These Mini Pumpkin Toffee Bundt Cakes are delicious mini bundt cakes made easy with cake mix and instant pumpkin pudding mix.
I have quite a few friends that don’t have kids.
Many of them are excellent cooks.
Many of them spend their time cooking rather complicated meals.
They are also the people who often make the comment that they just don’t get why more people don’t cook, it’s so easy.
Then there are the people who freak out if you use boxed cake mix or Cool Whip in something.
To these people I wish them kids for 6 months just to see…and either a really picky toddler or an eat everything in sight teenage boy.
Now granted we only get the kids sadly every other weekend thanks to lopsided custody rulings here in WA state but we do try hard to make them nice home cooked meals that they wouldn’t get at home.
But nowadays kids are always going somewhere.
When my stepdaughter was in soccer we seemed to be gone constantly so there was not time to whip up Braised Oxtail and Mushroom Tartine or Soft Shell Crabs with Sweet and Sour Cherry Gastrique (nor could we afford it).
While not in soccer she does have a part-time job now so half the time we are whipping something up last minute.
Time is of the essence.
So when fellow food blogger Shawn Syphus (I Wash You Dry) came out with Express Lane Cooking: 80 Quick-Shop Meals Using 5 Ingredients I asked for a copy (and they were nice enough to send one and to say I could give one away on the blog).
The concept is a simple but good one, with a well-stocked pantry, and just 5 ingredients you can make quick and satisfying meals for you family.
We made the Sweet and Sour Pork Stir Fry (super quick).
Then the BBQ Pork Tortilla Pizza.
And the Roasted Steak and Root Vegetables.
All were easy to make and all with everyday ingredients.
There are only a few dessert recipes in the book but I chose to make a recipe inspired by one of those.
In the book it’s an Apple Spice Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting…but it called for pudding and I had just bought Pumpkin Spice Pudding and wanted to try it.
Though I was super scared after I opened it up and it was gray.
I was like my cake is going to be gray, how gross is that. But no, during baking it becomes the color of pumpkin and all is right in the world.
If I had spice cake mix in the pantry I would have used it but only had yellow.
I also didn’t have any canned frosting and I liked the idea of a toffee icing with the pumpkin.
These Mini Pumpkin Toffee Bundt Cakes turned out super moist and I was really pleased with it.
Last but not least…it’s a great time to order my cookbook. 😀
Want More Pumpkin Recipes?
Pumpkin Spice Latte Russian Tea Cake Cookies
Salted Caramel Frosted Pumpkin Cupcakes
Chocolate Cinnamon Frosted Pumpkin Cupcakes
Mini Pumpkin Toffee Bundt Cakes
Ingredients
- For the cakes:
- 1 (18 ¼ oz.) yellow cake mix (or spice cake)
- 1 Kraft Jell-O Instant Pudding Dessert & Pie Filling, Pumpkin Spice, 3.4 Oz. Box
- 4 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- For the frosting:
- 4 oz. butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 TBSP heavy cream
- Water to thin
- Chocolate covered toffee pieces for garnish
Instructions
- This can been into a full size Bundt cake. I went with mini’s because I hadn’t used that pan in forever and I needed to in order to justify keeping it. 🙂
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Spray a 10” Bundt pan with baking spray. I used the Nordic Ware Pro Cast Multi Mini Bundt Pan, spray each mini Bundt with baking spray.
- Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, and water in a bowl of your stand mixer.
- Whisk for 30 seconds on low, then increase the speed to medium and whisk for 2 more minutes.
- Pour cake into prepared pan. If making a full size bake for 60 minutes.
- If making the minis bake for about 25 minutes.
- A wooden skewer should come out clean and the cake should spring back when you push down on it.
- Let cool for ten minutes before removing from the pan to cool completely.
- While cake is cooling, make frosting.
- For the frosting:
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Add the brown sugar and bring to a boil. Let boil for a minute.
- Mix in the powdered sugar, cream and as much water as necessary to make a smooth glaze.
- Drizzle, pipe or spread the glaze over cooled cake/s.
- Top with toffee pieces.
Notes
Adapted from Express Lane Cooking: 80 Quick-Shop Meals Using 5 Ingredients
Sarah C says
My go-to favorite in the colder months is crockpot chili; anytime of year it is tacos or some variation of tacos 🙂
Grace says
My go-to is make your own pizza night – buy a bunch of the mini pre-made pizza crusts and a bunch of toppings – everyone gets exactly what they want and it is ready in about 15 minutes!
Liz S. says
My favorite go-to easy meal is a stir-fry. Super easy to just mix together vegetables and protein, and cooks up in no time.
Debbie says
My go to quick dinner Mexico joes and a salad. Think sloppy joes but with chiles and taco spice. Yummy.
Coco says
spaghetti! Always spaghetti!
Joy says
my easy favorite go to is lentil soup! It takes 3 minutes to prepare but cooks all day in the crockpot and then at dinner time well yum
Patty Jensen says
My favorite is my Cheaters Lasagna Bake. I use a jar of marinara sauce, instead of making it (although that takes no time to do that step) and a jar of Alfredo Sauce (again, instead of make a Bechamel Sauce). I always have spaghetti and mozzarella cheese around. While the spaghetti is baking I have time to make my own salad dressing for the greens. I no longer feel guilty for using the grocery store for help with my cooking/baking. There are plenty other things to feel guilty about!!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
What a great cookbook. I don’t have kids and I barely find the time to cook elaborate meals beyond the weekends, and even then it’s often difficult. I don’t know how people with kids all the time do it! But to answer the question, my favorite go-to easy meal is pizza. I know that homemade pizza is not exactly something most people who think of as easy but to me, there’s nothing difficult about letting my stand mixer knead some dough, let it sit for an hour (while I clean the house and/or work out), and then slapping whatever random sauces/toppings I have on hand before sliding it into the oven.
Megan P. says
Either mac and cheese (from the box or stove top-made with a roux) or this thing a friend taught me called Slop in a Pan… it’s a shepherd’s pie made with whatever’s on hand.
Erika says
Summer go to = grilled meat, sliced tomatoes and corn on the cob
Winter go to = corned beef in the crock pot with roasted carrots, potatoes and cabbage OR if I was to lazy to get the crockpot going in the morning Salisbury steak with egg noodles and steamed broccoli
Cassie says
A quick stir fry or burritos always go over well. If I have a little more time (aka 2 year old is sufficiently distracted), I have a great version of chicken piccata that comes together very quickly while feeling like a special meal. A spice rubbed pork tenderloin (kosher salt, black pepper, garlic, thyme) is another good weeknight option. I try to bake a whole chicken or do a pot roast on Sunday when I have more flexibility in cooking times, and then we have some good leftovers to start the week with.
Stacy T says
My quick meals are either chili on potatoes or something we call egg rice (basically fried rice) with whatever the veggie drawer has in it.
What a great book!
Cakespy says
These little cakes look far fancier than the recipe might let on! I mean this as a very high compliment.
As for my fave quick dish? Definitely baked sweet potatoes with butter and flavored toasted almonds. Always does the trick.
Peabody says
@Cakespy- and they were really good too. Hubby was all these are super moist how did you do that…and I hung my head and was like cake mix and pudding mix. 🙂
Kat V says
My go-to is what I call Kitchen Sink pasta – lemon pepper pasta from trader Joes, then I just sautee whatever veggies I have in the fridge – squash, onions, banana peppers, roasted red peppers. Top it with pesto and it’s done. Quick, easy, delicious, and a little different every time.
marissa says
My go-to is pulled pork of any kind! Throw it in the crock pot and go! 🙂
Audra Blair says
Grilled Pepper Quesadillas for our house! Not only quick, but it is often referred to as Favorite Meal Night.
Interesting note on the pumpkin pudding being grey. Hmmmm
Stephanie K. says
My go-to easy meal is definitely breakfast for dinner. Scramble up some eggs with whatever veggies are (probably going bad) in the fridge. Toast and bacon depending on what I have. Easy!
Karen says
My favorite go to is tacos as they can be easily customized for the picky eaters and are quick.
This cake looks great. Thanks for putting in this time for the full size pan – I do not need any reason to buy new cookware!
Heather says
My go too delicious but somehow inexpensive meal is the lazy bolognese from Dinner: A love story. Sometimes I even realize I have all the ingredients just hanging in my pantry.
Erin M. says
These look delicious! A favorite quick go-to meal for me is always breakfast for dinner!
Lisa S says
My favorite go to is breakfast for dinner! Love pumpkin anything!
KB says
My go-to favorite (and one of my brothers’ favorites, fancy that!) is homemade one-pot stovetop mac ‘n cheese. It’s so easy and creamy and good, and it barely takes 5 minutes more than the time to cook the macaroni.
Kate says
my go-to meal is enchiladas….it’s too easy to cook chicken, put it in tortillas, cover with homemade red sauce (made while the chicken cooks), and bake. My kids could live off rice and beans so by the time that’s done, the enchiladas are ready from the oven so it’s dinner time!
Carrie says
My go-to meals include spaghetti sauce (jarred sauce doctored with onion, garlic, assorted veggies ,ground turkey, and mozzarella), teriyaki meatballs, or pork tofu.
Those cakes look scrumptious! I have a cake mix languishing in the cupboard, which means I’m going to have to try this recipe soon. 🙂
Carrie M. says
Southwestern. Tacos, burritos, enchiladas.
Ginny says
Our go-to meals tend to air asian–teriyaki meatballs and veggies, veggie fried rice, etc or italian as I make and freeze a lot of tomato sauce.
Reta Kenter says
Hello – my recipe is Chili Con Carne – the onions are sliced and separated into rings – the addition of cumin makes it taste even better. Topping choices – shredded cheese, scallion rounds, sour cream, Fritos.
Reta Kenter
Alice says
Go to meals are spaghetti or some other pasta and sauce combination.
Zainab says
I really like the idea of Shawn’s book and I agree with every word of being a parent. I’ve only been doing this for two months and I haven’t made anything that takes more than 30mins. I’m loving on these cute cakes.
Vicki Tunell says
Angel hair and red sauce of any sort is our go-to meal, cooking for kids is tough :).
Kristen says
Our easy, non-frozen-pizza go-to meal is usually quinoa with beans and corn. Easy and versatile, plus allows for customization (read: Doug can put hot sauce in/on his lol) Thank you for this opportunity!
ColleenB.-Tx. says
Just wondering on how many mini cakes will this recipe make?
Thank You
Peabody says
I got 6