Who cares about swirly patterns and fancy piping tricks? These days it's all about the naked cake [1] — in other words, keeping the cake layer(s) bare, while only icing the top(s). It's so easy! Just plop the frosting onto the top of the cake and use a spatula to spread it evenly. No crumb layer, no Pinterest fails [2], just beautiful, rustic presentation.

In terms of the actual pumpkin cake recipe, it's full of the spiced flavor, moist yet fluffy, and bright pumpkin orange — and the icing is heavy on the cream cheese, making it a tart, rich companion to the cake.