Pumpkin Cake With Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat all Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
• Bake 28 to 33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove cake from oven to cooling rack. Immediately poke holes using fork over top of cake.
• While cake is still warm, gently spread 1 cup caramel sauce over cake, working back and forth to fill holes. (Some filling will remain on top of cake.) Refrigerate 2 hours.
• When ready to serve, spread frosting evenly on top. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons caramel sauce. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Make the frosting: In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, vanilla bean and seeds.
• Cook over high heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved.
• Using a wet pastry brush, wash down any crystals from the side of the pan.
• Cook over moderate heat without stirring until a medium-dark amber caramel forms, about 9 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the butter and heavy cream. (Don't worry if the butter separates.)
• Discard the vanilla bean.
• Transfer the caramel to the large bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a whisk and beat at low speed until the caramel cools slightly and comes together, about 5 minutes.
• With the machine on, beat in the cream cheese, 1 cube at a time and beating well between additions, until silky.
• Transfer the frosting to a bowl and refrigerate until very firm, at least 6 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, nutmeg and cloves.
• In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the brown sugar and eggs at medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 minutes.
• Beat in the oil, then beat in the pumpkin puree.
• Alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk in 3 batches, beating well between additions.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Let the cakes cool on a rack for 20 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edges to loosen the cakes, then invert them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Place one layer on a plate and spread with 1 cup of the caramel-cream cheese frosting.
• Top with the second layer and frost the top and side.
• Refrigerate the cake for 2 hours before serving.
• Serve cold or at room temperature.