I have a few recipes tucked way back in my site archives that deserve the light of day again. Here is one of them – pumpkin pound cake with chocolate. This recipe also made it into my cookbook (affiliate link), but since it originally debuted here, I thought I’d make it shine with some new photos and feature it again for the holiday season.
This cake been faithful to me for over 20 years. It always turns out tender and moist, with so much flavor; perfect for snowy morning get-togethers, afternoon coffee breaks, and late night nibbles. And for those of you new to baking or wanting to feel more confident in the kitchen, this is a great recipe to start with. The cake is easy to put together, doesn’t have any hard-to-find ingredients, and doesn’t need a lot of babysitting in the oven. Plus, it lasts for several days, so you can make it ahead of time.
Products Featured
Copper Pound Cake Pan from Nordic Ware
Strainer/Powder Sugar Duster from Rosle
Pumpkin Pound Cake with Chocolate
From The Vanilla Bean Baking Book (affiliate link) by Sarah Kieffer
This is another recipe that has been with me through several baking gigs. Originally it appeared in a cafe I worked at in Minneapolis and was a customer favorite each and every time it found its way into the bake case. I took the recipe with me to Bordertown Coffee, and it was lauded as a beloved breakfast there. The recipe most likely came out of a church cookbook of some sort. I love the combination of pumpkin and chocolate here, but the chocolate could be replaced with pecans or dried cherries. I think this cake tastes better on the second and third day, yay! You can make it ahead of time. serves 8 to 12
3 cups (426g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups (297g) granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups (297g) packed brown sugar
3/4 cup canola oil
One 15-ounce can (425g) unsweetened pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
8 ounces (226g) bittersweet chocolate, chopped, or chocolate chips
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Adjust an oven rack to the lower middle position. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube or Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the eggs on medium until pale yellow and doubled in volume, 4-5 minutes. Add the granulated and brown sugars and mix on medium until well combined. Add the oil, pumpkin, and vanilla and mix on medium again until completely combined. Add the flour mixture and mix on medium until smooth. Stir in the chocolate with a spatula.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 45-60 minutes, until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Invert the cake onto the rack to finish cooling. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before slicing.
21 Comments
The Coco Company
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 11:41 amThis is one of my favorite recipes
love123
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at 2:07 amthis looks awesome! have you tried it in a bundt pan
Bakingo
Friday, January 31, 2020 at 1:40 amthis looks awesome! have you tried making whole wheat carrot cake?
Samaresh
Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at 11:01 pmHi Sarah,
The above recipe is so easy thanks a lot i am sure kids gonna love it .
Jane
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 2:03 amCraving for this right now! 😀 I’m sure my son will love it too!
John Malcon
Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 4:31 amHello, Sarah!
Thank you for the perfect recipe! You solved my problem – what’s new to cook from a pumpkin.
John
Weedit.photos
Abby | Lace & Lilacs
Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 10:19 amThis is one of my favorite recipes of yours that I’ve tried, Sarah. ADORE it.
Mick
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 3:21 amthink I just gained 10 pounds of goodness.
That poundcake looks heavenly!!
Thanks for sharing – gonna try it now!
Mick
Heather Kinnaird
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 8:03 pmi’ve had this on my wanting to bake list since i got your book. now i know it needs to happen like this weekend!!
Abby @ Heart of a Baker
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 3:15 pmI spotted this one in your book and I’ve been wanting to make it! I don’t make enough poundcake and certainly not enough with chocolate 🙂
Tori//Gringalicious.com
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 11:35 amThis cake looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Gemma
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 10:21 amOh it looks wonderful Sarah! I love this kind of classic recipes that one can always trust. 🙂
The pictures are so beautiful too. <3
xo
Kelsey @ Appeasing a Food Geek
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 5:44 amThis one’s been on my list for a while now! I love pumpkin and chocolate together. Thanks for reminding me to make it this weekend! 🙂 xoxo
Laura
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 5:37 amthis looks awesome! have you tried it in a bundt pan?
christi
Friday, November 3, 2017 at 3:58 pmcould I make this in a 9×5 loaf pan?
Cake
Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 4:19 pmThis always bakes for 1 hour 10 mins for me. Love it! I add walnuts.
Stephanie
Monday, November 21, 2011 at 10:26 pmMade it yesterday, took it to the pot-luck, and everyone (including me) LOVED it! I’ll be making this one a lot from now on. 🙂
Stephanie
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 10:52 pmNot only does this look and sound really tasty, it’s also the perfect thing for a pot-luck I’m going to on Sunday! (Yay!) So glad I found your lovely blog. 🙂
eidolons
Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 1:16 pmOooooh! I am definitely making this to take to the knitting ladies I hang out with on Friday nights! Thank you!