Saturday, September 29, 2012

Pumpkin-Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting





From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I've made this cake more times than I can count. It's fast and easy to prepare and the frosted cake is really quite delicious. My calendar fills up quickly in the fall. I'm busy with meetings and committees that manage to keep my 9 x 13-inch baking pan in nearly constant use. The Silver Fox jokes that it in an election year  it never gets put away. That's a bit of an exaggeration, bit I will confess it does get used a lot.  I've  learned over the years, that people, especially volunteers,  tend to look for things that are not there. They may not eat a piece of cake but they want to know it's there. It makes them feel appreciated and I want them to know they are.  So, to please them, while keeping my own sanity, I tend to bake very simple things that look  more complicated than they actually are. This dump cake is well-traveled  and well-received. The original recipe was developed in the Pillsbury test kitchen and it is a gem of simplicity. The cake, which feeds a lot of people,  takes minutes to prepare and it is disappearingly delicious. If you have not already done so, I hope you will give this seasonal cake a try. Here's the recipe.

Pumpkin-Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Pillsbury

Ingredients:
Cake
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup raisins, if desired
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 package (8-oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 to 3 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, if desired

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan with cooking spray.
2) Combine eggs, granulated sugar, oil and pumpkin in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Stir in raisins if using. Spread in pan.
3) Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
4) In medium bowl, combine and beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth and spreadable. Spread frosting over cake. Sprinkle with walnuts. Cut to desired size. For bars, cut into 7 rows by 7 rows. This recipe will make 49 bars. Store covered in refrigerator.






One Year Ago Today: Couscous and Cranberry Salad















Two Years Ago Today: Zucchini Muffins














Three Years Ago Today:  Bierstube Pork Chops

22 comments :

Katarina said...

I love pumpkin spice cake and baked one also this week! The cake is so moist and delicious and the frosting on top gives it a sweet flavor!

Alessandra said...

I really like the idea of a spicy pumpkin cake, it looks a bit like a carrot cake. You know that I've never seen canned pumpkin puree here in New Zealand? I think that it doesn't exist, but I probably just need to cook some pumpkin and bled it... I guess!

Have a good weekend Mary.

Ciao
Alessandra

Lynn said...

Sounds like a great cake! I've bookmarked it and think I'll whip one up for the office-thanks:@)

Diane said...

My mouth is watering, the pumpkins will be coming in from the garden next month then I can try this out. yummy. Have a great weekend and take care Diane

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Simple is quite often best especially in a pinch.

Vicki Bensinger said...

No wonder we all gain weight from Halloween through the New Year. With recipes like this who can resist the temptation.

From the Kitchen said...

I'm thinking the library staff might like this as they move into the new library next week!!

Best,
Bonnie

Manju @ Manjus Eating Delights said...

I'm definitely gonna try baking a Pumpkin cake/muffin this year, last year I had made cupcakes with real homemade pumpkin puree and decorated them Halloween style ;-)

Hey I also like your zucchini muffins...I have posted Chocolate zucchini cookies at my space if you'd like to take a look, they are absolutely delicious.

Regards,
Manju
http://manjuseatingdelights.blogspot.com

Barbara said...

You can't beat a pumpkin cake, Mary. And you can always depend on Pillsbury to come up with the best recipes....basic and delicious. Been baking their recipes forever and they're always a hit.
This is a great little cake....I know what you mean about a busy pan.

David said...

Mary, This is a Fall Season hunk of comfort for sure! Great looking cake... Thanks and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Dining Alone said...

I love all of these fall pumpkin recipes, this looks so good!!

Catherine said...

Dear Mary, I love easy and delicious!! A perfect combo. The cake does look moist and delish!! blessings dearest friend. Catherine xo

tender b. said...

A classic fall dessert. Looks so good.

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

Pumpkins and cream cheese frosting - was there a better love story? :D

Cheers
CCU

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

You recipes and stories are so great.

Fondly,
Glenda

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

I should go to more meetings! The Cream Cheese Frosting pushes this from simple in to the simply decadent category!

Torviewtoronto said...

looks delicious lovely pictures

Lynda said...

This is a fabulous recipe Mary; I know that because I make the same cake. I don't know where I got the recipe, but I've made it for years and my husband loves it. It's delicious and perfect for a crowd!

Red Nomad OZ said...

This looks so good - but I've never seen a can of pumpkin puree downunder! Not where I shop, anyway!! I'm guessing it won't matter if I mush up 15oz of cooked pumpkin instead? Or does the canned puree have other things in it that I'll need to add??

Hope your weekend is going beautifully!!

Laura Dembowski said...

I love pumpkin cake, and that looks like a great one. So pretty!

Tricia @ saving room for dessert said...

I've never tried pumpkin cake but I would if I saw it laying there - calling my name! You are one busy lady - good luck on your efforts :)

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I'll be making this for sure Mary. It screams "fall" and will be well appreciated by my family and friends.

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