Moist Pumpkin Cake With Browned Butter Glaze

Super moist pumpkin cake the has BUTTER , real butter and the taste is oh so beyond this world.This is not just another pumpkin cake, it is so delicious, it is every butter fan dream. Gorgeous, soft, spiced and mildly sweet.

When it comes to pumpkin desserts, I only know that one and only pumpkin bechamel that I’ve made twice on this blog. This Egyptian and probably Middle Eastern classic is the only pumpkin dessert that we used to know in the region. I hated pumpkins when I was young and refused to taste that dish, of course this was all in the past, now that I am a grown up girl who loved her dessert to the fullest and would not say no to ANY 🍪 🍰.

I love brown butter, I will tell you a secret and I hope you’ll not hate me for it. When making ghee out of butter, you know these little brown things that is usually there at the bottom of the pan, Do Not Discard pleaaaaase. These smell like heaven and tastes even better than it smells. My mom, used to add some salt to these and we keep them in a jar, in Egypt these are called ” Morta” , I guess not many people know it.

So what do we do with these arteries clogging jars?, you ask. Well, we eat them, use them as a sandwich spread, use them as a dip …. and the list goes on. This is one of the main reason I try not to make ghee at home, really I will not be able to throw away these stuff, it will be a disgrace to the family hehehe.

I know you’ve probably seen hundreds of pumpkin cakes already, it is all over pinterest anyways. But seriously, you need to try this recipe. By using brown butter, you will easily transform an ordinary pumpkin cake into something that makes you want to lick the baking pan😋.

To be honest, this cake itself is nothing special, you know that creaming of butter and sugar, adding flour, baking powder, buttermilk, eggs, pumpkin puree and a few other spices, pop in the oven to bake. Brown butter makes it buttertastic by all means. I am hooked, I will probably bake with only brown butter from now on.

Enough babbling and let’s start,

We’ll brown the butter first, so heat the butter gently over low heat in a light until it has melted completely.

The butter will start to bubble and splatter, keep stirring or swirling the pan. Make sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the pan to prevent burning. Continue cooking on low until the butter is dark golden brown and has a delicious nutty aroma.

Pour the brown butter in a heat proof bowl then place in an ice bath to harden a bit.

In a deep bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cinnamon.

In another bowl, combine buttermilk and pumpkin puree.

By this time, you’ll notice that the butter got hardened but still soft not in a liquid form.

Cream the butter in your mixer bowl, then add sugars and cream once more.

Then comes the eggs one at a time then gradually add the flour mix.

Then the pumpkin mixture…….

And mix all these ingredients together.

Pour into a 13×9 oven pan lined with parchment paper, level the surface and try not to lick the spatula.

Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Leave the cake in the pan for 10 minutes then transfer into a cooling rack.

Make the toasted pecans by melting the butter, then toast the pecan, add the brown sugar and some salt.

Make the nutty buttery awesome browned butter glaze by browning the butter as before then adding all the ingredients, stir quickly over low flame until it bubbles and thickens.
Pour the sauce over when cooled and sprinkle a generous amount of toasted pecans on top.

Sweet and moist but it also packs a toasty, nutty punch. It is amazing how simply changing one ingredient elevates the flavor that much. You need this cake in your life, trust me. Do not be intimidated by the many steps of this cake, the resulting cake worth your time. 

I hope you’ll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!

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Pumpkin Cake With Browned Butter Glaze.

Moist, lightly spiced, nutty and so buttery pumpkin cake.

Course: Dessert

Author: Amira

Ingredients

• Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 3/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter.
• 2 1/3 cup AP flour.
• 1 teaspoon baking powder.
• 2 teaspoon baking soda.
• 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon.*
• 1 cup white sugar.
• 2/3 cup brown sugar.
• 4 eggs.
• 15 oz can pure pumpkin puree.
• 1/2 cup buttermilk.

For salted toasted pecan:

• 1/2 cup pecans coarsely chopped.
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar.
• 1 Tablespoon salted butter **.

For the browned butter glaze:

• 6 Tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar.
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. In a light colored saucepan over low heat , add butter .Butter will melt, then foam , then the foam will start to go away. keep stirring frequently.
2. Brown flecks will start to form at the bottom. Once they're golden brown , and the butter smells nutty, remove pan from the heat.
3. Pour it into a heatproof bowl.
4. Set the bowl in an ice water bath until the butter begins to set around the edge, about 15 minutes.

Make the cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Remove the bowl from the ice water and scrape up the hardened butter. Transfer the butter to the bowl of a standing mixer beat until creamy.
4. Add sugars and cream, add eggs one at a time.
5. Gradually add flour mixture and mix well.
6. In another medium bowl, combine together the pumpkin puree and buttermilk.
7. Stir in the pumpkin mixture until well combined.
8. Pour the batter in a 13x9 baking pan lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes. When done take it out leave it in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer the cake to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile make the glaze:

1. In a small light colored saucepan, melt butter over low heat as before and wait for it to turn golden brown.
2. Remove pan from heat add sugar and heavy cream, stirring with a whisk.
3. Return the pan to the stovetop and stir for another 3-4minute or so until the sugar is dissolved completely and the mixture thickens a bit.
4. Let the sauce cool down for about 20 minutes.

Make the toasted pecan:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter then add pecans, stir until starting to toast.
2. Add sugar and stir until sugar starts to caramelizes coating all pecans.
3. Pour sauce over cake and sprinkle with pecans.
4. Enjoy!!

Recipe Notes

* You might also use ground ginger, cloves and or nutmeg.

** You can use unsalted butter with a dash of salt.

Inspired from Sweet Potato Cake

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Pumpkin Jam