Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel Frosting

User Reviews

4.8

33 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    20 mins

  • Cook Time

    20 mins

  • Total Time

    48 mins

  • Servings

    12 servings

  • Calories

    770 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert

  • Cuisine

    American

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel Frosting

A light and fluffy pumpkin layer cake with a decadently creamy caramel frosting is perfect for Thanksgiving!

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Ingredients

Servings

caramel

  • 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup salted butter, cut in pieces
  • 6 Tbsp milk or half and half

wet ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup apple cider (you can also use water)
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

dry ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt or kosher salt

nuts

  • 1 1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans*

for the frosting

  • 4 cups confectioner's sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk or half and half
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Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F, spray 2 9-inch cake pans with baking spray and dust with flour. Line each pan with a round of parchment paper on the bottom.
  2. Begin by making the caramel. Put the ingredients in a medium saucepan and melt over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When everything is melted, raise the heat slightly and wait for the mixture to come to a boil. You don't need to stir it at this point. This will take about 3-4 minutes. Once the mixture boils, remove from the heat and pour into a heatproof bowl to cool. Do not stir.
  3. In a large bowl blend the wet ingredients together until smooth. You can do this by hand, or in a stand mixer.
  4. Whisk the dry ingredients together, and then slowly add to the wet, just until everything is smooth, don't over beat. Fold in the nuts.
  5. Pour the batter evenly into the two prepared pans. Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until they spring back when lightly touched in the center, or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without wet batter on it.
  6. Let the cake layers cool on a rack for 15 minutes before turning them out to cool completely. Carefully peel off the parchment paper.
  7. Now make the frosting. Put the cooled caramel into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the balloon whisk attachment, or you can do this with electric beaters. Begin beating the caramel, then add the sugar, one cup at a time. After the second cup of sugar, add the milk or half and half and then finish with the sugar. Beat until thick, smooth, and creamy. If your frosting seems too thick, add a touch more milk. If it seems too thin, add a bit more sugar.
  8. Frost the cooled cake. You can store your cake at room temperature, or in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • *to toast pecans, put them on a dry baking sheet and toast in a 350F oven for 10 minutes.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 770kcal (39%) Carbohydrates 123g (41%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 30g (46%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat 8g Monounsaturated Fat 10g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 65mg (22%) Sodium 381mg (16%) Potassium 311mg (9%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 99g (198%) Vitamin A 4431IU (89%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 130mg (13%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 770 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 770kcal 39%
Carbohydrates 123g 41%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 30g 46%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Polyunsaturated Fat 8g 47%
Monounsaturated Fat 10g 50%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 65mg 22%
Sodium 381mg 16%
Potassium 311mg 7%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 99g 198%
Vitamin A 4431IU 89%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 130mg 13%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

4.8

33 reviews
Excellent

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