Mini Pumpkin Pecan Cakes with Orange Glaze is the perfect fall dessert that also doubles as a glorious morning breakfast. One of the great things about these mini cakes is that they are super easy to make. The best thing is of course the taste. Keeping with our mission of ‘no jars left behind’ these easy, delicious cakes are made with a blend of whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, pumpkin pie spices and a leftover jar of pumpkin puree and a leftover container of pecans from my last two easy pumpkin recipes.
Hello my friends. Since it’s already December, this Pumpkin Pecan Cakes recipe came out a bit late from the "oven" since not many people are still sharing pumpkin recipes, but as I said before, it's NEVER too late to have another pumpkin recipe. I would be making and eating them all year round if I could.
This particular recipe was in my “next year’s recipe” file but since I had some leftover pumpkin puree from the Pumpkin Carrot Bundt Cake I made recently, and some leftover pecans from the Pecan Honey Mustard Dressing I just made last week, I decided to make these pumpkin pecan cakes. It was the best decision I’ve made because I really enjoyed having one for breakfast every day. Did I mention yet that they are both a dessert (like a cake) and a breakfast (like a doughnut).
Have you heard of a "cronut"?
I’m sure you have heard of a “cronut” which was created in 2013 by bakery owner Dominique Ansel who made pastries in the form of donuts using dough similar to that of a croissant. These croissant-doughnuts took off and were (are?) the craze for a few years, and are still loved by many. Since Ansel trademarked “cronut,” only his bakeries in New York City, Los Angeles, Tokyo and London can sell them. Alternatively, you may have seen other names like "croissant doughnut," "doughnut pastry," and "crognet" that other bakeries use to avoid violating Dominique Ansel’s trademark.
The reason I’m writing about cronuts is that whereas cronuts are a cross between donuts and croissants, these mini pumpkin pecan cakes are a cross between dessert cakes and breakfast doughnuts. I haven’t come up with a cool name yet like “cakonuts” (yea that’s not a good name) but I am enjoying eating these both for my breakfast as a donut, and for my evening dessert as a cake.
Enjoy Pumpkin Pecan Cakes all-year-around
Besides having wonderful flavors of the autumn season like the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spices, these mini Pumpkin Pecan Cakes are jammed packed with chunky crunchy toasted pecans in every bite. Then there is a wonderfully sweet orange glaze drizzled all over the top of them. Even though they have Fall spices, they really are an all-year-around favorite... and the form of the mini bundt cake makes them so cute no matter what.
Mini Pumpkin Pecan Cakes make great holiday gifts too
If you can stop yourself from eating them all yourself, these Pumpkin Pecan Cakes make a great holiday gift as well. Think “huge Christmas cookie.” Depending on how creative and D-I-Y you are, during this holiday season you can make a gift package using either a tall clear bag, or a small box with a window opening on the top or some other creative packaging. Inside place the Pumpkin Pecan Cake, and complement it with other smaller items like various Christmas cookies, candy canes, chocolate kisses and various other holiday candies. This would be a great gift to take to your neighbors and friends for their holiday party, or for an unexpected touch of appreciation as a gift to someone special.
I hope you give these Mini Pumpkin Pecan Cakes, or “cakonuts” (sorry) a try. I’m sure you will love them as much as I do. If not, send them to me and I’ll eat them for you. LOL!
Wishing you happy holidays,
Carlos & Geoffrey
Your Recipe Concierge
Top Fall Pumpkin Favorites
If this recipe inspires you, check out our other top favorite fall pumpkin recipes:
- Pumpkin Tiramisu Cake
- Cherry Pumpkin Scones
- Roasted Pumpkin Bisque
- Pumpkin Hummus
- Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
- Brandy Eggnog Bundt Cake
Mini Pumpkin Pecan Cakes with Orange Glaze
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 11 1x
Description
Mini Pumpkin Pecan Cakes are both delicious mini bundt cakes and spongy doughnuts packed with crunchy pecan bites and a wonderfully sweet orange glaze. They make the perfect fall dessert and glorious morning breakfast that you will want to make and eat all year round.
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens "100 Best Pumpkin Recipes".
Ingredients
- 1 orange
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup milk - I use homemade cashew milk
- ¾ cup canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup vegetable oil, but I use Greek EVOO
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Spray the Bundtlette Cake Pan with baking spray with flour.
- Zest and squeeze juice from the orange. Set juice aside for the glaze.
- In a large bowl combine 2 teaspoons of orange zest, eggs, sugar, milk, pumpkin, oil and vanilla. Then stir in the flours, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until combined.
- Sprinkle about 1 Tablespoon of pecan chunks in the bottom of each prepared individual well, and cover them with about ⅓ cup of the batter.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes
- Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then remove them from the pan and cool completely on the rack.
- Meanwhile for glaze, in a medium bowl stir together powdered sugar and enough of the orange juice (about 4 teaspoons) to reach drizzling consistency. Add more juice as needed.
- Drizzle the mini bundt cakes with the glaze
Notes
Vitamin A 16%, Vitamin C 12%, Calcium 14%, Iron 5%, Vitamin B12 1%, Vitamin E 13%, Vitamin K 5%
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake
- Calories: 252
- Sugar: 25.6 g
- Sodium: 216 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Carbohydrates: 36.7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3.2 g
- Cholesterol: 29.1 mg
Dannii
What beautiful little cakes. The orange glaze sounds amazing.
Geoffrey Swetz
Yes Dannii, the orange glaze is a wonderful topping for these little cakes.
Alexandra
These are just divine! Not only do they look impressive, but they taste incredible. Perfect for fall!
Geoffrey Swetz
So glad you like them Alexandra. Send us some pictures the next time you make them.
Maayke
This looks delicious! I love the combination of pumpkin and orange.
Geoffrey Swetz
Thanks Maayke for mentioning the orange glaze. It's a great added touch to these pumpkin cakes.
georgie
these are just gorgeous! I love mini versions of things, especially cake! Perfect for an office treat or fall dinner party.
Geoffrey Swetz
Great idea Georgie... these mini cakes ARE perfect for an office treat, either for your co-workers or keep them all to yourself ;)
Brian Jones
Absolutely superb, I'm not much of a baker so I need all of the help I can get and these turned out perfectly... Definitely making them again!
Geoffrey Swetz
No worries Brian. As you discovered you don't need to be a professional baker to have these mini pumpkin cakes come out great. So glad they turned out perfectly for you.
Sandra
I had no idea “crognet” is trademarked! Interesting. Ok, these cuties are just adorable and are the perfect size to share with co-workers. I need to buy that bundtlette cake pan now!
Geoffrey Swetz
Hi Sandra. I think "crognet" is one of the words that are not trademarked. It's one of the words that bakers use to avoid getting in trouble using "cronut" which is trademarked. YES, that cake pan is awesome. Did you find it okay via the recipe post? you can click right through to it and add it to your baking collection. Thanks for coming by today!
Meredith
These little pumpkin cakes are just darling! What a wonderful fall dessert!
Geoffrey Swetz
Thanks Meredith. They certainly are wonderful little cakes. Enjoy!!
Diana
These mini cakes are stunning! I love mini desserts, they're much prettier than a slice from a big cake.
Geoffrey Swetz
Hi Diana. We totally agree! Why get a slice when you can have the whole pretty cake! Thanks for stopping by today
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
These are so cute!!! there's something that feels so special about a mini dessert. I love this idea!
Carlos Leo
Hi Liz, Thank you so much. I feel the same way about mini dessert, and they are so pretty.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
I LOVE the look of these little pecan cakes, they are gorgeous!
Carlos Leo
Thank you Pamela! I'm glad you love how they look, but they also taste delicious!
Mimi
Gorgeous! I love what that bundtlette pan does, but you made them look even prettier with the icing!
Carlos Leo
Happy Saturday Mimi! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I was surprised how beautiful the photos came out.