As I sit here eating a piece (all right, more like a piece and a half) of gluten-free pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, I realize that it would just be cruel of me not to share this delight of a recipe that I recently made up with the great wide world.
Looking for gluten-free recipes and resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on.
Often times I don’t write down ingredients and amounts in my experimental kitchen cooking, but since I’ve started blogging, I have been trying to remember to write things down and keep better track just in case I stumble upon a really good recipe. It also helps in an instance where I might want to repeat a recipe for myself too! I’ve also included a dairy-free version of this pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting for my friends who can’t do dairy.
Of course, if you’re looking for some more tasty desserts that are grain free and gluten free, make sure to check out my cookbook of cookie recipes!
Without further ado, I present to you pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting! 🙂
Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Gluten-Free & Sugar-Free)
Ingredients
Pumpkin Cake
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 2 cups pureed pumpkin
- 1 cup granulated xylitol
- 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract
- 8 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1 1/2 cup almond flour
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 12 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 stick butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon pure stevia
- 1 cup powdered xylitol you can easily use a coffee grinder or food processor to powder your granulated xylitol
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° and grease a 9x13 pan with butter.
- Beat together butter, pumpkin, xylitol, stevia, eggs, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix thoroughly.
- Pour batter into your greased 9x13 pan and bake for 40-50 minutes.
- While cake is baking, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter. Add the vanilla, stevia, and xylitol and beat until creamy.
- After the cake has cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting. If you don't devour all of it the day you make it, be sure to store in in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information for Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
These may vary slightly depending on brands that are used.
Nutritional Information Per Serving of Cake Only
Calories: 180 Total Carbohydrates: 14 *Sugar Alcohols: 8 Fiber: 2.5 Net Carbs: 3.5 Fat: 12 Protein: 6Nutritional Information Per Serving of Frosting Only
Calories: 164 Total Carbohydrates: 8.6 *Sugar Alcohols: 8 Net Carbs: 0.6 Fat: 14 Protein: 2*Please Note: The xylitol is counted towards the total carbohydrate count as it is a “sugar alcohol” but because it’s not fully digested it has little to no impact on the blood sugar of most individuals. For this reason, the fiber and sugar alcohols are deducted from to total carbohydrate count to come up with the net effective carbs.
Each individual needs to determine how their own bodies respond to sugar alcohol and fiber carbs. You can read more about xylitol here.
Looking for more Pumpkin Goodness???
Why not try some of these other delicious pumpkin recipes? They’re of course all grain-free and sugar-free
- Dairy-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake (so good you won’t miss the dairy!)
- Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins
- Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Grain-Free Pumpkin Spice Cookies
- Protein-Packed Pumpkin Roll
- Hearty Potato Ham and Pumpkin Soup
- No-Bake Pumpkin Pie Shooters with Honey Candied Pecans
Tracey @ Dont Mess with Mama
I’m drooling over this. I’m so happy you posted it. My husband recently found out he’s gluten intolerant – as well as allergic to eggs and soy AND has candida (which means he needs to cut out the sugar). I love that your recipe uses xylitol and stevia. I can totally make this for him. I’m pinning it now.
Trisha Gilkerson
Yikes! That’s a lot of allergies to deal with! I hope you and your husband enjoy the recipe, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
Donna
Tracy, if your husband is allergic to eggs, how can he eat this cake which has 8 eggs in it? I have a granddaughter who is allergic to eggs, and she’s not supposed to have cake with even one egg in it.
Trisha Gilkerson
My guess is she uses some type of egg substitute. There are a number of ways you can sub out the eggs.
Tammy
Tracey, what did you replace the 8 eggs with?
I’m very good w/ egg replacements w/ max 2 eggs when baking, but have never attempted this many.
My son has 17 food allergies & egg counts as 2. (white & yolk) My blood work revealed eggs cause inflammation within my body, not full blown allergic.
Thank you!
Lisa
This looks SO delicious! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for linking up with “Try a New Recipe Tuesday.” I hope you will join us again this week. 🙂
Carissa
This recipe looks amazing! I included it in my round up of 25 gluten free desserts. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 http://www.creativegreenliving.com/2013/03/25-delicious-gluten-free-desserts-that.html
Trisha Gilkerson
Thanks for linking to my recipe 🙂 I appreciate it!
Aunt4god
Would this work with coconut/palm sugar instead of xylitol? My digestive system does not like xylitol!
Trisha Gilkerson
Yes, you should be able to substitute it out 1:1. Erythritol is a good option for those who have trouble with xylitol too, but you have to use a bit more.
eustacia6
If using Erythritol instead of xylitol, how much do you suggest for the cake and the frosting? I’m new to this and too scared to guess!
Trisha Gilkerson
For every cup of xylitol, I would use 1 1/4 cup of erythritol. I hope that helps! 🙂
Beth
Hi there! I did 1:1 with erythritol and it was great!
Debi Hansen
I got turned on to this recipe 5 years ago ! I make it over and over it’s that good! I use a mix of monk fruit and coconut sugar and it’s delicious!
Stacy (@stacymakescents)
Oh my gosh. I could eat this right off the SCREEN!!!!! Get in my belly.
Thanks for linking at Trim Healthy Tuesday!
Winnie
Beautiful and most delicious looking cake!!
I’d loooooooooooooove a slice right now 🙂
Trisha Gilkerson
Sounds like you better get to the kitchen and make a cake then! 🙂 I think it’s about time for one of them at my house too!
Lori Johnston
Yum. I love pumpkin in the fall. And I love the idea of sugar-free. And gluten-free, although we don’t eat gluten-free I like to keep our intake of gluten minimal. Where do you buy your xylitol? I’ve bought it online before but I don’t remember where. Do you think you could share this recipe and any other great recipes you have over at our link party? Lori @ A Bright and Beautiful Life. http://www.abrightandbeautifullife.com/making-monday-link-party-8/
Trisha Gilkerson
Thanks so much for the invite. I’ll try to stop by next Monday! 🙂
Trisha Gilkerson
Sorry, I just realized I didn’t answer your question. I purchase my xylitol on Amazon. Hope that helps 🙂
Monique B
Would it be possible to turn this into a 6 inch layer cake instead of a sheet cake?
Luke Gilkerson
It would probably work, but we’ve never tried it! Be sure to let us know how it turns out if you try it how.
Flour Me With Love
What a great recipe! I love that it’s sugar free and gluten free…thanks for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Flour Me With Love
This is being featured today…congratulations!
Trisha Gilkerson
Yeah! Thanks for featuring me 🙂
Miz Helen
Your Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese looks delicious! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a fun weekend!
Miz Helen
Rebecca
Can you subsitutute something else besides Erythritol and xylitol? Like add more truvia or stevia? Thanks!
Trisha Gilkerson
Sure, you can substitute truvia, but truvia is just an erythritol/stevia blend. It’s much cheaper to just purchase each of them separately to use. 🙂
Herb Fogliano
What can I use instead of the xylitol? I’m not able to tolerate any of the “tol” artificial sweeteners.
Thank you!
Trisha Gilkerson
You can use sugar or any sweetener of choice.
Beverly
Can you use regular sugar instead of the sugar substitues?
Beverly
Sorry, just saw the answer to my question from someone else.
rene
I’m allergic to coconut. What can I use in place of this flour and or oils in your receipe.
Trisha Gilkerson
Rene,
You could use more almond flour, but you’ll have to use more than 1/2 cup. Coconut flour absorbs a lot more moisture than almond flour. I’m not quite sure about how much you should use. I would probably go by the consistency of the batter as you’re making it.
Christie
Just baked this in muffin tins. I haven’t iced them yet but stole a bite! If you had any reservations about trying this recipe -DO IT! A-maz-ing-ness!!!!
Trisha Gilkerson
Awesome! Glad to hear they turned out yummy as cupcakes too. Enjoy 🙂
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas
Visiting from Link Party Palooza. I love how light and fluffy this cake is, great use of spices. I co-host Sweet and Savoury Sunday and would love for you to stop by and share this and other recipes with us. Have a great day!
Trisha Gilkerson
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Antionette Blake
I made Pumpkin cupcakes last week, yum yum good, thanks for sharing this with us at the #WWDParty.
Cher
I made this recipe tonight . It is to. die. for!
Thank you !
Only tweaks I made was 1 T. pumpkin pie spice instead of the nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves .
I also used 1 cup of powdered Swerve in the frosting instead of xylitol .
🙂
Trisha Gilkerson
So happy to hear it turned out good for you! Swerve is a great xylitol replacement given it’s a pretty similar sugar-alcohol to xylitol. 🙂
Christine & Riley
I just found this recipe!! Thank you pinterest. But I don’t keep xylitol around the house since it is extremely toxic to dogs… would splenda work as well? I can’t wait to try this.
Trisha Gilkerson
No, I wouldn’t use Splenda. But, erythritol would be a good substitute. I’d use a little bit more though. Erythritol isn’t quite as sweet as xylitol.
Brooke
Hi! Can’t wait to try this today! Any idea how many servings and what the carb count is or how I can figure that out?
Thanks!
Trisha Gilkerson
I don’t have it right now, but I plan to get it all figure out tonight. Stop back later tonight or tomorrow and I’ll have it all figured out for you! 🙂
grace
this looks amazing! i didnt know u could eat like this on low carb! idk if i missed it somewhere, but whats the carb content in a serving?
Trisha Gilkerson
Thanks for popping in! I haven’t figure it out. I’m not one who counts every carb, but I know some people need to. Since there seems to be so many people who are wanting the carb count, I’ll be sure to work on that tonight and get it up here. So, stop back tonight or tomorrow for the low-down!
kathy
Would anyone happen to know the net carb counts for the whole recipe? Thanks … looking forward to making this one soon!
Trisha Gilkerson
If you don’t need it today, I’ll try to get it to you. Planning to try to get the numbers later on tonight so they’ll be available for you tomorrow.
Kathy
Do you ever give the nutrition information? Just wondering, our son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and I’m looking for ideas that are mostly grain free and sugar free.
Trisha Gilkerson
I’ll get to that tonight since there are several people looking for the info. Check back later 🙂
Carolyn
Hi Trisha! Sorry, I seem to be the one who sent you all these people asking for carb counts. My readers are pretty strictly low carb and we posted it today on The Low Carb Test Kitchen. Guess people like the look of it! 🙂
Trisha Gilkerson
Not a problem Carolyn! I appreciate you sharing my recipe. I’m happy to figure out the count since so many people are looking for it. I’ve been getting more and more emails and requests for nutritional information lately, so it looks like it would probably be a good idea to do for all of my recipes 🙂
Louanne
On day two of a keto fat fast, but plan to make this for our Thanksgiving dessert table – if I can wait that long – it looks scrumptious! Love your blog, BTW.
Trisha Gilkerson
Yes, this wouldn’t be good for a fat fast, but will be a nice treat for the holiday! I hope you and your family enjoy it 🙂
Mindy
I have tried many pumpkin recipes, this is by far the most moist and tasty. I’m a big fan of pumpkin roll. I am currently experimenting with the cake cooling in the fridge now. I’m feeling pretty confident as it rolled just like the unhealthy nasty pumpkin rolls of my past.
Trisha Gilkerson
Let me know how it comes out! I’d be interested in hearing how it does as a pumpkin roll 🙂
Janean
Hi! Just wondering what brand of almond flour and coconut flour you use. I made this tonight. The flavor is great, but my texture doesn’t look the same as your picture. Mine is very dense. I used Bob’s almond and coconut flour.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Trisha Gilkerson
Hi Janean,
After trying several brands of Almond flour, I always go back to using Honeyville Almond flour. I can’t get the texture of my baked goods right with other brands. I don’t use any particular brand of coconut flour though.
I just updated the photo tonight. I made the cake again and was able to get a decent photo. I’m guessing your cake looked more like this current picture. Sometimes if I can’t get a good image, I’ll try to find a stock-photo I can purchase that looks as much like my recipe as I can (though usually not exact) until I’m able to update with a picture of my own. Hope that helps!
Jenifer
Can you just use a pumpkin pie spice blend instead of the individual spices? Also, I’m going to try both recipes using liquid splenda
Thanks! Can’t wait to try this!
Trisha Gilkerson
I’m sure you can! Let us know how it turns out with the pumpkin pie spice blend 🙂
Angela
This looks so delicious! Do you think this recipe will work if I cut it in half?
Trisha Gilkerson
I sure do, you would likely just need to cut the baking time a little bit. 🙂
Jessica
Can I replace the stick of butter for coconut oil?
Trisha Gilkerson
You can definitely replace coconut oil for butter in the cake, but I don’t know how it would work in the frosting. If you try it, be sure to let us know how it turns out!
Della
I made this last night to bring to work for a co-workers birthday, she is like me, low carb and gluten free! there were 3 other ladies at the gathering that are happy eating the SAD diet. They could not believe that this was gluten & sugar free! This cake is FABULOUS!!!! moist and delicious! Thank You!
P.S. I used Swerve for the cake and saved my last bit of Xylitol for the icing, worked perfect!
Della
Trisha Gilkerson
Awesome, I’m so glad your co-workers enjoyed it. I just took this to a friends house for dessert recently and it seemed to go over well 🙂
Wendy
I want to start by thanking you for the recipe, I just made it and it was delicious but I have to say that mine doesn’t look nothing like yours on the photo so I wanted to ask you, is that photo is from this recipe? Mine was very dark and the texture was very different than what your photo looks like, mine was very moist but texture was almost like a dense bread texture, yours look like a whole wheat flour cake looks like. I bake a lot with almond flour and coconut flour and I know the texture would never be like a regular cake texture but was wondering about the picture. Thank you
Trisha Gilkerson
Hi Wendy,
I actually just updated the photo tonight. I just recently made the cake again and was able to get a decent photo. I’m guessing your cake looked more like this picture, right?
Sometimes if I can’t get a good image, I’ll try to find a stock-photo I can purchase that looks as much like my recipe as I can (though usually not exact) until I’m able to update with a picture of my own. Hope that clarifies things!
Wendy
Thank you, yes that one looks just like mine.
Angie W
Just made these into cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday party. We needed gluten and dairy free, and I always appreciate when a recipe is THM friendly. 🙂
I don’t have xylitol so I subbed in 1 1/3 cup erythritol instead. I baked the cupcakes for ~35 minutes. They are amazing!
Thank you for the recipe!
Trisha Gilkerson
Awesome! I’m glad to hear they worked out well as cupcakes. I hope everyone enjoyed them 🙂
kc
not sure if anyone asked this yet…is there anyway to adapt it to leave out the nut flour? thanks!
Trisha Gilkerson
I’m not sure kc. It’s not something I’ve experimenting with. I’m sorry 🙁
Cecily
I haven’t baked with it myself, but sunflower seed flour is getting to be a popular choice.
Happy Baking,
Cecily
katie
This was very delicious. Thank you for such a good recipe!!!!!! This was eaten as breakfast the next day, afternoon snack, and dessert again the following night! I will definitely be making these again.
Trisha Gilkerson
I’m glad you were able to enjoy it all day long 🙂
Jeanette
What happens if my daughter is allergic to nuts. Will the almond flour not cause an allergy? I need to know this before attempting this lovely cake.
Trisha Gilkerson
Unfortunately, if your daughter is allergic to almonds this cake would not be suitable for her. I’m sorry 🙁 I may try working on a nut-version of this cake soon. I’ve had several requests 🙂
Amy
this was excellent. even my mother liked it. my diabetic mother with heart disease. :-)) now that is a success. I did use only 3/4 c of xylitol and 1/4 t stevia in the cake. I cut the xylitol in frosting also but not by much and no stevia in frosting. I cut the stevia because I was afraid my stevia had expired. I accidentally used only 1 c of almond flour.
Trisha Gilkerson
Awesome! I’m glad you found something your mom could eat and enjoy :).
Kelli Lidisky
I am a Type 1 diabetic and have decided to try low-carb to help stabilize my blood sugar levels. I’ve tried many low-carb muffin/cake recipes and your pumpkin cake is by far the best. Even my skinny 17-year-old daughter loves it and asked me to make it into muffins for her lunches. Thank you for making my new low-carb journey a little easier!
Trisha Gilkerson
Fabulous! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed it. This has been our all-time top recipe on the blog. I hope you’ll try out some of our other sugar-free recipes. I think you’ll find a few you will enjoy. Several of our grain-free Christmas cookie recipes are also sugar free 🙂
Cindy Maddux
Hi, I just came across your recipe and it looks so delicious. I am wondering if the batter is enough to make a normal sized bundt cake with rather than the single layer 9 x 13. And I would think the cream cheese frosting some to make more of a drizzle over the bundt cake. I’d like to make it to bring to Christmas dinner at my sister’s house so if you could answer quickly I’d appreciate it very much.
Trisha Gilkerson
I’m guessing this would work well as a bundt cake, but I’ve not tried it out so I can’t speak from experience. It would likely go nice with a nice glaze, but the cream cheese frosting probably wouldn’t be what you’re looking for.
dana
Can you substitute something for xylitol?? I have dogs and will not have that in my house as it is far to toxic.
Trisha Gilkerson
Hi Dana,
Yes, you could use erythritol. It’s also a sugar alcohol. You’ll probably have to use a little bit more though as it’s not as sweet as xylitol. I hope that helps 🙂
Marilyn
We have recently started a diet (everyone here at home) and my brothers birthday was coming up and my now go-to search includes the word PALEO lol…… Always looking for good sugar free recipes and that are pretty close to our new lifestyle. How many servings did you calculate for this cake? Also, Do you think that the almond flour could be substituted with wheat flour? Almond flour contains much more calories!
Marilyn
lol….. just noticed…. 15 servings!!!!! I do still wonder about replacing the Almond flour with Wheat flour!!!
Trisha Gilkerson
Hi Marilyn,
This would turn out quite different with wheat flour, not sure what it would be like. Yes, almond flour has more calories but it will also be much more filling! It’s packed with healthy fats and protein whereas you won’t get that with your wheat flour. I think it’s a much more nutritious option 🙂
Marilyn
You are true there!!! Thank you so much!!! We are planning on trying this recipe for my brothers birthday because it looks so good and also because it is Fall and hey… what better than pumpkin cake!!! 🙂
Lori Barton
Hi, I made this for myself, but I brought most of it to work so because I think I would have eaten the whole thing by myself. The ladies at work couldn’t believe this was gluten and sugar free. I’m home visiting my family and I made it for them too. No one would believe that is was actually sugar free. Thank you for the wonderful recipe. It’s become one of my favorites now.
Trisha Gilkerson
Awesome! So glad to hear it was a hit with the whole office 🙂
Nicole
Delicious! Thanks for another tasty pumpkin recipe.
Trisha Gilkerson
You’re so welcome 🙂
Michelle
How much frosting is per serving?
Trisha Gilkerson
Well, it would be 1/15th of the frosting.
Diane
Appreciate the tip on creating powdered sweetener. Brilliant. I made this and have to say I’m not a fan of xylitol. I will try it again with Erythritol.
Trisha Gilkerson
I hope you enjoy it with the erythritol. You can create powdered erythritol the same way 😉
Steven
If I’m doubling this recipe, do I really use 16 eggs? or would it need less? Any other tips for the other ingredients? Thank you so much!
Trisha Gilkerson
I’ve not doubled it myself, but yes I think if you double it you should double ALL the ingredients! 🙂 Hope it turns out tasty for you!
Kris
Is it possible to use eyrthritol instead of xylitol?
Trisha Gilkerson
Yes, you could certainly do that, but I’d increase the erythritol a bit since it’s not quite as sweet as xylitol. Typically I use 1 1/4 cup of erythritol per 1 cup of xyltiol (but this can vary a bit from recipe to recipe).
Jackie
I made this today for guests who came over and it was my first time trying this recipe (I know you shouldn’t try new recipes for guests, but…). This cake was delicious! Moist and light and the frosting is awesome! I love nuts so the only thing I might change next time is to add some nuts but otherwise this recipe is perfection! My guests had seconds and even asked if they could take some home. They had no idea it was made from almond flour and coconut flour.
Trisha Gilkerson
Nuts is a fantastic idea! I think some toasted walnuts or pecan might just take it up one more notch 😉 good thinking!
Juanita
Best low carb cake!!!! So moist!!! This is a keeper!!!
Followed the recipe as written.
Pam Bradley
I only have powdered Swerve. Will that work or do you need granulated?
Stephanie Conner
I have made this recipe several times recently but now it’s not showing up above… am I missing it??
Julie
I make this recipe all the time! My family loves it! I’m thinking about adding zucchini. Have you ever done so?