Pumpkin Spiced Bundt Cake

So my recent baking spree continues.  And this time I’m leaning into an uber moist and scrumptious (truly, truly) Pumpkin Spiced Bundt Cake.  Honestly speaking, if calories and such were simply a figment of the imagination, I’d be baking around the clock.  Because…dessert! :)  But alas, reality bites at times, so I try to do myself the favor of not having too many sweet, homemade delicacies on hand.

 

Still, the desire to bake (for the first time this year, I realized) a pound cake in my beautiful bundt pan outweighed any aforementioned caution. ;)  And last Sunday made way for joyous moments dedicated to baking (and relishing) this delicious confection.

 

 

While I take my pumpkin spice indulgences on the lighter side, the pumpkin helps to make this one of the moistest cakes you’ll ever taste, with a gorgeous color, to boot, and coupled with the warm, flavor-full spices, it goes down nice and easy, bite after bite after bite.  And maybe a little too easily in my case; but hey, we have to take our pleasures as they come, no?

 

 

So not one to keep a great thing (especially a great recipe) to myself, I’m sharing this in time for your very own baking indulgence to celebrate Fall, the holidays, or simply continuing to survive the “wonder” that is 2020.  No matter the reason, you’ll be so glad you baked this cake.  And you’ll be overwhelmed with….

 

Happy Eating!

 

Pumpkin Spiced Bundt Cake

 

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 ¼ cups of sugar

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin

3 eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup canola oil

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Confectioner’s sugar

 

Method:

Preheat oven to 350° F.

 

Grease cake pan liberally (I used cooking spray) and set aside.

 

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, and spices.  Set aside.

 

In a stand-mixer, combine the sugar and oil until well blended (2-3 minutes).  Blend in eggs one at a time, incorporating each fully, before adding the next.  Add in vanilla and blend further.  Add in flour mixture, alternating in batches with the pumpkin until all ingredients are blended in.

 

Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake in heated oven for 60-65 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, with no crumbs.

 

Let the cake rest and cool for 10-15 minutes before inverting onto a plate or wire rack.  Dust (I used a small mesh strainer) the cake with as much confectioner’s sugar as desired—and enjoy!

Citrus Pound Cake

I spent my recent Sunday afternoon drinking in the fading sunshine... and baking a cake.  It wasn't the fancier variety of cake that may immediately come to mind.  But one equally special, all the same--and for all the right reasons.  Reasons like a beautiful, moist crumb, and wave upon wave of citrus infusion.  From zest and juice, to syrup and glaze, there was no mistaking the bright flavors and under notes that have made this cake a personal favorite for many years now.  I especially love it during the holidays when a little something extra special is the order of the day. And slice after decadent slice proves perfectly special.

Rather than go my more traditional route of lemon only (lemon pound cake is a wonder), I decided to mix things up a bit more and combine the flavors of grapefruit, orange and lemon.  Did I say this was a citrus pound cake?  And it's one of the most addictive desserts (or breakfasts, if you eat cake for breakfast.  I do.)  The absolute best part, however, is that it yields two cakes--one for savoring and one for sharing (or freezing until you're ready to indulge your sweet tooth all over again).

There's really not much left to say, other than you have to bake it.  And thank me later.

Happy Eating!

Citrus Pound Cake
Ingredients:
1/2 lb. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/2 cups sugar, divided
4 large eggs, room temperature
Grated zest of one grapefruit, one orange and two lemons
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup of citrus juice (combination of 1/4 cup each of grapefruit, orange and lemon), divided
3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze:
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons citrus juice

Method:
 
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch) loaf pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.

Cream the butter and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the citrus zest.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup citrus juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 cup citrus juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cakes to cool completely.

For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and the citrus juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.  (Cook's Note: If freezing the cakes, don't apply glaze until you are ready to serve.) Enjoy!   

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten