Pumpkin Spice Cake

Executive Chef Thomas Elder, known by many as just Chef Tom, is so committed to farm-to-table and the use of locally sourced ingredients that he has his own rooftop beehive to produce 200 pounds of honey a year. We could go on and on ... but for now, take a gander at his delectable pumpkin spice cake!

From Executive Chef Thomas Elder

For the Cake:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup sieved cooked pumpkin
• 2 cups sifted cake flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 cup milk or buttermilk
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted nut (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts)(OPTIONAL)

Method:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter well, then cream in the sugar until fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs and the pumpkin.
3. Sift the dry ingredients together and stir in alternately with the milk on low speed. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
4. Mix until the batter is smooth.
5. Add the nuts and pour into a greased and floured 8-9 inch cake pans. (You'll need 2 pans.)
6. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven about 25 minutes. The cake should spring back when pressed lightly.
7. Cool 5 minutes on a rack, loosen from the pan and turn out onto the rack to cool.
8. Frost with fluffy caramel frosting (see below).

For the frosting:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dark brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 1/3 cups heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Method: 

1. In a sauce pan over low heat bring the sugar and cream to a boil.
2. Cover the pan and cook the mixture for 3 minutes.
3. Remove the cover and continue cooking until the mixture reaches 236 to 240 degrees.
4. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, salt and vanilla.
5. Cool to lukewarm, then beat until the mixture is creamily smooth and of spreadable consistency. This recipe provides sufficient frosting for a 9-inch two layer cake.

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7920 Jones Branch Dr
McLean, VA 22102
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