Homemade and piled high, this 4 layer Chocolate Pumpkin Cake will be the hit of your holiday dessert table. Crafted with contrasting layers of chocolate and pumpkin, this cream cheese frosted cake is perfect for fall.
1/3cupunsweetened cocoa powderplus more for dusting baking pan
1tbspblack cocoa powder(optional for color)
3/4tspbaking soda
1/2tspespresso powder(optional for flavor)
1/4tspsea saltfine
1/3cupolive oilextra virgin
1cupgranulated sugar
1large eggroom temperature
1/2cupbuttermilkroom temperature
1tspvanilla extractpure
Pumpkin Cake
1cupall-purpose flour, unbleachedplus more for dusting baking pan
1tspground cinnamon
1tsppumpkin pie spice
1/2tspbaking powder
1/2tspbaking soda
1/4tspsea saltfine
1/2cupolive oilextra virgin
1/2cupdark brown sugarpacked
1cuppumpkin puree
2large eggsroom temperature
1tspvanilla extractpure
Cream Cheese Frosting
12ouncesfull fat cream cheesesoftened to room temperature
1cupunsalted buttersoftened to room temperature
3cupspowdered sugarpacked
2tspvanilla extractpure
2tbsppumpkin butter
1tbspchocolate chipsmelted and cooled
Instructions
Chocolate Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch cake pan with butter then dust pan with cocoa powder. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, both cocoa powders, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt. Set aside
In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, egg, buttermilk and vanilla until combined.
Add dry ingredients to wet then stir with a spoon until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
Pour batter into baking pan, level the top with a spatula then bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Avoid overbaking.
Place cake pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Pumpkin Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of an 8-inch cake pan. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside
In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, brown sugar, pumpkin, eggs and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients to wet then stir with a spoon until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
Pour batter into baking pan, level the top with a spatula then bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Avoid overbaking.
Place cake pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy – approximately 2 minutes.
Add butter and continue beating until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
Reduce mixer speed to low then add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat on low until combined then beat on high until light and fluffy.
Assembly
After cakes have cooled completely, turn them out from their pans then level tops with a cake leveler or serrated knife.
Next, cut each cake in half horizontally (keeping the layers an even thickness).
Gently cover each layer with plastic wrap then place in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes. Note: This step helps keep your frosting free of cake crumbs.
After layers have chilled, gently remove plastic wrap and place 1 chocolate cake layer on a cake stand then frost top with cream cheese frosting. Stack a pumpkin cake layer onto the chocolate, frost the top of the pumpkin layer then repeat the stacking and frosting process for the remaining 2 cake layers.
If desired, dollop pumpkin butter and melted chocolate onto top layer of frosting then swirl into the cream cheese with a spoon.
Store
Cover and store leftover cake in the refrigerator up to 5 days.