Pumpkin Cake with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

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Who doesn’t love dessert?

pumpkin-cake-bite-size

Especially when the said dessert is bite sized and looks like this.

Last week I catered a small dessert party for some of my neighbors. Really, it was the annual HOA meeting (yawn) and I guess serving a bunch of small desserts is how they get the neighborhood to go. I wouldn’t know. I dropped of the desserts and came right home to the small plate I hoarded for myself.

I made chocolate brownie bites with sea salt, lemon rosemary butter cookies and this simple pumpkin cake that I cut into individual portions. With Thanksgiving next week I thought a little pumpkin love seemed appropriate. Speaking of pumpkin, want to know a little secret?  I don’t like pumpkin pie. It’s a textural thing. Or maybe it’s the taste. Actually I think it’s the way it looks. OK-maybe it’s all of it. Not wanting to totally buck tradition, pumpkin cake is the perfect medium. This recipe came from my sister-in-law who, I think, got it from her sister. It’s light, has the perfect amount of spice and is soooo versatile. The recipe says it makes a 9 x 13 or 3 large loaf pans or 5 small loaf pans. I made it into a 11 x 18 sheet pan so I think it’s safe to say you can pretty much bake this in anything. Un-frosted bread loaves are great holiday gifts or frost the whole cake for Thanksgiving dessert. Doesn’t matter how you serve it, it’s delicious.

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Pumpkin Cake with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

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Description

This high altitude pumpkin cake recipe is versatile and the only one you’ll ever need!

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 15 oz can pumpkin puree
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate
  • 2 cups sugar minus 2 tablespoons
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • optional: 1 cup chocolate chips, raisins or chopped nuts

For the Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 lb box powdered sugar, sifted
  • pinch salt
  • 1–2 teaspoons milk (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
  2. Prepare pan(s) with butter and flour or spray with cooking spray; set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl sift flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, combine eggs, pumpkin puree, orange juice concentrate, sugar, oil, applesauce and vanilla. Mix well with wire whisk. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and with a wooden spoon mix just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips, raisins or chopped nuts if using. Pour batter into pan(s) and bake until done. Let cool on rack for 10-15 minutes and then remove from pan(s) and cool entirely before frosting. Cooking times: 9 x 13: 40-45 minutes, 11 x 18: 30 minutes, large loaf pans: 40 minutes, small loaf pans: 25 minutes.
  5. To make frosting, cream together the softened butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer with an electric beater.
  6. Add orange zest, cinnamon and vanilla.
  7. Add powdered sugar to taste- I usually use 1/2- 3/4 of the box and mix until thoroughly combined and smooth. Add salt. Use milk in necessary to make frosting desired consistency.

Notes

This recipe has been adapted to high altitude living. My kitchen sits just below 7000 feet.