Mrs. Brandybuck's Pumpkin Spice Cake

For the Cake

• 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2½ tsp baking powder
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• 1½ Tbsp pumpkin pie spice see note
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 15-oz. can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Frosting

• 16 oz. cream cheese room temperature
• 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ Tbsp cinnamon
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup pecan halves lightly toasted

Instructions

For the Cake

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Lightly grease (3) 8” round cake pans. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper; set pans aside.
• Using a medium mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt; stir until well combined. Set bowl aside.
• Using a countertop mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes on medium speed).
• Add eggs in 2 additions, mixing fully after each addition.
• Add half of the dry ingredients; stir until just combined.
• Add vegetable oil, pumpkin puree, milk and vanilla extract; stir until just combined.
• Add remaining flour; stir until just combined. (Tip: Don’t forget to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.)
• Divide batter evenly between 3 prepared cake pans.
• Bake 30-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean.
• Let cakes cool completely in pans.

For the Frosting

• Using an electric mixer, add the cream cheese and butter; mix on medium speed until well combined.
• Add brown sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon; mix until well combined.
• Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time; mixing well after each addition. (Note: If frosting is too thin, add an additional ½ cup of powdered sugar. If too thick, add ½ Tbsp of milk.)

To Assemble

• Place one layer of cake on large platter. Spread ~1 cup of frosting on top.
• Repeat with 2nd and 3rd layers of cake.
• Use remaining frosting on top and sides of cake.
• Top cake with lightly toasted pecans.
  Source: Spiced