This past week the family and I joined some friends for a Halloween party… in which I realized last minute that it was pot-luck style. Not wanting to just pick something up from the store on the way (because I wanted to seem like I had it together more than that), I riffled through our pantry to see what I had on hand. Knowing I had a can of pumpkin, my mind searched the shelves to see what I could do with it. I’ve made our pumpkin bread many times over, as around this time of year I can’t help but crave it. Though that idea crossed my mind, I wanted something a bit more than that. I saw a box of spice cake mix on the shelf and knew what I was going to make.
A few moments later, after excitedly announcing my intentions, I had a couple of very happy, and very adorable, helpers at my side. So I did what any rushing mom would do… I grabbed the camera and let them stir away.
Since we had just moved a couple of days prior, our pantry and refrigerator really weren’t that well stocked. I just happened to remember that we had a box of spice cake mix from last year (because I’d just unpacked it) and we had picked up apple cider recently on a trip out. Needless to say, this whole recipe comes in at just FIVE ingredients! (And it could easily be less if you don’t have the apple cider, just make the glaze with milk instead).
It was the first time using the slightly ancient oven in our new place, and as the scent of cinnamon, clove and pumpkin wafted through our home, we grew just a tad too excited, because after pulling our beautiful creation out of the oven to let cool, it fell into an undercooked mess. Though still tasty, it wasn’t quite pot-luck party worthy. So I still came asĀ the one who picked something up from the store on the way. After a slight overreaction to the mess in the kitchen and this failed cake, I was determined not to let it defeat me, and so the next day I tried again. This time armed with an oven thermometer.
The result? A deliciously sweet and spicy mix…. the taste of Fall.
If you need something quick to whip up tomorrow for all those sweet little ghouls and goblins at your own Halloween party, here you go!
5 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Cake with Apple Cider Glaze
(Makes one bundt cake)
//Ingredients:
1 15oz can pumpkin
1 box spice cake mix
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons apple cider
A dash of pumpkin pie spice
//Process:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix canned pumpkin well with the spice cake mix (DO NOT mix spice cake mix according to box directions, pour the powder in a bowl with the pumpkin). Grease bundt pan well and pour cake mixture into pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
While cake is cooling, mix the apple cider, confectioners sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl until it forms a pourable glaze. (If you don’t have apple cider, you can always use milk or heavy cream… the taste will be different, but still good).
Once cake has cool, place a plate upside down on top of the pan. While holding both the pan and plate together, flip over so that the cake turns right-side up onto the plate, and pour glaze over the top.
Slice and enjoy!
Adrienne says
You had me at 5 ingredients! I was sure when I came back to read it….it was going to be 5 ingredients…and then more for the glaze. BUT NO!! I’m going to make this tomorrow night!!
Crystal Rae says
YOu have such GREAT helpers/cookers on your hands…. Love these two and their little faces… and Skylars too!