Autumn Cakes

Now that the heat of summer is over, it is time to resume using your oven.  With all of the holiday events, if you are on dessert duty, think about some seasonal cakes.

Pumpkin Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup oil, canola, vegetable or coconut
• ½ cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups coarsely grated carrots
• ½ cup raisins, optional
• ½ cup diced nuts, optional

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease a 9 inch springform pan.
• In a large bowl, combine eggs, granulated sugar, oil, pumpkin, brown sugar, buttermilk, vanilla, and spices. Beat well to combine.
• In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet mixture until just combined.  This will be a thick batter; do not overmix.
• Add carrots, raisins and nuts. Gently fold to incorporate all ingredients.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 42 to 50 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry.
• Allow to cool in the pan for 20 minutes; then transfer to a cooling rack. When thoroughly cool, frost as desired.

Sweet Potato Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potato
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350. Grease or spray a 13 X 9 inch pan.
• In a large bowl place flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices and mix well.
• In another bowl place brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, oil, mashed sweet potatoes, and vanilla and mix well.
• Pour the liquid into the dry and mix on medium until well combined, but do not over mix. Batter will be thick.
• Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Cool completely before frosting as desired.

Gingerbread Cake

Ingredients:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup unsulphered molasses
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup very hot water

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350. Grease or spray 9 X 13 inch pan.
• In a large bowl cream together sugar and butter until smooth and light.
• Add egg and molasses and mix well.
• In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients.
• Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture until combined. Slowly pour in hot water and stir until smooth.  Batter will be thin.
• Pour batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 20 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.
• Serve warm with fresh, sliced bananas; whipped cream, and/or vanilla cream sauce.