Insanely Delicious Pumpkin Pudding Lava Cake – Oh Sweet Basil

The recipe that has been hurting my brain for 4 years is finally here. Our insanely delicious pumpkin lava cake is going to blow up Christmas desserts for the rest of eternity. 

Aren’t you a little like me? You get to that big Christmas meal and go back and forth on which dessert you want to bring to the table, something chocolate, a little pie – oh but you ate pie for a week after Thanksgiving, so maybe not…

Pumpkin lava cake to the rescue!

I saw all of those chocolate lava cakes for years but never fully enjoyed one, so I decided that we need a pumpkin version. All the spice of a molasses or gingerbread feel but 100% pumpkin. I wanted to feel the Christmas spirit and for me that means smelling it and tasting it. You know I’m right, you walk into a place that smells of Christmas and you’re instantly all tingly like you are a little kid again. Chocolate is awesome, but Christmas needs spice!

Ingredients for Pumpkin Lava Cake

Prep all your warm Christmas spices and the typical cake ingredients and you’ll have what you need to get going on this cake. Here is what you will need:

• Dry Ingredients: flour, sugar, dark brown sugar, baking soda, salt
• Spices: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, cloves
• Wet Ingredients: evaporated milk, pumpkin, butter, vanilla

And for the brown sugar cinnamon topping, you will need a couple of more ingredients:

• Light Brown Sugar
• Dark Brown Sugar
• Cornstarch
• Cinnamon
• Heavy Cream
• Butter
• Boiling Water

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Pumpkin Lava Cake

Remember how this cake is going to blow up Christmas desserts for all time? Well, the best news about it is that it so easy! Here are the basic steps:

1. Preheat oven and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Add the wet ingredients and mix until just blended.
4. Pour into the baking dish.
5. In a separate small bowl, combine all the dry ingredients for the crumb topping.
6. Sprinkle over the batter.
7. Bring water to boil in a glass measuring cup in the microwave. Whisk in the cream and butter.
8. Pour over the top of the batter.
9. Bake and cool for a few minutes before serving with ice cream or whipped cream.

Storing, Reheating and Freezing Pumpkin Lava Cake

Lava is hot, so this cake is best served and eaten while it’s still warm and the lava is gooey. As the cake cools, the cake will absorb the lava and it won’t have that “lava” feel. It will still taste dang delicious though!

Store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can reheat individual pieces in the microwave.

This cake will freeze fine, but like I just mentioned, that lava gooey-ness won’t be quite the same as when you first pull it out of the oven. Make sure the cake has cooled completely then wrap in plastic wrap and then foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Pumpkin lava cake is gooey and tender and so festive! The smell will take you right to your Christmas happy place, and once you take a bite topped with a little ice cream or whipped cream, you’ll never need another Christmas dessert again.

More Delicious Pumpkin Desserts:

Insanely Delicious Pumpkin Lava Cake

Servings: 16

• 2 1/2 Cups Flour
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar regular is fine
• 4 Teaspoons Baking Soda
• 4 Teaspoons Cinnamon
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Cardamom
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Nutmeg
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Cup Evaporated Milk
• 1 Cup Canned Pumpkin
• 1/2 Cup Butter melted, see note
• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla

Topping

• 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar all light brown is fine
• 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
• 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 Cup Heavy Cream
• 2 Tablespoons Butter melted
• 1 Cup Boiling Water

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add milk, pumpkin, butter and vanilla; mix until blended. Grease a casserole dish or 9×13″ baking pan and pour in the batter, spreading it evenly.

Make the Topping

• In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugars, cornstarch, and cinnamon; sprinkle over batter.

• In a glass measuring cup, boil the water in the microwave. Whisk in the heavy cream and melted butter. Pour the hot mixture over the top but do not stir!!!

• Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and liquid is bubbling around the edges, about 30-40 minutes. The middle will still jiggle. Cool about 15 minutes in pan and then serve with ice cream or whipped cream!

Want to really up your pumpkin game? Try browning the butter in the cake!

Nutrition Facts

Insanely Delicious Pumpkin Lava Cake

Amount Per Serving (1 piece)

Calories 347
Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 44mg15%

Sodium 440mg19%

Potassium 151mg4%

Carbohydrates 52g17%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 35g39%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 2863IU57%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 86mg9%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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