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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

This cozy Southern-style cake is easy, moist, and the perfect balance of pumpkin spice and chocolatey goodness—just like Mary Katherine makes at her table.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 cup 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs or 4 small eggs
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour measured lightly, not packed
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 can (16-ounce) pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • cups chocolate chips

For the Optional Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk, as needed

Instructions

  • Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a bundt pan, or use a baking spray that contains both.
  • Cream Butter & Sugar: In a stand mixer, beat 1 cup softened butter with 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, ½ tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, and ⅛ tsp cloves.
  • Add Eggs: Beat in 3 large eggs (or 4 small) to the butter mixture, one at a time, mixing well and scraping down the bowl as needed.
  • Add Pumpkin: Add the full can of pumpkin puree to the wet mixture and blend until smooth.
  • Combine: With mixer on low, gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
  • Add Chocolate Chips: Fold in 1½ cups chocolate chips, or let the mixer combine them briefly.
  • Bake: Spoon thick batter into prepared bundt pan. Spread evenly. Bake at 350°F for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean (test around 50–55 minutes).
  • Cool: Let cake cool in pan at least 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
  • Glaze (Optional): Whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, ½ tsp vanilla, and enough cream (start with 1 tbsp and add more as needed) to create a pourable glaze. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Video

Notes

Tips from the Video

  • Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
  • Don’t overmix your batter—the cake will stay lighter and more tender.
  • The glaze is optional, but pretty for company.
  • Adjust baking time based on your oven; check with a toothpick at the minimum time given.