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Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler is the ultimate fall dessert with cake on the top and hot caramel sauce on the bottom!
I think I’ve found pumpkin dessert mecca in the form of this Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler. I love a good chocolate lava cake, but no other dessert has really ever come close to that pinnacle of delicious. Until now? If you don’t like chocolate as much as you like pumpkin, then we are close to something that will blow your mind.

Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler: Ultimate Fall Dessert
No matter where you stand on the choco-loving scale, you’ve at least got to give this a try at least once this season! This Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler is spicy, sweet, festive and gets thrown together in a snap. This is like a pumpkin lava cake and cobbler love child. It’s got all the yummy factors that I love in a dessert and uses ingredients I’m 99% sure you already have in your pantry. #winning
Just be sure to remember to add in the baking powder because…..it WILL NOT work without it.
Here’s how to make this Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler:
Stir all dry ingredients together in a small bowl: flour, sugar, spices and leavenings. I’m positive you all have these items in your pantry right now.
In a separate bowl, stir together all the wet ingredients: milk, vanilla, melted butter and pumpkin!
Now, incorporate the two. You’ll get a thick batter…exactly what you want.
Pour this into a small casserole dish and spread out evenly.
Like so!
Top this with even more sugar {I know it looks like a lot….} and some chopped pecans.
Right before it goes into the oven, pour over some super hot water. RESIST the urge to mix this. Pour it and forget it. I promise the oven will work it’s magic and create an amazing cakey, hot pumpkin lava situation that is worth the 40 minute wait.
You see? Puffy magic cake with…..wait for it……

Sweet pumpkin lava gooeyness!!!!!! Heaven, folks.

Divide into portions and serve.

Don’t forget the extra pecans and ice cream! Yes yes yes.

Love Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler? Try these other recipes:
- Carrot Cake Cobbler
- Chocolate Cobbler Recipe
- Inside-Out Breakfast Peach Cobbler {almost vegan}
- Peach & Raspberry Cobbler {with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream!}
- Steel Cut Oatmeal with Bananas & Cobbler Topping

Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler
Ingredients
For the Cobbler
- 1 cup + 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
For the Topping
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1 1/2 cups very hot water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium sized bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and spices. Set aside.
- In a smaller bowl, stir pumpkin, milk, melted butter and vanilla together to combine. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix to create a thick batter. Pour into a small 8-inch casserole dish with high sides.
- In a separate bowl, stir sugar, brown sugar and pecans together. Spread over the top of the batter evenly. Pour hot water over the entire thing {WITHOUT STIRRING A THING!} and bake for 40 minutes or once the middle is set. {Be sure to place on a baking sheet incase it bubbles over.} Cool 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with more pecans and vanilla ice cream.
Video
Nutrition
*Recipe Updates*
I’ve gotten a TON of comments and feedback from all of you about this recipe since it’s become VERY popular within the last few weeks of me posting this. A lot of the same questions keep getting asked and asked again, so I thought I would address the most common ones below so that you can make this with success 🙂
Is 1/2 cup of pumpkin the correct amount?
YES! You only need 1/2 cup of canned plain pumpkin {NOT pumpkin pie filling} for this recipe.
Can I double the recipe?
YES! And I know that 3 cups of water seems excessive but that is typically what you do when you double a recipe. You double every single measurement. I suppose if you’re worried about it, you can reduce that amount. That just means you’ll have less caramelly-pumpkiny liquid underneath your cake.
Can I bake this in a 9×13 pan?
Yes, but only if you plan on doubling the recipe!
Mine didn’t cook all the way through. What’s wrong?
When I first was testing this recipe, mine came out all globby and mushy at first too. But then I switched over to new, fresh baking powder and that did the trick! Don’t forget the baking powder! Also, check your oven temperature. Mine is spot on at 350 degrees and my cobbler was done in 40 minutes exactly. Some ovens run hot, some run cold. Also, glass baking dishes cook food differently than metal or ceramic. Lots of different factors can affect the baking time. The cobbler might be done at 40 minutes or you might have to cook it closer to 50. As long as the center is baked, you should be good to go.
Can I make this gluten free?
I don’t see why not, though lots of gluten-free baking mixes vary significantly because of their different blends of flours. I’ve had good success with Pamela’s brand GF all-purpose flour baking blend.
Did you forget to list eggs as an ingredient?
NO! There are no eggs needed for this recipe.
Your casserole dish you used in this recipe looks big! Is it?
The casserole dish I used is a 9″x 6″ baking dish from Crate and Barrel. It’s on the small side for sure. I think there was some confusion because it’s so small yet in the recipe I state that you can get 8 servings. But, look at the increments. It doesn’t make a ton, but puffs up and is very sweet and decadent which is why I said it could serve 8.
Can I make this recipe in advance?
Yes, you definitely can, but the longer it sits, the less syrupy goodness remains. The best thing I could recommend is make the batter ahead of time (with double acting baking powder) and right before baking, add the sugar and nut topping along with the very hot water. That way, you’re still prepping ahead of time, but enjoying it fresh. The double acting baking powder is important because it helps the cobbler rise once when introduced to liquids and twice when it’s introduced to heat.
I have never frozen this recipe, so have no input on how that would work.
Hope that helps! Enjoy! xoxo -Lauren














I am sad. You promised I would have all the needed ingredients, and I don’t. Also, am I getting a can of pumpkin, or pumpkin pie filing? I guess I’m off to the store!
plain pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling.
Hi Raeanna,
I saw this recipe and it looks so good I thought if you have pumpkins you don’t know what to do with them, here are some ideas. Anyway have fun and have a great day
Love Shirley
here’s that receipe
Will it work if you double the recipe? I have to feed a large crowd.
Hi, would you happen to have high-altitude directions, or can you tell me how to convert the recipe? I really want to try this but we’re in the mountains at over 6,000 feet, and regular recipes don’t work here. Thank you!
I doubled the recipe and the only change I had to make was increase the baking time. I think I added an additional 10 minutes to mine, but yours may vary.
sounds great thanks for the recipe
Do you think you I could triple it and bake in an 11×15 pyrex or would it bake unevenly?
Delicious! Easy! Definitely a pumpkin “go to” recipe. Made this dessert for a dinner party and I thought everyone was going to lick their bowls! I baked it just a little too early so the gooey yummy pumpkin lava was not as plentiful as it should have been. No one cared!
I ran into issues. When I mixed the wet with the dry there wasn’t enough moisture to blend the two together. I added a little more pumpkin, oil and milk to get the look that was in the pictures. After baking it came out great and taste wonderful. I’m just unsure if the measurements for the wet ingredients are correct.
I doubled the recipe and it fit perfectly in a 9×13 pan. However, I needed to cook it longer than the mentioned 40 minutes (not sure if the oven I was using runs at a lower temperature). 55-60 minutes would have been the perfect amount of time. Super delicious, I will definitely be making this again!
Are there an adjustments for high altitude?
I had to double the recipe since we just moved and we only have one pan. Does it need to cook loner? The top seems set, but almost like its floating.
Double recipe using a cake mix for first four ingredients. Bake in 9 X 13 pan.
What a beautiful dessert for the Thanksgiving table for those not wanting pie! Will have to try this. Thanks!
Just made this desert…….OMGOODNESS it was delicious! I doubled the recipe and put it in a 9×13 pan. Don’t let the water scare you it turns out awesome. Family loved it!
This sounds like the best pumpkin recipe yet!!! Will try this one out! So many pumpkins now!!
Took your dessert to a Halloween party. Everyone loved it – even those that told me they usually don’t like pumpkin anything. Thanks for an easy to make, delightful dessert!
Sounds delicious I can not wait to try tomorrow.
Amazing!!!!! Has anyone tried to double this recipe?
You are so funny! Can’t wait to try your pumpkin lava cake. All your desserts look incredible!
Give it a tie!
Your casserole and serving dish are so cute! Could you please let me know where you got them?
Crate and Barrel is where I got the casserole dish, the serving dish is just a small ceramic tart pan that I got years ago from williams sonoma.
Looks very good.
This looks absolutely delicious Lauren. I plan on making this for the holidays. I have a feeling it’ll be a big hit!
I did, and even the wheat eaters enjoyed it.
Hi Lauren,
Have you or any of your followers tried making this recipe gluten free. If so, any tips? I am unable to consume wheat but love pumpkin anything and this recipe looks divine!!!!
From your food loving comrade, Kim
OMG I cannot, cannot wait to make this dessert!!!! Here in Zimbabwe we don’t celebrate the pumpkin/Halloween/fall like you do in the US of A, but this will be a real treat – once I get down to making it!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never written a recipe so fast after seeing this desert- can’t wait to try this
Thanks
Made this for my late thanksgiving supper and OMG! Fantastic! I will be making it again at Christmas – forget pumpkin pie
So, I made this last weekend. Delicious! My nephews came back for seconds. I think next time I will decrease the water a little to make the sauce a little thicker. Definitely a keeper!
Dear Lauren,
Please confirm, is this recipe missing eggs? Otherwise it sounds tasty.
Thank you.
No eggs needed!
I made this last night, and it was waaay too sweet. I normally don’t mind sugary desserts, but even a small scoop of this was overwhelming. The “lava” turned out pretty well, but the cake texture was sorta gummy…? I was really excited about this, but it just didn’t turn out well. I wouldn’t make it again without seriously cutting the amount of sugar and figuring out how to keep the texture more cakey and less gummy.
I can’t wait to try this ! looks scrumptious.
Have a dinner party this Friday and would love to make this. Someone there is gluten-free. Think gluten-free flour will work instead?
Do you think it would work with all purpose gluten free flour?
Wow this sounds amazing, passing on to my parents so they can make it for their restaurant ! thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi, do the leftovers need to be refrigerated?
Thanks!
looks and sounds yummy with ice cream
Does this need to be refrigerated if there are leftovers? Thanks!
Sounds delicious!!!!
Just made this! It was super yummy! My family absolutely loved it. Although, I did somehow forget the pecans (pregnant memory) and that was the part I was most excited about. I added a few chocolate chips instead, and it was still super yummy along with the ice cream! Will definitely be making this again!
Thank you!
A must try
I HAD to share this! Looks yummy!
Only 1/2 cup pumpkin or 1/2 can?
1/2 cup!!
Could u make this into a 9×13 pan?
Love pumpkin and this looks so good
And easy to make.
I am going to try it soon.
Thanks for sharing. .Joyce
Just made this… My husband & I loved it! Would add a little more water as mine did not have a lot of the caramel sauce at the end of baking but still delish!!
This sounds really good and I’d like to try it. Can you substitute 100% pumpkin for the pumpkin puree? If so, I’m good to go. Thanks.
Holy cow it’s good