Monday, November 8, 2010

Last Night's Game

We had a very busy weekend and a very fun weekend. Friday we had a skype date with Ryan's family and with Doug! Saturday we got up early and went to Latacunga for the Mama Negra festival (more on that later). Then Sunday we had a puppy play date with a 4 month old boxer pup and her owner. Then we spent the rest of the day watching futbol and cooking for Sunday Night Football. We had six people over, plus us and Chuki. On the menu: Nacho Fries, Pumpkin Chili, Regular Cornbread, Jalepeno Cornbread, Cheesy Onion Rolls, and Vermont Spiced Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting. Everything was a hit and everyone left like you leave a football party in the states, full of beer, food and wishing the other team had won!




Now since you already have the Pumpkin Chili recipe, I'm going to start with the cake. This cake was delicious! Nice and moist, very fallesque, just like carrot cake, without the carrot. I got the recipe from Sing For Your Supper, whom I love! I'm reposting it just as is, because I only changed a couple of things.

Enjoy making this! It's super easy and super yummy, everyone will be impressed!

MULUB,
Taylor


Changes to the original:

  • We don't have baking soda, so I added 3 extra teaspoons of baking powder. 
  • Because of the altitude, I added an extra 1/2 cup of flour.
  • I used fresh pumpkin, not canned. 
  • It was a little buttery, probably because of the altitude, but if you're baking at high altitude, I'd lessen the butter a bit. 
  • I only used 3 cups of powdered sugar in the frosting. 
  • I used maple syrup instead of maple extract for the frosting. 
Vermont Spice Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting




For the Cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (I used a mixture of 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. cloves and 3/4 tsp. nutmeg)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 2 9-inch round cake pans. Combine flour, baking powder, spices, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Beat sugar and butter in a large mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment until creamy. Add eggs one at a time; beat for 2 minutes. Beat in pumpkin, evaporated milk, water and vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared cake pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.




For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting:
11 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 teaspoons maple extract
squeeze of lemon juice
Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and beat until fluffy. Add in the maple extract and lemon juice. Mix well. Refrigerate until needed.




To assemble:
Cut each layer in half horizontally with a long, serrated knife. Frost between layers and on top of cake, leaving sides unfrosted. 

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