Description
Seasonal pumpkin cake with caramel frosting delivers autumn’s warmest embrace in one delightful dessert. Spiced layers drizzled with rich caramel promise comfort and pure indulgence for sweet-seeking souls.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350F (175C) and prepare two 9-inch round cake pans with grease and flour coating.
- Create a dry ingredient blend by thoroughly whisking flour, baking powder, baking soda, aromatic spices, and salt in a mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
- Develop a wet ingredient mixture by vigorously beating granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract until achieving a smooth, homogeneous texture.
- Merge dry and wet ingredients carefully, folding gradually and mixing until just incorporated to maintain cake’s delicate structure.
- Distribute batter evenly between prepared cake pans, ensuring balanced filling. Bake for 25-30 minutes, monitoring doneness with a toothpick test – it should emerge clean when inserted into cake’s center.
- Allow cakes to cool completely on wire cooling racks, facilitating even temperature reduction and preventing moisture condensation.
- Craft luxurious caramel cream cheese frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until achieving a creamy consistency with no lumps.
- Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, caramel sauce, and vanilla extract into frosting, mixing until reaching a light, fluffy texture.
- Assemble cake by applying frosting between cake layers, then covering top and sides with remaining frosting. Optional: drizzle additional caramel sauce for enhanced visual appeal and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Make cake extra moist by adding a splash of buttermilk or sour cream to the wet ingredients, enhancing the pumpkin’s rich texture.
- Create gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with a blend of almond and gluten-free flour mix, ensuring same delightful consistency.
- Reduce sugar content by using alternative sweeteners like maple syrup or honey, which complement the pumpkin’s natural sweetness perfectly.
- Enhance spice profile by toasting ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger before adding to dry ingredients, releasing deeper, more complex flavor notes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg