10/28/16 10/28/16

Easy Pumpkin Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Naked Pumpkin Cake Is the Most Sensuous Way to Celebrate Fall

October 28, 2016 by Anna Monette Roberts

Who cares about swirly patterns and fancy piping tricks? These days it's all about the naked cake — 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, 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.

Pumpkin Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

From Anna Monette Roberts, POPSUGAR Food

Notes

If you want to make more than 1 layer, simply double or triple the recipe.

Ingredients

For cake:
1/2 cup salted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for pan
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon dried ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch of ground allspice
Pinch of ground cardamom
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree, fresh or canned

For cream cheese frosting:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
8 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Directions

To make cake: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Prep a cake pan by greasing a 10-inch square pan or 9-inch round pan with butter and dusting with flour. Cut out a piece of parchment paper to cover the bottom of the pan.
In a medium-sized bowl, sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Set aside.
Using a whisk or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together melted butter, sugar, and eggs until well combined and sugar is dissolved. Slowly mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, until well combined. Gently stir in pumpkin puree, being careful not to overstir.
Pour batter into prepared cake pan, and bake for 38 to 40 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Turn cake out onto cooling rack to cool completely.
To make icing: Using a mixer, beat butter and cream cheese together until smooth. On a slow speed, incorporate sifted powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in vanilla extract.
To assemble: Place cake on a plate or cardboard cake circle. Transfer icing to the top of the cake and carefully spread it evenly. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Information

Category: Desserts, Cake
Yield: 12 servings

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts

gingrlj 7 years

Looks soft, gooey and delicious! Really makes me look forward to fall baking

rumpel2 8 years

* frosting left

This cake is unbelievably good! I took it to work and my coworkers wouldn't stop raving about it. My favorite part was he frosting! :) I still got some frosting and whenever I open the fridge I just stick my finger in it and eat it just like that. Also I made walnut brittle (that's what I had at home), but I might try it with cashew next time.

aangelaa 8 years

THIS LOOKS SOOO YUMMY! DEF. WHAT I WILL BE MAKING FOR THANKSGIVING :)

mominator 8 years

Ha! I thought the brittle on top was bacon. Glad I peeked in to look at the recipe. Pumpkin, cream cheese and brittle! Yum a definite keeper! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe.

Drewsfan 8 years

We have pumpkin cake every Thanksgiving since it's my birthday. This recipe looks fantastic, I'll definitely be requesting it this year.

RobinFabulous 8 years

yummmm

spacebear 8 years

that looks delicious

CoconutPie 8 years

:drool: OMG it looks so good!

Celebrity 8 years

so yummy. the frosting was my favorite part.

aurora7 8 years

This sounds amazing, I love pumpkin! But I do not want an alternative to pumpkin pie. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner.

ayyeung18 8 years

I love pumpkin cake! I usually make it with a little rum in the frosting; it just brings a little je ne sais quoi to the table. Check it out below! http://foodieandfork.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/autumn-in-my-mouth-pt-2/