Description
Classic pumpkin chocolate chip layer cake brings autumn’s warmth to dessert tables. Moist spiced layers paired with rich chocolate create an irresistible seasonal treat you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1.5 cups chocolate chips
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger
Finishing Ingredients:
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Cream cheese frosting or buttercream (for layering and frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and thoroughly grease two 9-inch round cake pans with butter or cooking spray.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt in a medium mixing bowl, ensuring no lumps remain.
- In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil, whisking until the mixture becomes smooth and well-integrated.
- Incorporate eggs individually into the pumpkin mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then gently stir in vanilla extract.
- Gradually blend dry ingredients and milk into the wet mixture, alternating between the two and beginning and concluding with dry ingredients to maintain a consistent texture.
- Gently fold chocolate chips into the batter, distributing them evenly throughout.
- Pour batter equally into prepared cake pans, using a spatula to spread and level the surface.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating pans halfway through to ensure even cooking, and test doneness by inserting a toothpick which should emerge clean.
- Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool completely in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool entirely before frosting.
- Decorate with cream cheese or buttercream frosting, spreading evenly between layers and on top of the cake.
Notes
- Swap half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier, healthier texture that adds more fiber and nutrients.
- Replace vegetable oil with unsweetened applesauce to reduce fat content while maintaining moisture in the cake.
- Toast chocolate chips briefly before folding into batter to intensify their rich flavor and create deeper caramelized notes.
- Use room temperature eggs and milk to ensure smoother batter integration and more consistent cake texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg