Pumpkin-pecan Layer Cake With Ginger-cream Cheese Frosting

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1.5 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened (12 oz. total)
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. add pumpkin, beating until blended.
• 2 combine flour and next 4 ingredients. combine buttermilk, vanilla, and ginger. add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with gingered buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. beat at low speed after each addition. fold in chopped pecans.
• 3 pour batter into 2 greased, parchment paper-lined 9-inch round cakepans.
• 4 bake at 350 degrees for 18 - 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
• 5 spread ginger-cream cheese frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. cover and chill overnight.
• 6 ginger-cream cheese frosting (ingredients above): beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. add vanilla, beating until smooth. chill 30 minutes or until spreading consistency. yield: 2 1/4 cups.