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    Home » Recipes » Hawaii Local

    November 4, 2022

    Pumpkin Crunch with Homemade Cake Mix

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you've never had pumpkin crunch, I'm a little jealous of you. It's one of my favorite local Hawaii desserts, and the original pumpkin crunch recipe is simple and easy. If you enjoy pumpkin pie, this one made with homemade cake mix is an awesome option to get your fix quickly.

    A slice of pumpkin crunch cake with whipped cream on a white plate

    What is Pumpkin Crunch?

    Pumpkin crunch is essentially a dump cake where there are three layers. The bottom layer is a baked pumpkin filling, and the top streusel crust is made with cake mix, butter, and nuts. After baking, the entire thing is flipped upside down, with a whipped cream topping added as the third layer. 

    This baked dish is a popular dessert during the holiday season in Hawaii. Consider it part of the Americana section of the island's local food culture. Pumpkin crunch used to be a novelty recipe in the islands, but became a staple over the years. Nowadays, you can even buy pumpkin crunch at restaurants in Hawaii. Lucky for you, it's easy enough to make the pumpkin crunch cake recipe at home.

    Ingredients for Pumpkin Crunch Recipe

    You don't need a lot of ingredients to make pumpkin crunch. My version in the recipe card below includes how to make a homemade cake mix if you don't have boxed caked mix. But feel free to use this recipe with either. The other main component is the filling. I added more spices to bring it closer to a traditional pumpkin pie taste. 

    • Pumpkin Puree: Since this is about as American as we get, using canned pumpkin puree such as Libby's is a great option. Do not use pumpkin pie mix because it already contains sugar and spices. 
    • Heavy Cream & Milk: I use a combination of heavy cream (35% or more) and milk instead of evaporated milk since it's hard to find where I live. It makes the pumpkin crunch more velvety.
    • Sugar: The main sweetening component of the pumpkin crunch. Adjust from the recommended measurement for your taste. 
    • Eggs: I use one more egg to get a lighter filling. They will make the filling set into a custard-like consistency.
    • Pumpkin Pie Spices: A combination and a good ratio of these spices add more festive flavors to the pumpkin crunch.
      • Cinnamon
      • Nutmeg
      • Ginger
      • Cloves
    • Cake Mix: Feel free to use boxed cake mix for this pumpkin crunch. But since I live abroad and boxed cake mix is hard to find, I made an easy homemade alternative for the crunchy topping. 
    • Butter: Instead of mixing butter with the cake mix topping, you stream it throughout. That way, you get bites of cake and crunchy streusel simultaneously. 
    • Walnuts or Pecans: I use pecans for this recipe, but the classic recipes call for walnuts. Feel free to use whatever you prefer!

    How to Make Pumpkin Crunch

    You can whip up this pumpkin dessert quickly! Before doing anything else, remember to preheat your oven.

    Make the Homemade Cake Mix

    Add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter in a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds until you no longer see the butter pieces and everything is well incorporated. Set aside for later use.

    Flour, salt, and butter in a food processor
    Pulsed homemade cake mix in a food processor

    Make the Pumpkin Crunch Filling

    Add heavy cream, milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, salt, and pumpkin pie spices in another bowl. Whisk until smooth.

    Baking spices, pumpkin puree, and sugar in a bowl
    Mixed pumpkin crunch cake filling in a plastic bowl

    Bring Everything Together

    Pour the pie filling into a prepared baking dish lined with parchment paper. Then gently top the filling with the prepared cake mix. Keep the surface area of the filling intact to make the two layers.

    Pumpkin crunch cake in a paper lined baking dish
    Flour in a baking dish with parchment paper

    Top with chopped nuts. Take your melted butter and carefully spoon it throughout the cake mix. You will end up with pockets of butter. 

    Chopped pecans on top of cake mix in a glass baking dish
    Butter on top of cake mix with pecans in a glass baking dish

    Tips for the Crust 

    1. If you want an even crust, you can slice cold butter into thin squares and line them up like tiles on top of the cake mix. This blog shows a solid example. As it bakes, the thin butter slices will spread more evenly on top of the cake mix.
    2. To make a more uniform crust, I sandwiched the nuts between layers of cake mix. I used half the cake mix to make the first layer of the crust, added the pecans, then topped the pecans with the rest of the cake mix.

    How to Serve

    Once baked, let the pumpkin crunch cool completely. Then turn it over onto a large baking sheet that will fit the entire cake. Now the pumpkin filling is on top.

    Upside down baked pumpkin crunch cake on a baking sheet

    You have two options:

    1. If you are serving immediately to a crowd, top the entire pumpkin crunch with whipped cream and chill for about twenty minutes before cutting into squares.
    2. If you are eating it piece by piece, slice it into squares and add a dollop of whipped cream to the individual pieces.
    A slice of pumpkin crunch cake with whipped cream and fork on a white plate

    You can store pumpkin crunch in the fridge for up to a week. Make sure you cover it well, or it will dry out. 

    Have You Tried This Recipe?

    Simply rate the recipe by clicking on the ⭐️s on the recipe card. Have something to say? Please leave me a comment down below telling me what you think of this recipe.

    Bonus: Let me and other readers know what you did to make this recipe your own - 💫 let's inspire each other!

    Also, follow me on Instagram [@seesfoodwilltravel] and send me a DM with a picture of what you made. I would love to share and celebrate YOUR creation with our budding community 💞

    Check out Sees Food, Will Travel on Pinterest and Facebook for more delicious updates.

    Pumpkin Crunch with Homemade Cake Mix

    This pumpkin crunch cake recipe is a popular choice for the holiday season in Hawaii. If you're pinched for time to make pies, this is a great alternative! You can choose to use a single box of yellow cake mix or make your own with the ingredients listed below.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 50 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, Hawaii Local
    Servings 16 people

    Ingredients
     
     

    Homemade Cake Mix

    • 240 grams all-purpose flour
    • 200 grams white granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 50 grams cubed unsalted butter, cold

    OR...

    • 1 box yellow cake mix

    Pumpkin Filling

    • 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz or 425 grams)
    • 240 grams heavy cream
    • 120 grams whole milk
    • 200 grams sugar
    • 4 eggs
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves

    Add to Crust

    • 227 grams unsalted butter, melted
    • 100 grams chopped pecans

    Topping

    • whipped cream

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
    • Make Homemade Cake Mix: In a food processor, add flour, sugar, salt, and butter. Pulse until the butter pieces disappear and the mix is well incorporated. Set aside. (skip this step if using boxed cake mix)
      Pulsed homemade cake mix in a food processor
    • Make Filling: In a bowl, add pumpkin puree, heavy cream, milk, eggs, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, and cloves. Whisk until smooth.
      Mixed pumpkin crunch cake filling in a plastic bowl
    • Line a 23x33 cm (9x13 in) baking dish with parchment paper. Pour the pumpkin filling into the prepared baking dish.
      Pumpkin crunch cake in a paper lined baking dish
    • Gently add the cake mix on top without breaking the surface.
      Flour in a baking dish with parchment paper
    • Top with nuts then spoon the melted butter.
      Butter on top of cake mix with pecans in a glass baking dish
    • Bake for 50 mins to 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.
    • Once completely cooled release onto a large baking pan or plate upside down.
      Upside down baked pumpkin crunch cake on a baking sheet
    • Slice into squares and top with whipped cream.
    Keyword baked dessert, crunch cake, dessert, dump cake, pumpkin cake, pumpkin crunch
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Hi, I'm Joanne!

    Living abroad has taught me how food plays an important role in making connections worldwide. I love pies, Asian food, anything made from potatoes, and wine when it comes to food.

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