Low Sugar Pumpkin Spice Cake

Total time1 hr 55 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time35 min

This layered pumpkin cake leans on real canned pumpkin puree and unsweetened applesauce for moisture, with a warm blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves giving it that classic cozy, spiced flavor in every bite. A flaxseed-and-water gel keeps the crumb tender and binds the batter beautifully, so the two layers bake up soft and springy with a fine, even texture. Once cooled, the layers get stacked and coated in a rich, tangy cream cheese frosting, finished with a light dusting of cinnamon on top for extra fragrance and a pretty finish. It's an easy make-ahead dessert that slices cleanly and holds its shape, perfect for a fall gathering or a weekend baking project. This one is a solid pick if you're keeping an eye on added sugar, since the fall spices and pumpkin flavor carry the whole cake without feeling like anything's missing.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the cake

2 tbsp ground flaxseed
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flaxseed Meal - 16 Oz Carrington Farms Organic Milled Flax Seed Paks Gluten Free Spectrum Essentials Cold Milled Organic Premium Ground Flaxseed - 24 oz Barlean's Organic Forti-Flax Premium Ground Flaxseed Carrington Farms Flax Seeds Milled Gluten Free Organic (Ground)
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6 tbsp water
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp salt
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup granulated sugar
Chef's tip
Use the same volume. Baking behavior varies by blend: some brown faster or stay softer, while others brown less. Follow the package's baking guidance and start checking a few minutes early.
½ cup packed light brown sugar
Chef's tip
Use the same volume. Brown-sugar replacements vary in moisture, spread, and browning, so follow the package's baking guidance and start checking a few minutes early.
½ cup neutral oil (such as canola oil or vegetable oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the frosting

8 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Chef's tip
Follow the package's conversion to powdered sugar. In frosting or glaze, add liquid gradually - replacements can absorb it differently.
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

For serving

½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
2
In a small bowl, stir together the ground flaxseed and water until combined. Set aside for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens to a gel-like consistency.

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