Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

I bake a lot of cakes, but I’m typically a doctor the cake mix type of gal.  But every once in a while, a recipe shows up that looks so incredible that I take the extra time a whip up a cake from scratch.

This cake was so amazing!  It was very reminiscent of carrot cake; moist and dense and delicious with a healthy slathering of cream cheese frosting.

Many times scratch cakes are criticized for being dry, but the pumpkin in this keeps it moist, making this a great place to start if you’ve never made a cake from scratch.  And it scratch cakes still aren’t your style, stay tuned, I’m sharing a cake mix pumpkin cake next!

Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Frosting

Adapted from Eat Cake for Dinner

Pumpkin Cake

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

4 large eggs

1 ¾ cups pumpkin puree (15 oz can)

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp ginger

1/8 tsp cloves

3 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

¾ cup milk (I used 2%)

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

16 oz cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease two 8x2 inch cake pans.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each egg.

Add the pumpkin, vanilla and spices.  Beat until well combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Turn the mixer to low, alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk to the batter, making sure to start and end with the flour.  Stir until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans.  Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert to remove from the pans and cool the cakes completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, combine the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Beat until smooth and light. 

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in the cinnamon.  Mix on low until combined.

Scrape the sides of the bowl again and add the powdered sugar.  Beat until smooth and combined.

Frost the cooled cakes, garnish with additional cinnamon, if desired.

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Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

by Amy's Cooking Adventures October-22-2012

This rich, decadent from scratch Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting is the perfect way to welcome fall

Ingredients

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 egg
• 1 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 16 ounces cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups sugar

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease two 8x2 inch cake pans. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each egg. Add the pumpkin, vanilla and spices. Beat until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Turn the mixer to low, alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk to the batter, making sure to start and end with the flour. Stir until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert to remove from the pans and cool the cakes completely before frosting. To make the frosting, combine the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until smooth and light. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in the cinnamon. Mix on low until combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl again and add the powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and combined. Frost the cooled cakes, garnish with additional cinnamon, if desired.

Details

Prep time: 1 hour Cook time: 45 mins Total time: 1 hour 45 mins Yield: 1 cake