Pumpkin Earthquake Cake
Pumpkin Earthquake Cake is a moist pumpkin cake with coconut, pecans, and swirled with a cream cheese mixture which gives it the “earthquake” look! If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll love this fall dessert.
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PUMPKIN EARTHQUAKE CAKE
This my friends is a Pumpkin Earthquake Cake. If you aren’t familiar with Earthquake Cakes they are generally just a cake batter with a cream cheese mixture swirled throughout.
When it bakes it makes huge crevasses that are reminiscent of the aftermath of an earthquake.
I’ve only seen chocolate earthquake cakes and I’ve been dreaming of a pumpkin version. Even ask my husband.
This is all I’ve talked about for a week…is this cake. We’ve done different versions and this is the winner my friends!!
What you don’t see underneath the cake batter is coconut and pecans on the bottom.
Feel free to leave them out if you’re not a fan but the pecans give it a little crunch!
This cream cheese swirl – who are we kidding? It’s basically frosting, melted and swirled throughout. Genius, right? Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
I like milk chocolate but you can definitely use semisweet.
As you see after it bakes and cools it has these cool little canyons of filling throughout earning its name as an Earthquake cake.
Look how absolutely divine this looks and trust me, it tastes even better.
OTHER PUMPKIN RECIPES:
- Pumpkin Cake
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars
- Pumpkin Scotchies
- The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Pumpkin Bread
- Classic Pumpkin Roll
Pumpkin Earthquake Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
For the cake:
- 1 (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Filling:
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, , melted
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Topping:
- 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, (or semi-sweet chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Sprinkle the coconut and pecans evenly over the bottom of the dish.
- For the cake: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, pumpkin, water, oil, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until well combined and pour over the coconut and pecans.
- For the filling: Place cream cheese in a medium bowl and microwave for about a minute or until it's really soft. Add the melted butter and stir until combined. Add the powdered sugar and stir until smooth.
- Place dollops of the filling all over the top of the cake batter and then using a knife, gently swirl it through.
- Sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake for 30-40 minutes. Because of the filling the cake will not look completely done but will as it cools. Serve warm. Great with ice cream too!
Best dessert I’ve made in ages!!!! Followed the recipe only using way more chocolate chips!! This time I’m going to use a spice cake and use butterscotch and chocolate chips!! And I didn’t swirl to the bottom last time but this time I am!! I know it will great!!! Thank you so much for sharing it!!!!
You’re welcome!
Instead of chocolate chips I used heath bar and it was fabulous!!!
Yum!
This is my daughters favorite cake ever since I made it three heads ago, it quickly became a part of our thanksgiving tradition.
Thank you!
The Bentons
Could graham cracker crumbs be substituted for the nuts? I love so many of your recipes! They have become family favorites that we pass around.
Thank you. Yes oats or graham crackers would work or just leave them out
This recipe looks fabulous and I plan on making it for a girls get together this Wednesday….did you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes?
I used sweetened
Made and love it !! I used unsalted butter since the cake mix, pumpkin puree & cream cheese had way too much salt in them already, for me. I did NOT swirl to the bottom, bringing up the coconut & pecans, and that turned out just right. it was our Thanksgiving dinner dessert !!
Awesome!
I made a less sweet version, and it turned out so good! I’m not a health nut, but I was afraid it might be too sweet for me. So I used 2 cups of powdered sugar in the cream cheese mixture instead of three. I also chose semi-sweet chocolate chips. It baked fine in my oven in a glass pan, and was done right at 35 minutes. I might have taken it out a tiny bit sooner. Antway, t’s a real winner! It’s really one of my favorite cakes!
This is the BEST cake I ever made. Since I first tried it, 2 weeks ago, I have been requested to make it 3 more times. I first made it for my birthday cake. What a hit. So moist and delicious. I try a lot of recipes here and this is only the 2nd one that got excellent raves. Thank you for sharing. I am off to make #5 right now.
Awesome! Glad you liked it!
I made this cake for my birthday today and shared it with the residents at my Seniors Apartment Complex, as well as with my family. Seems I have to make another one soon. Comments I got were, “its outta this world” “crazy good” “delicious” “best cake ever”, to mention f ew. Thank you for sharing this recipe. It has already become a favorite for years to come.
So happy to here that!
I make it last night. amazing. It’s so delicious. I ate 3 pieces and so did my son. We love it. Thanks you!
You are welcome!
I have just tonight. it’s very good. I ate half of it. My wife and son also love it. Thanks!
So glad you liked it!
Great recipe super yum!!!! Just changed a couple of things. Hershey cinnamon chips instead of chocolate and I used parchment paper instead of spraying the pan. Came out great. I think we’ll just have this for thanksgiving who needs Turkey and all those unnecessary trimmings. 😀
Love that you love it!
I din’t have a yellow cake mix..so I used a butter pecan–OMG! Over the top good!
That would be awesome!
Can you swap out a gluten free cake mix with this recipe successfully?
I have not tried it so I don’t know.
Tried this cake ,came lovely and moist ,took 1 hour to bake ,used purée pumpkin were I roasted before as well half tsp of Bic of soda served it with ice cream Thanks for sharing xxxx
Yum!!
Best way to store this cake? I’m guessing in the fridge because of the cream cheese?
I would store in the fridge!
Made this cake this afternoon. It is delicious. Just had my second piece. It is easy to make and the coconut and pecans sends it over the top.
So glad you loved it!
I think this would be good with butterscotch or cinnamon chips too!
Sounds great!
I used butterscotch chips– –excellent!!! They went VERY well with the cake.
I bet it was great!
Has anyone ever made this gluten free?
If I wanted to make these individually in large muffins pans how long would I need to bake them? It looks wonderful!
Shoot. I’m not sure but I would think around 15-20 minutes.
This looks delish! I have some spice cake mix I need to use up. Do you think it would work just as well in this recipe?
Would be perfect!
VERY GOOD RECIPE!! This recipe is So easy and good.THANKS for sharing good cake recipe.
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Definitely going to try this. Especially because I wont need beaters..love that you mix it by hand…
Good luck!
what do you think would be good in place of chocolate chips
Butterscotch chips, vanilla chips…or just leave it out.
Hi! Do you think I can omit the pecan/coconut layer? Sounds amazing to me but some of my guests are coconut adverse…
Totally. You don’t have to add it!
How much pumpkin did you use,I want to make this it looks amazing
1 cup canned puree!
I was very disappointed with the results of this cake! It said to cook this for 30-40 minutes in a 350 degree oven, ok I Cooked mine for almost an hour and when we cut into it , it was not cooked thru! 😞
Penny,
Because we’re literally pouring melting frosting and swirling it through it may appear to not be cooked all the way through but will firm up as it cools. Did you let it cool?
I had a similar problem and I think it may have to do with the cake mix. I plan to try it again using Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines. I initially used Trader Joes vanilla cake mix.
can you use cake from scratch for this
Of course! I bet it would be great. It’s really the concept here but the base could be anything.
What brand of cake mix did you use? I’ve seen other recipes that won’t set up if they use the kind with pudding in the mix. Thanks
I used a Betty Crocker mix.
Hi Christy!
Should I used sweetened coconut in this recipe?
You can use sweetened or unsweetened. It’s plenty sweet on it’s own.
Looks great!
Thank yoU!
This looks like the perfect go-to dessert for fall this year. Thanks!
Oh thank you Johnna!
Why hello, my new favorite fall dessert in the history of ever!! LOVE!
Oh thanks Lauren!
Whoa. That’s the only word that comes to mind right now. This cake seriously looks to die for!! Bound to be a hit in my house!
You are always so sweet!
This Lake Powell family LOVED this for family night tonight! Huge hit Christy! We even used a gluten free cake mix. This recipe is going to be a regular. Thanks! Tell the fam ‘Hi’!
Hey Jill! How are you? Miss you guys. Thank you!
I’m down with any cake that has “canyons of filling.” Yeah baby.
Hahahaha. Melted frosting filling even better. How are you feeling girl?
I need this cake in my life right now! It looks amazing!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Thanks and YES you do!