Moist and Spiced Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Cinnamon cream cheese frosting sits over a moist spiced cake, giving classic pumpkin cake recipes a generous format for autumn gatherings.
frosted pumpkin cake
19 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Recipes
Curated by Emma SterlingUpdated August 31, 2026
☰ Contents
Pumpkin cream cheese recipes suit autumn bakers, brunch hosts, and anyone planning a fall dessert with warm spice and a tangy finish. The mix can be whipped into a spread, swirled through cake, or baked into cheesecake.
Expect soft crumbs, creamy centers, and cinnamon scented edges. There are quick party dips alongside longer bakes, so you can choose between a five minute snack and a dessert that deserves the holiday table.
What Is Pumpkin Cream Cheese?
Pumpkin cream cheese combines pumpkin puree, cream cheese, and autumn spices in either a spreadable mixture or a baked dessert. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, maple, and brown sugar are common partners. The texture may be airy, thick, swirled, or custard like.
A soft cheese base gives pumpkin a tangy counterpoint. If the puree contains excess water, the mixture can loosen, so draining or chilling often helps it hold its shape. Expect recipes ranging from breakfast spreads to layered fall desserts.
How to Choose the Best Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Choose a dip or spread when the pumpkin aroma needs to reach the table quickly; the whisked texture is ready for apples, crackers, or bagels. Cakes, bars, and cupcakes take longer but give you a portable dessert with a defined crumb.
For a centerpiece, pick cheesecake or pie. If you want visible contrast, look for a swirl or cheesecake filling. A wetter batter can sink or turn gummy because pumpkin puree adds moisture, so recipes with a stated texture focus are useful for dependable baking.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cakes
A cream cheese layer or frosting cuts through the warm spices in these cake recipes, while the pumpkin keeps the crumb tender. Choose the plain frosted cake for a familiar fall dessert, or use the swirl and crumb versions when you want the cheese component inside each slice.
-
-
Failure-Proof Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
This tender loaf pairs pumpkin with cream cheese and a zesty note, giving breakfast service a sliceable alternative to frosted cake.
tender dessert loaf -
Tender Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Cake
Whole wheat pastry flour supports a pumpkin cake with a visible cream cheese swirl, giving every slice a marbled cross section.
swirl cake -
Golden Pumpkin Cream Cheese Crumb Cake
Chilled butter and soft cheese form the basis of this pumpkin cream cheese crumb cake, with a crumb topping for coffee breaks.
crumb-topped cake
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Rolls
These rolls bring pumpkin into the dough rather than limiting it to frosting, so the finished bake smells like cinnamon as soon as it warms. The two versions suit autumn brunches and differ mainly in their stated timing and batch format.
-
Fluffy Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Pumpkin enters the dough and filling here, while a tangy glaze finishes the rolls for a warm autumn brunch spread.
62-minute brunch bake -
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls: Tender
This second pumpkin cinnamon roll version makes twelve rolls and keeps the cream cheese component close to the familiar autumn bakery style.
12-roll batch
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars
Bars are cut and serve desserts with less ceremony than a full cheesecake, and their flat shape makes the frosting easy to portion. The pumpkin bars lean toward a classic sheet bake, while the cheesecake bars offer a more concentrated cream cheese layer.
-
Old Fashioned Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
An oil based batter keeps these pumpkin bars moist after chilling, with cream cheese frosting spread across an easy sheet style dessert.
45-minute sheet bars -
Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
These easy pumpkin cheesecake bars keep the cheesecake idea compact, with portions that are simpler to arrange on a dessert platter.
easy cheesecake bars -
Golden Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dump Cake
A pumpkin cream cheese layer bakes beneath a crisp cake topping, giving fans of a pumpkin dump cake recipe a more layered finish.
layered dump cake
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dips
These no bake options rely on mixing and chilling rather than oven time, which keeps the pumpkin and spice flavors bright. Use the dip for fruit or party snacks, then choose one of the spreads when bagels, toast, or breakfast service is the priority.
-
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip in 5 Minutes
Five minutes gets this pumpkin cream cheese dip onto the snack table, where its light texture pairs naturally with apples and crackers.
5-minute dip -
Fluffy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
Whipped pumpkin cream cheese becomes a fluffy breakfast spread with autumn flavor twists, suited to bagels, toast, and brunch boards.
bagel spread -
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread in 10 Minutes
Pumpkin puree and maple syrup blend into a ten minute spread, offering a direct homemade pumpkin flavored cream cheese option.
10-minute spread -
Whipped Pumpkin Cream Cheese in 10 Minutes
Whipping gives this pumpkin cream cheese an airy texture, so it works as a lighter dip or spread for autumn entertaining.
whipped dip texture
Pumpkin Cheesecake Desserts
Cheesecake, pie, bread pudding, and filled cupcakes give pumpkin cream cheese a richer dessert role. Their textures range from a set slice to a warm custard and a portioned cupcake, so the right choice depends on whether you need a centerpiece or individual servings.
-
Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake with Graham Cracker
Pumpkin pie spice meets a rich cheesecake base in a twelve slice centerpiece suited to Thanksgiving tables and other holiday desserts.
holiday cheesecake -
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
A creamy pumpkin filling meets a pie format here, giving traditional pie fans a tangy cream cheese layer and familiar autumn spice.
cream cheese pie -
Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake with Pecan Crust
Pecans and brown sugar add a crisp topping contrast to the pumpkin cheesecake base, shifting this dessert toward holiday centerpiece territory.
pecan cheesecake topping -
Homemade Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cheesecake
A browned butter crust supports smooth pumpkin cream cheese filling, adding a toasted base note to the classic cheesecake format.
browned butter crust -
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread Pudding with Condensed Milk
Warm custard surrounds bread while cream cheese swirls through the pumpkin base, turning familiar bread pudding into a fall dessert.
warm custard dessert -
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes in 50 Minutes
Chocolate cupcakes conceal pumpkin cheesecake filling, pairing a cocoa cake with a chilled cream cheese center in individual portions.
chocolate-filled cupcakes
Storage and Food Safety Tips for Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Keep cream cheese dips, spreads, pies, and cheesecakes chilled at 40°F (4°C) or below; FDA guidance uses that temperature for refrigerated foods. Pumpkin desserts should not sit out for extended periods, especially at a warm buffet. The filling should remain firm and cool to the touch.
Cover leftovers before refrigerating, and use clean utensils for serving. In most cases, baked desserts keep their texture better when chilled and brought out shortly before serving. Discard food with a sour smell, watery separation that seems unusual, or visible mold.
Quick Comparison
| # | Recipes | Best For | Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Favorite Pumpkin Cake Recipes: Moist, Spiced, and Perfect for Fall | classic frosted fall cake | Time varies | Not provided |
| 2 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread for 20 Slices | large loaf for sharing | Time varies | Not provided |
| 3 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Cake for 12 | visible cream cheese marbling | 65 min | Not provided |
| 4 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese Crumb Cake for 10 | coffee-break slices | 55 min | Not provided |
| 5 | Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls in 62 Minutes | autumn brunch | 62 min | Not provided |
| 6 | Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls for 12 Rolls | larger brunch batch | Time varies | Not provided |
| 7 | Pumpkin Bars in 45 Minutes | slice-and-serve gatherings | 45 min | Not provided |
| 8 | Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars | beginner-friendly cheesecake bars | Time varies | Easy |
| 9 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dump Cake for 12 | pumpkin dump cake recipe fans | Time varies | Not provided |
| 10 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip in 5 Minutes | last-minute autumn snack | 5 min | Not provided |
| 11 | Fluffy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread | bagels and breakfast boards | 40 min | Not provided |
| 12 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese in 10 Minutes | fast homemade spread | 10 min | Not provided |
| 13 | Whipped Pumpkin Cream Cheese: 10 Mins | airy dip texture | 10 min | Not provided |
| 14 | Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake for 12 Slices | holiday centerpiece | 1 hr 25 min | Not provided |
| 15 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie: Creamy | traditional pie service | Time varies | Not provided |
| 16 | Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake for 12 Slices | pecan-topped holiday dessert | 130 min | Not provided |
| 17 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cheesecake for 12 | browned-butter crust lovers | Time varies | Not provided |
| 18 | Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread Pudding in 1h | warm custard-style dessert | 1 hr | Not provided |
| 19 | Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes for 12 | portionable chocolate-pumpkin dessert | Time varies | Not provided |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose between pumpkin cream cheese dip and spread?
Dip is usually softer and suited to apples, crackers, or a snack table. A thicker spread works better on bagels, toast, and breakfast breads.
Can pumpkin cream cheese desserts be made ahead?
Generally, yes. Dips, spreads, pies, and cheesecakes often benefit from chilling, while frosted cakes and rolls are best covered once fully cool.
What can I serve with pumpkin cream cheese?
Try apple slices, graham crackers, cinnamon toast, bagels, or plain shortbread. Choose a neutral carrier when the pumpkin spice is already pronounced.
Why does pumpkin cream cheese filling become runny?
Extra moisture from pumpkin puree, warm cream cheese, or overmixing can loosen the filling. Chill it before serving, and drain unusually wet puree when the recipe allows.
How are pumpkin cream cheese bars different from cheesecake?
Bars are generally shallower and easier to portion, while cheesecake is taller and usually has a denser set. Both may use a crust or crumb topping, depending on the recipe.
Browse by Category
Related Recipe Collections
Discover more curated recipe collections
Explore more recipe collections →