Pumpkin Crumb Cake

This autumnal masterpiece is the quintessential fall dessert, boasting a richly textured, delightfully dense pumpkin cake and an indulgent blanket of velvety pumpkin spice streusel that simply melts in your mouth. This mouthwatering masterpiece has a way of rendering even the most discerning palates utterly helpless in its wake. With ease, a culinary masterpiece unfolds using fundamental baking ingredients, merely a pair of bowls and a trusty whisk to guide the way.

Contents

Why Our Recipe Ingredient Notes Variations Serving Suggestions Storage Instructions

Why Our Recipe

Rich and velvety pumpkin cake is elevated by a fragrant pumpkin spice streusel topping, rendering each morsel an irresistible treat that begs to be savored.
With just a few simple ingredients and a hint of pumpkin puree, you can create something truly special.
Tempting in its beauty, the finishing glaze perfectly accentuates the piece’s aesthetic appeal.

As we see it, autumn’s greatest delight lies in its array of delectable seasonal sweet treats. This moist and flavorful pumpkin crumb cake is destined to be a staple on your autumnal baking repertoire. This delightful treat is not only scrumptious but also visually stunning, making it an ideal choice for a variety of occasions, including brunches, gatherings, book clubs, and everyday dessert indulgence. Truly, this dish can be prepared in advance, and we confidently assert that its flavor will only improve with a 24-hour waiting period.

Ingredient Notes

An overhead view of the ingredients needed to make pumpkin crumb cake.

Use genuine pumpkin puree, eschewing pumpkin pie fillings for authenticity. Two totally different things!
The rich flavor of melted salted butter takes center stage in this delectable recipe, featuring a starring role in both the moist cake and crunchy streusel topping. When using unsalted butter, a small increase in salt enhances its overall flavor profile.
The harmonious blend of sugars creates a rich sweetness, elevating the flavor profile to new depths. Both dark and light brown sugars are suitable options for this recipe, offering distinct flavor profiles that can enhance the overall taste experience.
Room temperature eggs seamlessly integrate into the batter, yielding a silky-smooth consistency. If your eggs are refrigerated and cold, you can quickly revive them by submerging them in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes prior to use.
If you’re out of sour cream, you can easily substitute it with plain Greek yogurt on a 1:1 basis, making it a convenient alternative in a pinch.
The foundation for both the moist and flavorful cake as well as the crunchy streusel topping. While some users have found success using gluten-free blends as a substitute in this recipe?
To create your own spice blend, simply combine 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, and a light sprinkling of cloves.
Will a couple of tablespoons suffice to dilute the glaze to the desired consistency? When using milk instead of water, the icing’s texture becomes richer and more well-rounded due to the added fat content, making it a more satisfying alternative to plain sugar.

Variations

To amplify the texture and taste, consider incorporating 1/2 cup of finely chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts into the streusel topping for an added layer of complexity. As the cake bakes, the nuts will naturally toast, infusing the dessert with a satisfying crunch.

Layering another fall flavor with a hint of maple’s warm, velvety richness adds depth and complexity to this seasonal sensation. Elevate the glaze’s depth and complexity by incorporating a subtle yet distinct 0.5-milliliter infusion of pure maple essence, carefully calibrated to harmonize with the existing flavor profile. Whisking the maple extract directly into the glaze mixture with the milk creates a harmonious blend that can be effortlessly drizzled over the cooled cake, yielding a delightful flavor profile.

A stack of slices of pumpkin crumb cake sitting in front of the rest of the pan of cake.

Serving Suggestions

Why not consider serving 8-10 portions of this delectable cake, making it a perfect treat for a small gathering or celebration? This party-worthy appetizer can be easily transformed into bite-sized morsels by simply cutting it into a 4×4 grid, yielding 16 dainty portions. Given the current limitations in technology, it’s challenging to envision a future where devices are significantly more compact than they already are.

This moist and flavorful Pumpkin Crumb Cake makes the ideal accompaniment to a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea on a crisp autumn morning. It’s actually believed that the term “coffee cake” originated in Germany and Austria, where sweet breads were traditionally served with coffee. In this region, these sweet treats were known as “Kaffee-Kascher” or “Kaffee-Kuchen”, which translates to “coffee cake”.

Savor the sweetness by serving this indulgent treat topped with a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream or paired with a creamy scoop of vanilla or rich caramel ice cream.

Storage Instructions

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for no more than three consecutive days. To ensure optimal flavor and texture, apply the glaze only when ready to serve, should you need to store it beyond 24 hours?

Once the cake has reached room temperature, encase each slice or the entire cake in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil, ensuring a snug and secure seal. Store this item in the freezer at -18°C (0°F) or below for a shelf life of up to three months. When you’re ready to serve, allow the dish to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then drizzle with a sweet glaze mere moments before presentation.