Description
Embrace the spirit of fall with this delightful pumpkin-shaped cake, perfect for Halloween parties or autumn gatherings. This moist pumpkin spice cake is enveloped in a vibrant orange buttercream, while whimsical decorations made from modeling chocolate bring your pumpkin to life with a charming face and leafy vines. Not only does it taste incredible, but it also serves as a centerpiece that will impress family and friends alike!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 8 cups powdered sugar
- 4–6 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Orange gel food coloring
- 1 cup dark chocolate melting wafers
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- Green gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt; set aside.
- In another bowl, cream softened butter with both sugars until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time; then mix in pumpkin puree and vanilla.
- Gradually add dry ingredients alternating with milk until combined. Divide batter between pans and bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks.
- For modeling chocolate, melt dark chocolate wafers and mix with corn syrup until thickens; let cool until firm.
- Prepare orange buttercream by beating softened butter, then gradually adding powdered sugar. Mix in vanilla and milk until smooth; tint with orange food coloring.
- Level cooled cakes if necessary; stack them with buttercream in between layers. Carve into a rounded pumpkin shape and apply a crumb coat of frosting before chilling.
- Cover the cake in remaining orange buttercream, creating ridges with an offset spatula.
- Shape modeling chocolate into a stem and facial features; attach to the cake using reserved frosting.
- Mix green food coloring into reserved frosting for vines; pipe around the base.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (85g)
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 70mg