With Thanksgiving sixteen days away, I'm overjoyed. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! I've already started making plans for the Thanksgiving menu! I wanted to try something a little different this year as far as the desserts go. A pumpkin flavored dish is an essential Thanksgiving favorite, but I wanted to stray away from the traditional pumpkin pie. I decided to get creative and was consumed with the idea of making pumpkin cake bites! I tried the recipe this weekend and my family loved them! The cake bites weren't messy so I could carry them along with me to family members' houses without worries. They're very easy to travel with, perfect for those who are going away for Thanksgiving and want to bring along a dish! I hope you enjoy!
Pumpkin Cake:
-2 cups of cake flour
-1/2 cup of sugar
-1/2 tsp. of baking powder
-1/2 tsp. of baking soda
-1/2 tsp. of salt
-1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
-1/2 tsp. of nutmeg
-1/2 tsp. of ginger
-1 cup of pumpkin puree
-1/2 cup of buttermilk
-1 egg
-2 tbsp. of vegetable oil
Cream Cheese Frosting:
-12 oz. of room temperature cream cheese
-6 tbsp. of butter
-1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
-1 cup of sifted confectioners' sugar
Coating:
-6-8 bars of white chocolate ( I used Ghirardelli.)
I included pictures as I made the cake bites to be as clear as possible. I hope the visual aid is helpful!
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Combine the dry ingredients for the pumpkin cake.
Mix well.
Whisk the buttermilk, egg, and oil.
Whisk the pumpkin in with the wet ingredients.
Fold the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients.
Be careful not the overmix.
Transfer the batter to the cake pan of your choice.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.
After cake has cooled, transfer cake to a large bowl.
Crumble cake. ( I used my hands.)
Add *cream cheese frosting( see bottom of page.)
Work the frosting into the cake crumbles, distribute frosting evenly.
Form cake mixture into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator for an hour or until bites are firm.
Chop chocolate into small squares and place in a metal, heatproof bowl over simmering water.
Stir chocolate until it's melted and smooth.
Place the cake bite into the chocolate and roll over until the cake bite is covered in chocolate.
After the cake bite is covered, place in regular cupcake holders and let cool.
Decorate with festive candy! Enjoy!
*Cream Cheese Frosting:
1) In a bowl with an electric mixture, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.
2) Gradually beat in sifted confectioners' sugar.
3) Continue to beat until the sugar is incorporated and the frosting is light and fluffy.
