Pumpkin Spice Cake
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Serves: Serves 8 - 10
 
Pumpkin Spice Cake with cream cheese frosting, topping with a crunchy mixture of vanilla wafers, pecans and brown sugar.
Ingredients
Cake
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup canned pure pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature
Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • ½ cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 - 4 ½ cups confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar
For Garnish
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 35 vanilla wafers
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • Cream Cheese Frosting*
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • ½ cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 - 4 1/2 cups confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar
For Garnish
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 35 vanilla wafers
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4cup melted butter
Instructions
  1. Cake: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter and flour a 9 inch round pan.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy with your mixer. Add eggs, one at a time. Add pumpkin and vanilla, beat well until incorporated.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices. Add the buttermilk and flour in 2 additions. Pour batter into prepared pan.
  4. Bake for 30 -35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes and remove cake from pan unto a wire rack to finish cooling.
  5. Garnish: Preheat oven to 400°F. Put pecans in a food processor and chop into small pieces. Pour onto baking pan. Do the same with the vanilla wafers. Add brown sugar to the pan. Mix together the pecans, cookie crumbs and brown sugar. Pour melted butter over all and mix in well. Place in oven and check every 5 minutes and give it a stir until it is toasted. It took mine about 15 minutes to toast. Cool before using.
  6. Frosting: Place the cream cheese and butter in a bowl. Whip until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and confectioner’s sugar. If necessary thin with a little (tablespoon at a time) milk or cream.
  7. Assemble: Cut cake in half. Place 1 half on your cake plate. Top with icing and a handful of the garnish mix. Top with second layer of cake. Finish frosting cake and coat sides and top of cake with garnish mix.
  8. Refrigerate when finished. Serve at room temperature.
Notes
Note: To make your own buttermilk combine ½ cup of milk with ½ tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice. Stir and let stand for 10 minutes before using.
Recipe by Recipes Food and Cooking at https://recipesfoodandcooking.com/2011/10/31/pumpkin-spice-cake-2/