pumpkin cake
the great pumpkin patch
more fall desserts
- easy “pumpkin” marshmallows
- 2-ingredient pumpkin donuts
- BEST apple crisp
- apple pie bites
- pumpkin pie Rice Krispie treats
how to make a pumpkin cake with fondant decorations
to make the pumpkin patch cake, you will need:
- pumpkin cake recipe (see below)
- chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe (below)
- package of Nabisco famous chocolate wafers
- rolling pin
- ziploc bag
- spatula
- fondant
- food coloring (Electric Green and Orange)
- confectioner’s sugar
- whole cloves
- 1-inch leaf fondant cutter
- pizza cutter
step one: bake the cake
Prepare the cake recipe below and let cool completely. And I mean completely.
step two: frost your cake
Place some chocolate wafers in a sealable plastic bag (work with about ten wafers at a time). Crush with a rolling pin or mallet over a cutting board. Set aside. Prepare the frosting recipe below and use the spatula to spread on the cake. Immediately top with crushed chocolate cookies.
step three: make your fondant decorations
Prepare lime green and orange fondant by kneading drops of food coloring into a handful of fondant very well. If fondant gets too sticky from overhandling, let it sit at room temperature uncovered about fifteen minutes and dust your hands with confectioner’s sugar.
Start with just one or two drops of coloring and add more until desired color is achieved.
For the pumpkins:
Roll a ball of orange fondant in your palms about 3/4-inch in diameter. Flatten the top and bottom slightly with your thumb and forefinger, and stick a clove in the top. Press the side of a toothpick into the fondant to make indentations on the sides. Prepare 25 to 30 pumpkins, or as many as desired.
For the leaves:
Roll lime green fondant thinly on a surface lightly dusted with confectioner’s sugar to prevent sticking. Cut out leaf shapes and set aside. If desired, attach to the tops of a couple pumpkins with a dab of water. Cut out about 50 leaves, or as many as desired. Reserve some lime green fondant and wrap well. You will need more for the vines in step four.
step four: assemble your pumpkin patch cookies
With a sharp knife cleaned frequently, cut cake into 2-inch squares and arrange on a platter or cake stand.
Roll out the green fondant as in step three. Use the pizza cutter to cut out strips about 3/8-inch thick and 4-inches long. Gently pinch along the length of the vine to rid of sharp edges, then loop and bend vines.
To arrange on each piece of cake, tuck one end of a vine into frosting to secure, and place a pumpkin on the other end, gently pressing into frosting. Insert leaves as desired.
pumpkin cake recipe
Briefly whisk together flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Cream the butter in a standing mixer with the flat beater (or with an electric hand mixer). Add the sugar and blend well. Add the pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract and blend well.
Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing well. Spread into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
Yields: about 28 squares.
pumpkin cake recipe
Delicious pumpkin cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting for fall or Thanksgiving dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Briefly whisk together flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Cream the butter in a standing mixer with the flat beater (or with an electric hand mixer). Add the sugar and blend well. Add the pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract and blend well.
Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing well. Spread into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool completely.
Notes
See blog post for chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe and to decorate with a pumpkin patch.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
28Serving Size:
1 pieceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 125Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 82mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g
chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe
Blend the cream cheese and butter. Add confectioner’s sugar and blend well. Add cocoa powder and vanilla and blend.
chocolate cream cheese frosting
Yummy chocolate cream cheese frosting to go with pumpkin cake.
Ingredients
- 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups confectioner's sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Blend the cream cheese and butter. Add confectioner's sugar and blend well. Add cocoa powder and vanilla and blend.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
28Serving Size:
2 tablespoonsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 125Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 26mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 0gSugar: 16gProtein: 1g
The pumpkin cake post was originally published in November 2010 and updated in October 2020.
Alisha Ross says
Have you considered making your own pumpkin puree? It’s pretty simple and make your house smell amazing! Can you get ahold of a sugar pumpkin? If not a regular pumpkin will work, but these smaller speckled pumpkins are the most flavorful. I imagine sweet potato would sub well too. Just bake and puree the flesh in a blender. I hope you get a chance to tr them. No one should be denied pumpkin!
Hannah Flack says
his looks So amazing! I have only recently discovered that I love butternut squash! I was scared to try it after multiple attempts to like spaghetti squash were made, I just do not like spaghetti squash! But I have a cousin who’s tastes are completely different from mine and she loves spaghetti squash and hates butternut, so I had to give it a try and Yum!!!
Alisha Ross says
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I will be coming back to your web site for more soon.”
Alisha Ross says
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch since I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!