Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

Base Batter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray your bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. If you don't have a Bundt pan you can bake this in two loaf baking pans.
2. Beat the butter and sugar in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until soft and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well after each. Then add the vanilla.
4. Mix the flour with the salt and baking powder in a separate bowl.
5. Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl. Mix until just combined, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
6. Separate the base batter into two medium bowls, with about half the batter in each.

Pumpkin Batter

1. Add the cinnamon, pumpkin puree, and spice to one-half of the batter. Mix by hand, not with a mixer, and do not overmix.

Chocolate Batter

1. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave it in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until it is melted and smooth.
2. Once it is melted, slowly stir in the warm milk until smooth and creamy.
3. Add the chocolate mixture to the other half of the batter. Stir it by hand until it is combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Baking the Cake

1. Drop spoonfuls of the pumpkin batter into the prepared cake pan. Leave space between the spoonfuls and use about half the batter.
2. Then add about half of the chocolate batter into the empty spaces. Repeat another layer of each until the batter is used up.
3. Use a knife to swirl the two colors together for a marble effect.
4. Bake for 45 minutes until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool for 10 minutes, then invert the pan onto a wire rack.
5. Once the cake cools completely, top it with the optional chocolate glaze or sprinkle the top with cocoa powder or powdered sugar.

Chocolate Glaze (optional)

1. Combine the chocolate squares and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds.
2. Stir and continue to microwave for 10 seconds at a time until it is smooth and melted.
3. Stir in the corn syrup and drizzle the glaze over the cake. The glaze will harden in a few hours.