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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














This recipe has become one of my go-to recipes for Fall. Even my husband, who isn’t a big fan of pumpkin could not get enough of this dessert. I think I made it twice in the span of 4 days…and I gave it out to one of my friends! Thanks for sharing…and yum!
I am super excited to impress my sisters with this recipe. Being the youngest of 9 makes them think I don’t know how to cook/bake. Boy do they sure have a surprise waiting for them! Thank you Lauren!
Beth, I made this one night for dessert (delicious!!!) and then reheated a serving for the next two days….still just as delicious!!
Anyone know how I would alter this for high altitude?
Is pumpkin puree different than the canned pumpkin you use to make pumpkin pie? Or same stuff?
Pumpkin puree is the same as canned pumpkin. I use them interchangeably. Just plain pumpkin with no flavors or spices.
Made this a couple of weeks ago and brought it to work. The dish was literally scraped clean! It is amazingly delicious. I have a double batch in the oven as we speak to take to work again tomorrow. LOVE this recipe, and will likely be making it again next week for Thanksgiving instead of a cheesecake. Yep…it’s that good. ?
Making this for the third time tonight – it’s fabulous! My new go-to when I take dessert to an event, always gets rave reviews! I cut the sugar down to 1/4 cup in the batter, since there’s plenty in the topping & of course ice cream. Thanks for a great new recipe!
Do you think this would work with sweet potato puree?
I would like to make this for a Thanksgiving potluck. Would it be okay to pour the hot water in the mixture, cover, and bake once I’m at the hosts house? The drive would take about 30 minutes. Or would you suggest baking it at home then reheat it once were ready for dessert? I’m worried it won’t be as gooey and warm.
I think you could bake it at home, transport it and then reheat with no problems!
this looks yummy
This one looks good too…what do you think?
pumpkin cobbler
Do you think you could double this? Maybe put it in a 9×13?
I am baking this right now.
Almost 50 minutes, and water is still on the top! Middle of cake is gooey!
Help!
I love this recipe, I’ve made it for years, but I normally use apple cider in place of the water, it is amazing!!
Thank you for changing my life. In a wonderful way. This is my go-to dessert now. Your advice was spot on. And for being a self-confessed exclamation point user! I’m not ashamed either.
Thank you for posting this delicious recipe on your blog Ms. Lauren! This recipe is awesome and simple to follow. I just made my first pumpkin pecan cobbler tonight and it’s a big hit in my house! 🙂
Yummm!
You don’t mention how to store leftovers. Do you refrigerate?
Would love to make it, but I ‘m unable to cook. My husband and I mostly eat fast food. I really sounds great. Thank you
RE: Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler, could this recipe be doubled?
Best part? No eggs! I’m allergic as are many others. I look forward to trying this delicious looking yumminess-
I want to make this for a work party how far ahead can this be made?
This was a hit!
Delicious dessert!
Making it again tonight..YUM!!
Thanks for sharing. I made this today and it is a bit sweet while warm…. It does seem to subside some when it is cooled. I think I’d make a double batter with the same amount of top.
Can use /Truvia instead of sugar in batter?
This is like the Hot Fudge Cake Recipe! It has you sprinkle brown sugar and cocoa on top of the cake batter and then pour hot water over it without stirring to make its own sauce too.
It is a cold and rainy night in Minnesota and I just pulled this out of my oven. Could NOT be more perfect!
Tried the Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler. It was easy so therefore fun to make. The best part is that my husband, who is not a cobbler man, loved it and asked for seconds. Thanks Lauren for making this recipe available.
What about using hot apple cider instead of the water?
How much hot water?
Tried it on family and friends this weekend. Absolute hit!! This was so delicious I was wishing I had tripled the recipe! Thank you!
I made this last night and it turned out well. The only issue was the flavor of the clove was very strong. Would you suggest cutting the clove amount in half?
pumpkin cobbler
Wish I knew exactly what size dish to use. You call for a small dish, it looks like an oblong one in the picture and the recipe only calls for 8″. 8 by what might be helpful. Can’t wait to try this it looks delicious. Thank you
Hi Lauren, Can this recipe be doubled easily or will that screw up the baking time too much or ruin the lava gooeyness?
Did you use a 9 x 13 pan?
Would this be okay to make the day before then warm up in the oven? I’d love to make this for thanksgiving but I only have a small oven so I have to plan accordingly.
Hi Lauren,
Would love to make for thanksgiving. Can this be made ahead of time or is it a dessert that needs to be made just before you serve it?
Looks fabulous
Made this yesterday and it was a huge hit!!!! Soooooooo gooooodd!!!! Everyone loved it!
My New All Time Favorite ..!! I’ve Made It (Doubled Recipe) Three Times This Week .. Everybody Loved It ..!! Thank You For Sharing .. Peace & Love To You & Yours Doll .. 🙂
This looks so good can’t wait to try .looks like you have a cute little fam .
I am going to try this for my Bunco Group. Has anyone frozen this desert. Just wondering if it would freeze well. Would be nice to pull out a desert during the holidays when you need it. Wish me luck.
I made this last night for a dinner party, and it was a huge hit!! Everyone licked their bowls clean and couldn’t stop telling me how delicious they thought it was. Had to leave a comment to let you know! Made a few small tweaks – I used about half of the can of the pumpkin puree, and instead of cloves I used 1/2 tsp of all spice. I’ll definitely be making this again. Thank you!!!
I would like to substitute Pumpkin for Sweet Potato? Should I keep the same ingredients?
Yes, I would. And substitute sweet potato for pumpkin 1:1.
Can you tell me, if I double this recipe does that mean doubling the water to 3 cups? Just sounds like a lot of water.
Yes, doubling the recipe means doubling the water too. You may have to cook it a little longer from what the other commenters have said, but besides that, it should turn out just fine.
would it work to double this and make in 13 X 9 pan?
Made this for a group & it was awesome!! I doubled the recipe and put it in a disposable 1/2 pan. I made 2 of them. Followed the directions to the word, just more time in the oven to get them to set. So many compliments! I will definitely make it again. thanks
yummy
There is no egg in the pumpkin pecan cobbler?
I am to the point to put in oven and realized no egg?
No egg necessary.