says
Just tried Pumpkin & spice cake.. last Sat it was an apple fritter from the local ‘run to’ this morn I looked until I found your quickie, made small muffins (small cookie scoop) THEY WERE AWESOME!!! 4+ cantaloupe chunks, coffee & I was well satisfied. THANK YOU