Cakes & CupcakesNo. 3297 · The 2026 edition
Spiced Pumpkin-Molasses Cake
A moist, spiced pumpkin cake sweetened with molasses—perfect for autumn celebrations.
Our own summary of the original by Marian Cooper Cairns — the full post and photos live at countryliving.com.
This pumpkin-molasses cake combines warm spices with rich molasses for a deeply flavorful dessert. The cake bakes up tender and moist, thanks to buttermilk and oil, and is finished with a simple dusting of confectioners’ sugar. It's an ideal treat for Thanksgiving or any fall gathering.
Ingredients
Directions
- Set your oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 10-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cake flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Create a well in the center. In a separate bowl, whisk together the molasses, canned pumpkin, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and egg until smooth. Pour the wet mixture into the well of dry ingredients, then whisk just until combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.
- Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto the rack to cool completely.
- Right before serving, dust the top with confectioners’ sugar. For a festive touch, you can use a stencil made from parchment paper (a template is available).
