pumpkin snack cake with pumpkin buttercream

Homemade snack cake.
Don't you love that one sentence?
Does that conjure up fond memories as a kid or even as an adult?
What was you best snack cake memory?
I would love to hear.


To me, snack cake has to have a really good, not overly sweet, but fairly sweet frosting.
A frosting that just glides over the tongue, melts instantly in your mouth and never leaves an aftertaste.
And I've been trying to get just the right pumpkin buttercream for a while now.
Tried last year and got nothing.
Adding pumpkin to frosting is tricky because the pumpkin is so moist.
What did I finally use?
Pumpkin butter from Trader Joe's! I'm still on that pumpkin butter kick.
It's just so versatile in baking to use in just about everything.
I have to brag here for a bit and tell you that this is the best buttercream I've ever made.
This pumpkin buttercream will have you craving for it.
I caught myself (and I've been really good all summer long with my eating right)
having a second slice of this JUST to slice off the frosting and devour it.
So good.
The cake is nice and buttery, has a nice light taste of pumpkin.
You know I hate over-pumkiney flavor in fall baking; too much nutmeg or pumpkin spice and
my stomach turns.
Trust me on this cake, you will love it, it will become one of your favorites too.



Gone baby gone.
Cake didn't even have a chance of seeing Day 2 of it's existence!

pumpkin cake with pumpkin frosting

recipe from vanillasugarblog.com

print recipe

pumpkin cake:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened + more for greasing pan

1 ½  cups sugar

3 Tb pumpkin butter

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)

¾ TB baking powder

¾ ts salt

4 large eggs

1 cup whole milk

pumpkin buttercream:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

¾ of a 1lb bag powdered sugar

3-4 TB pumpkin butter

giant pinch of sea salt

1-2 TB half & half (or whole milk)

¼ -1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, for garnish (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter a 9 x 13 pan; line the bottom with parchment paper and/or grease up with butter. If you use parchment, make sure to butter that as well.

Into a medium bowl, sift together the flours, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until well combined, then add in the pumpkin butter.  Add in the eggs, one at a time until all is well combined.

Take your flour mixture and beat it in in 3 parts, alternating with three parts of the milk.  So add in one third of flour mixture, mix, then add in one third of the milk and mix.  Then repeat.

I had a couple of lumps left in batter, so that’s ok.  I hate to overbeat the batter.

Pour batter into prepared pan. 

Bake about 22-28 minutes.  It does bake up fast, so make sure to check at the 23 minute mark.

Let this cake cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, using an electric mixer,  mix all ingredients, adding in 1 tablespoon at a time the half & half.  You may not need the 2 TB of half & half, so just add in 1 TB at a time.

When cake is cooled, add on the frosting, then garnish with chopped walnuts or pecans.

I have no idea how long this cake lasts as it was gone in one day in my house. But I bet it would do well for a couple days, if nice and covered.

sea salted pumpkin bread bark

Let's just kick things up a notch ok?

I'm tired of pumpkin bread--we have so much at the house.
Why do I keep making it?  Why do people keep ordering it?
Don't they know I'm sick of it already? :-)
I'm already ready for summer; for blueberries, raspberries and warm salty ocean swims.
I know, that's not going to happen--just carry on with the pumpkin making because I know
there are a lot of my readers who love pumpkin and are still just getting started with pumpkin
recipe making.
So this one is for you!
Sea salted pumpkin bread bark.
Well, you can also call it leftover pumpkin bread, or pumpkin cookie bark.
Crazy easy to make too.

I don't do hard recipes, so never worry about that from me; just creative & tasty ones.
Take melted white chocolate, pour on parchment lined baking sheet, drizzle with some pumpkin
butter, take chopstick or other stick thingee, spread and make swirls of said pumpkin butter.
Then drizzle with crumbled pumpkin cookies or pumpkin bread.
Gently push the crumbs into the bark.
Sprinkle the top with a tiny amount of sea salt.
Trust me on the sea salt?
The sea salt goes really well with the butteriness of the white chocolate and the sweetness of the pumpkin butter.
Let sit at room temperature for a while to harden or throw in fridge.
Done and done.
Easy right?
And pretty, so people will think you're an absolute genius in the kitchen.



sea salted pumpkin bread white chocolate bark
from vanillasugarblog.com
print recipe

11 ounces white chocolate, melted
1-2 ts vegetable oil (for melting the white chocolate, optional)
1-3 slices of pumpkin bread or pumpkin cookies, crumbled
1-2 TB pumpkin butter
sea salt, for the top of bark

I melted the white chocolate with a teaspoon or two of vegetable oil (up to you).
Take melted white chocolate, pour on parchment lined baking sheet.
Drizzle with some pumpkin butter, take chopstick or other stick thingee, spread and make swirls of pumpkin butter in the chocolate.
Then drizzle with crumbled pumpkin cookies or pumpkin bread.
Gently push the crumbs into the bark.
Sprinkle the top with a tiny amount of sea salt.
Let this sit at room temp for a bit, then into the fridge to harden up.

friday links

Happy Friday!

I was asked recently to try G.H. Cretors gluten free AND GMO free popcorn.
How could I ever say no?

My stars, this popcorn is AMAZING.
I'll have you know they sent me 5 full size bags and within one day 3 bags were gone.
It's that good.
They have caramel corn and cheesy corn.
But wait!
They have the Chicago Mix which is both flavors in one bag.
Insanely good.  You will never go back to any other bagged popcorn again.
Best parts?
GMO free
Gluten free
and all natural ingredients, no chemicals, no crap, no fillers.  Thank you!
Where can you find them?  Click here.
And you can also order online at ghcretors.com 



Seriously, the best cheese popcorn I've ever had (and no crap or chemicals in there).
Stay tuned!
They've agreed to a giveaway!
And right now they are having a giveaway on their Facebook page.
Go enter!

My last ice cream of the season. Everyone is closing up shop. I'm sad. I want summer back.

From Twin Acres in Sandwich, MA.

My tater tot.
I know, I try and stay away from cheesy pet photos, but come on, look at that face!

Have you seen this at Trader Joe's?
GAH!
Don't buy it--it's so good!

Let's be honest, most of the Trader Joe salads and sushi are horrid, but this salad was pretty good,
and is my latest crush.  What makes it is that peanut dressing.

My latest crush.
My current handbag is falling apart; I am almost to the point of using tape. Sad.
This bag from Burberry. Way out of my price range, but isn't she pretty?

Cookbook find of the week: The Sardinian Cookbook
A great little cookbook of some the best Sardinian recipes, perfect for upcoming winter.

A little sneak peak. Really good recipes inside.  Nothing too crazy or complicated to make.


My friend Heather from Sprinkle Bakes made this corpse bride blue velvet cake with tutorial.
Her talent is astounding. Look at the details!

Love lofthouse style cookies? Ever have them done in a peanut butter version?
Me either.
Head over to Averie Cooks and see how!

Around the Web:

Vegan Nutella?  Why yes please.
Buttermilk chocolate chip crumb cupcakes -- Hello!
Sometimes people are really cruel (be nice to people)
Great smoothie recipe, I tried this but used kale instead of spinach.
Apple cider pancakes--I mean it's Fall right?
What I wish everyone knew about Parkinson's Disease (very informative)
Health benefits of berries. I can attest to this as I do eat 2 cups of berries (raw) 5 days a week
BUT they left out overall body inflammation
The authors that wrote at "standing desks"? (I just loved reading this)
Bicoastal cookie!
Lobmyer experimental sweet factory (art made out of sweets), kind of cool.
Get your toasted pita ready: thai red curry pumpkin hummus
Increase your serotonin with these foods
Waffle baked grilled cheese sandwich
The 2013 Carnegie International Art Museum is open!
You can now make your own Gorditas!
I just love her food blog: creme fraiche, cornmeal & pumpkin coffee cake
Trim your own hair. I am so guilty of doing this the wrong way. Here's the right way.
True Love. (get your Kleenex out)
Power breakfast for your heart. (Love Dr. Weil).
Telekinetic Coffee Shop!
9 items a foodie should always pack while traveling
You should learn more about the MANY health benefits of sea vegetables
Pumpkin donut holes stuffed w/ cream cheese
How to tell if an egg is bad before/after cracking it?
Pumpkin Cake in the shape of a pumpkin (a lot easier than I thought)
11 year old Sean Lew with incredible dance moves and plays it smart by keeping himself in the front of the dance line.
Acorn squash & pecan waffles
How to make cut flowers last
I do this! It has helped my compressed back! The 10-minute morning wake-up sequence
Blocking sugar intake can reduce cancer risk & progression
Lofthouse style pumpkin cookies
Hiker finds over $300,000 worth of treasure in The Alps
Gah!  PizzaCroissants!
Pumpkin snickerdoodle blondies
Pumpkin-browned butter & malt donuts!
8 yoga poses to help with cervical spine & neck issues (already printed these out)
Drive for a cure. God Bless you Steve & Hope Dezember; may you never lose your DRIVE.
I love one-pan easy pasta dishes. This one from Martha.
Tomato-mustard tart (from clotide dusoulier)
Lack of sleep negatively affects weight loss
Pumpkin s'mores bars
What are flavonoids?
How to organize those annoying plastic food containers!
How to deal with people who make your workplace difficult
Malaria vaccine on the way? (let's hope so)
Fall Foliage travel guide (I think this is the peak weekend, right?)
And check out the newest (and funniest) daddy blogger: Daddy Scratches.com (HILARIOUS!)

Massachusetts Residents!
Please help us spread the word about repealing the Mass Gas Tax.
If they get enough signatures we can repeal this.
Did you know that the Mass Gas Tax is set to automatically go up for the next 3 years?
Yes, sad but true. Please visit this website, find out how to add your signature and let's get rid
of this stupid law.
tankthegastax.org

Have a wonderful weekend!

pumpkin bread balls

Pumpkin bread balls.
Why not?
I mean seriously why not.
I do tire of plain pumpkin bread, it gets a little boring.
Having made banana bread balls with huge success, why not pumpkin bread.


The only thing I did differently with the pumpkin bread cake balls is I did not dip them in chocolatesince I'm not a fan of pumpkin and chocolate together.
But if you are a fan of it then go right ahead.
These are really easy to make too; FAR EASIER than cake balls.
Cake balls they fall apart when you roll them and when you dip them in chocolate.
Banana bread balls and pumpkin bread balls are much heartier and can stand up to a chocolate
bath.
I dipped the pumpkin bread balls in a simple glaze, which will not harder BTW because pumpkin bread is very moist, but it gives it a nice layer of sweet.
Then coat in powdered sugar.
If you do want a "crunch" on your pumpkin bread balls then dip then in dark or white chocolate.
These do not keep well the next day; they are a "one day wonder".
Be oh so tasty during that "one day wonder".

Take a perfectly good baked loaf of pumpkin bread, mix with cream cheese, wrap and chill.

A nice pumpkin pie glaze bath.


Taste-testing in progress.  See I look out for you by taste-testing everything (at least 5x).

And a final roll in powdered sugar to make em look fancy.
Next time I make these, I will dip them in chocolate and report back.

pumpkin bread balls
recipe from vanillasugarblog.com
print recipe

1 baked loaf pumpkin bread (8 or 9-inch loaf)
8 ounces of cream cheese, room temp

glaze bath:
2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 TB whole milk
pinch of sea salt
dash or two of pumpkin pie spice
plus extra powdered sugar for dusting, decorative

chocolate bath:
white or dark melted chocolate
chopped nuts or sprinkles for decoration, optional

Cook Notes:
The glaze does NOT harden on the balls because the pumpkin bread is moist.
So after they dried a bit after the glaze dip, I just rolled them in powdered sugar for a nice decorative touch.
They do not keep well the next day; still tasty but very moist.
If you want a "crunchy" coating then dip them in white, milk or dark chocolate.

Once bread is cooled. Crumble it up in a large bowl until you have crumbs—no large chunks should be remaining. Add in the softened cream cheese. Mix well. I used my hands to mix this really well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let set up, harden (I did this overnight--recipe from vanillasugarblog.com). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out 1 or 2 inch balls, roll into fairly uniform balls. If using a medium size ice cream scoop makes it easier then go ahead. Remember you don’t want balls any larger than 2 inches. Once all balls are done, place in fridge to chill.
If you are doing them plain with no chocolate dipping then prepare the glaze. If you are doing chocolate dipping then temper milk, white or dark chocolate. About 2+ cups of milk/dark/white chocolate chips. You might need a bit more. Once chocolate is tempered, using a plastic fork or chopsticks, dip balls into chocolate and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle the balls with the chopped nuts or sprinkles while chocolate is still soft. It takes a while for the chocolate to harden or you can place them in the fridge to speed up the process. They keep covered in air tight container in the fridge for about 3 days. Should make about 25 balls; dependent on the size you roll them.
If you are doing the glaze, in a shallow bowl, mix the powdered sugar with the milk and a pinch of salt.
Mix until well combined.  Dip the balls in the glaze, and place on a wire rack lined with parchment paper. The glaze will not harden because the pumpkin bread is moist. So for decorative purposes, after they were done drying I rolled them in powdered sugar.

pumpkin pancakes

OK so I didn't re-invent the wheel with these pumpkin pancakes.
But I had to share them because they are DELISH.
Had no idea the Trader Joe's buttermilk pancake mix was so tasty.
So I figured why not share?
You all love when I share what's good and what stinks at Trader Joe's...right?

Plus it's one bowl easy.

No recipe really.
I just added in a half of can of plain pumpkin puree for every 1 & 1/2 cups to 2 cups of pancake batter, PLUS a few dashes of pumpkin pie spices, then fry in melted butter baby!
Frying the pancakes in melted butter makes all the difference to me.
And bacon....bacon makes it.
Why yes, that is Trader Joe's black forest bacon.
It's good and fairly cheap.