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Halloween: Pumpkin Patch Party Cakes

Source of Recipe


Southern Lady magazine (September / October 2008)



List of Ingredients



• Nonstick cooking spray
  
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
  
• 1½ tsp baking powder
  
• ¾ tsp salt
  
• ½ tsp baking soda
  
• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
  
• 3 large eggs
  
• 1 (15-ounce) can 100% pure pumpkin
  
• ¾ tsp vanilla extract
  
• Orange Cream Cheese Icing (recipe follows)
  
• Garnish: 6 (4-inch) cinnamon sticks
  






Instructions



1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray two 6-cavity mini-fluted tube pans with nonstick cooking spray.
   
   
2. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt and baking soda in medium bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixing bowl for 3 to 4 minutes, or until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Spoon evenly into prepared cavities (about ½ cup batter in each). Gently tap pan on counter to release air bubbles.
   
   
3. Bake for 20 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in cakes comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; invert onto wire racks to cool completely. With serrated knife, carefully cut off bottoms of each cake so surface is level / flat.
   
   
4. Prepare Orange Cream Cheese Icing:
   Spread 1 tablespoon icing over cut side of each cake to within ¼-inch of edge; be sure to spread mixture over hole in center. Reserve remaining icing. Place the 6 cakes without icing on top of cakes with icing.
   
   
5. To serve:
   Thin remaining icing by adding 2 tablespoons milk; beat until smooth. The consistency should be thin enough to drizzle; add more milk as needed. Drizzle over cakes. Garnish with one cinnamon stick in center of each "pumpkin."
   
   Makes 6 cakes.
   
   ............
   
   ORANGE CREAM CHEESE ICING
   
   • 1 (8-ounce) package 1/3 less fat cream cheese, at room temperature
   • ½ tsp orange extract
   • 1 cup powdered sugar
   
   Beat cream cheese and orange extract in large mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until combined.
   
   Makes about 1 cup.