Skip to Content

Pumpkin Pound Cake with Walnut Caramel Sauce

Sharing is caring!

Thick moist buttery Pumpkin Pound Cake drizzled with a homemade Walnut Caramel Sauce. All the flavors of Fall in one great easy dessert!

A pumpkin pound cake with a chocolate walnut sauce poured over it

Ten years into our marriage, Mars and I decided to pluck up our little family and move to beautiful Southern Utah! (See we’re really Southerner’s at heart!) That’s when I discovered Season’s! I love having season’s…even the snowy one! Each has their own distinct beauty. However, my very favorite is Fall!

About this time of year as I’m driving “ta town”, as the locals say, I start looking at the tippy top of all the tree’s and creek willow to see if I can start to pick out the first signs of color. (It drives Mars NUTS! Guess his love of fall isn’t as profound as mine. Lol

Last week I saw it! Glorious Golden Yellow’s starting to appear! Oh, sure the back of my brain is saying “Hey…you’re gonna be raking leaves for weeks!” but my soul…my soul is rejoicing! Crisp cooler air, reds, yellows and oranges, apples, apple cider, apple festivals, the smell of cinnamon and spice, and everything nice….like pumpkin!

Pumpkin Pound Cake loaf with caramel walnut sauce

This Pumpkin Pound Cake with Walnut Caramel Sauce is the perfect way to throw open the oven door and say “Hello Fall! Come on in!” So I did! (Who am I to reject Fall when he comes a knocking!)

I love, love, love this recipe! I found it years ago on Taste of Home. It’s not overly spiced, it’s not overly pumpkin. (Not that I think you can go overly pumpkin! Let’s just be clear on that point!)

It makes two beautiful round topped loaves of pound cake. It’s moist and dense, without being overly heavy, with a divine homemade walnut caramel sauce. (You’re gonna wanna double that caramel sauce! Maybe use it as a facial cream?) Let’s jump into Fall!

How To Make Pumpkin Pound Cake…

Start out by creaming together sugar and butter! This is pound cake! It’s not 4.5 ounce cake!

It’s earned its name with all the other great pound cakes out there so…it’s heavy on the butter, almost…oddly enough… a pound.

Note: My sugar wasn’t dirty, and your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you.  I used evaporated cane sugar which retains some of the natural cane sugar color. Tastes the same, and you can use it the same.

Pumpkin Pound Cake before mixing

There’s your bowl full of buttery sugar goodness…just keep creaming it till it is nice and fluffy! Add in your vanilla and 6 eggs! I know…WOW! (That poor chicken!)

TIP: Remember we are making two POUND cakes. (Okay, okay…still a LOT of eggs. Who am I kidding?) 

Pumpkin Pound cake butter and sugar

In a separate bowl mix together your flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. (Okay, seriously just looking at those spices gets me excited!)

TIP: Use a whisk to blend it all together. Remember using a whisk in your flour does the same thing as “sifting” did in our Mom and Grandma’s day. It works wonders and is so much handier than digging out a flour sifter.

Pumpkin Pound Cake dry ingredients

You’ll want one cup of canned pumpkin ready and on hand. Begin by adding the flour and pumpkin to the creamed ingredients. Alternate between the two. Beat until just combined.

You will have a nice thick cake dough.  Divide it between two grease and floured 9 x 5 loaf pans.

Tip: I use Bakers Joy or the Pam Spray with flour! It’s so much easier than messing with flouring a greasy pan!

Pumpkin Pound Cake in Bread pan

Into the oven they go.

Tip: Remember to try to always place your cakes in the center of the oven and have your racks on the middle setting.

Your house is about to begin to smell like Fall for 70 wonderful uninterrupted minutes! No “Wall Flower” Bath and Body works makes is going to come close the amazing scent that is about to start wafting out of your oven! It’s heavenly!

These are pound cakes, so they do take a little longer to bake than regular cake.

You’ll want to check them around 60 minutes but, if you have your oven at the right temp they should come out looking as beautiful as these did! You can check to see if they are done by inserting a toothpick into the middle of the split. If it comes out clean, they are done!

Pumpkin Pound Cake Loaf

I wanted you to see that the beautiful golden color goes all around these pound cakes. You won’t have the bottoms and sides darker than the top like you do with some nut breads. Just like regular cake, you should have nice even coloring all around.

Pumpkin Pound Cake side view

How To Make Homemade Walnut Caramel Sauce

While the pound cakes are cooling it’s the perfect time to make your Caramel Sauce. Let me interject here that if you are planning on serving this later for a special dinner or refreshment, you can make the cakes up ahead of time.

In a medium sauce pan, large if you double the recipe, place your butter, brown sugar, heavy whipping cream, and corn syrup. Mix well and begin to cook over a medium low heat.

Pumpkin Caramel Sauce

Stirring constantly bring to a boil. Continue to boil and stir for 5 minutes.

Boiling Caramel Sauce

Add in the vanilla and chopped walnuts. Allow to cool slightly. You now have a rich, savory, nutty, caramel sauce that is one of, if not the best, caramel sauces I’ve ever had.

Pumpkin Caramel Sauce with Nuts

When ready to serve cut the pound cake into nice thick slices. (I like mine at least an inch thick.) Top with the warm walnut caramel sauce and serve. You really don’t need anything else with this dessert…except for a fork and maybe a cup of warm cider! It’s pumpkin perfection!

This pound cake is rich, dense, and perfectly spiced. The caramel sauce is going to gently soak into the top layer of the cake, but because the cake is dense it won’t soak down through. It’s an amazing combination.

Pumpkin Pound Cake loaf with caramel walnut sauce

I hope you’ll tip toe, if you’re not ready to jump, into Fall with this glorious Pumpkin Pound Cake! It’s so delicious and such a great way to say “Hello” to Fall and all the fabulous flavors this season offers. You’ll be seeing a lot more Fall recipes in the coming weeks. Like I said…it’s my favorite season of the year!

Other Favorite Pumpkin Recipes

If you love this recipe and any of my others please share. I’d love to have you follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest! The printable recipe is below! Thanks for stopping by my Nest!

Yield: 16 servings

Pumpkin Pound Cake with Walnut Caramel Sauce

Slice of Pumpkin Pound cake with Walnut Caramel Sauce on a dessert plate.

A nicely spiced dense, but not heavy, pumpkin pound cake topped with a rich sweet walnut caramel sauce.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 -1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 2-3/4 cups sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin

Walnut Sauce

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; add to cream mixture alternately with pumpkin, beating just until combined.
  2. Pour into two greased and floured 9 inch x 5 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 65-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Walnut Caramel Sauce

  1. In a medium sauce pan place the brown sugar, heavy whipping cream, corn syrup, and butter. Stirring constantly, over medium low heat, bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes. Add in vanilla and chopped walnuts. Serve over cooled pound cake. Store in refrigerator in air tight container. Reheat to use.

Notes

I double the caramel sauce to be sure I have enough.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 slice of pound cake

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 526Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 267mgCarbohydrates: 70gFiber: 1gSugar: 50gProtein: 6g

Sharing is caring!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

carol

Friday 6th of March 2020

Also Can I Make This In A Half Recipe and Still Come Out Good? Thank You Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

carol

Friday 6th of March 2020

I'm Late, But This Pound Cake Looks SOOO!!!, GOOOD, One Question Does The Eggs And Butter Need To Be At Room Temp???

[email protected]

Tuesday 10th of March 2020

Hi Carol! Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. I've been sick this past week and not able to get into the office. The eggs do not need to be at room temperature but the butter does. Also you could only make half this recipe just be sure to use a smaller loaf pan if you want the height I achieved with this recipe. Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you have a great week and enjoy this favorite of mine. Happy Nesting, Norine

Diana Fleming

Sunday 20th of October 2019

Would it be all right to bake this in a bundt cake pan and just make one cake?

[email protected]

Tuesday 22nd of October 2019

Hi Diana!

Yes you could make the cake in a bundt cake pan. You may need to increase the bake time so I'd just watch to make sure that it's done in the center. Hope this helps. Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting with me. Have a great week...and please let me know how this turns out. Happy Nesting! ~Norine

Julia

Wednesday 4th of September 2019

I'd love a slice with my coffee this morning

[email protected]

Thursday 5th of September 2019

Hi Julia! Thank you my friend! I'd love to bring you a slice too. ~Norine

Julie @ Back To My Southern Roots

Saturday 15th of September 2018

Hi Norine! I am already in love with this recipe. It looks amazing! And, I am with you, I love season changes, too. I live in Florida now, but grew up in Colorado with all of the leaves changing and beautiful fall and winter weather. Enjoy the golden colors!

[email protected]

Tuesday 18th of September 2018

Hi Julie! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comments. This truly is one of my favorite Fall recipes. Unique and yet everything you want a fall recipe to be. Colorado is beautiful! We just drove through there this summer and fell in love. Warm Florida winters sound heavenly too! Thanks for stopping by and visiting. I hope you have a GREAT week! Happy Nesting! Norine

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to Recipe