Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Vermont (Pumpkin) Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Hello, Autumn! I have pumpkin on my mind lately, so when I stumbled upon this recipe for a pumpkin cake layered with cream cheese frosting, I knew it would be a wonderful idea. 


Vermont Spice Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (I used a mixture of 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. cloves and 3/4 tsp. nutmeg)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Maple Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 11 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 cup butter, softened
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 teaspoons maple extract (I used 1 tsp vanilla extract as I did not have any maple)
  • squeeze of lemon juice
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 2 9-inch round cake pans. 

Combine flour, baking powder, spices, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. 

Beat sugar and butter in a large mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment until creamy. Add eggs one at a time; beat for 2 minutes. Beat in pumpkin, evaporated milk, water and vanilla extract.  Gradually add the flour mixture. 

Spread evenly into prepared cake pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

For the frosting:  Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and beat until fluffy. Add in the maple extract and lemon juice. Mix well. Refrigerate until needed.

Cut each cake layer in half horizontally with a long, serrated knife. Frost between layers and on top of cake, leaving sides unfrosted. Garnish as desired.

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