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Pumpkin spice cake with maple frosting

This is a complex and very adult cake that makes an ideal dessert for a special dinner party, or as the centrepiece for a significant celebration.
pumpkin cake on a chopping board
12
1H 40M

Make this pumpkin cake with ground spices, maple syrup and of course, grated pumpkin. It’s topped with a maple frosting and sugared pecans. Then dust with extra ground cinnamon.

Ingredients

Method

1.

Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F. Grease a 20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) slice pan; line base and long sides with baking paper, extending the paper 5cm (2 inches) over edges.

2.

Beat eggs, sugar, syrup and oil in a small bowl with an electric mixer for 5 minutes or until thick and creamy. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; stir in pumpkin and nuts, then sifted dry ingredients. Spread mixture into pan.

3.

Bake cake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand cake in pan for 5 minutes before turning, top-side up, onto a wire rack to cool.

4.

Meanwhile, make sugared pecans, then maple frosting.

5.

To make sugared pecans; rinse nuts in a sieve under cold water until wet. Spread nuts, in a single layer, on a baking-paper-lined oven tray. Dust with sifted icing sugar. Roast in oven for 10 minutes or until browned lightly.

6.

To make maple frosting; beat cream cheese and butter in a small bowl with an electric mixer for 3 minutes or until fluffy and smooth. Gradually beat in syrup and sifted icing sugar until smooth and combined.

7.

Split cake in half. Place the bottom cake layer on a cake plate; spread with half the frosting. Finish with top cake layer and remaining frosting. Decorate with sugared pecans; dust with extra ground cinnamon.

You will need about half a small butternut pumpkin for the amount of grated pumpkin required. 

Test Kitchen tip

Can this pumpkin cake be made ahead of time?

This cake can be made and frosted a day ahead; refrigerate. Stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving. Sugared pecans can be made several days ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature. Decorate cake with pecans just before serving.

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