Pumpkin Palooza

When the temperatures start to cool and the leaves begin to change, I crave anything pumpkin.  I was even eyeballing the first pumpkin pie I saw in the grocery store.  But one staple in my fall recipe arsenal is pumpkin bread.  I have had this recipe since I was pregnant with my oldest son (who turns 13 in November), and it has never failed me.

So, this weekend, I made pumpkin bread, pumpkin mini-muffins and these fun punkalicious cakes.  All from the same recipe, mind you.

I saw a similar look a couple of years ago when we were having a fall party and I had a fun recipe for a pumpkin shaped dessert.  Unfortunately, I drove myself half-insane driving all over town looking for a mini-bundt cake pan.  Much to my dismay, I never found one (I know, can you believe it?), so I never got to make them.

Lo and behold, one of my girlfriends bought me one for Christmas, so I pulled this bad boy out to try it with my pumpkin bread recipe.  I think it turned out really cute, don’t you?  The trick of achieving the pumpkin shape here was trimming off the top of the mini bundt cake (which is actually the bundt cake “bottom” when you turn them out of the pan). 

This is the type of mini bundt pan that I used:

 

I “glued” them together with some Cool Whip, but using cream cheese frosting would be even more delicious.  Then I topped it with some greenery (boxwood from the yard), but a piece of mint or something along those lines, would be even better.

So, here is the recipe for the basic pumpkin bread.  I’ve even made it healthier by substituting the oil with natural applesauce.  I swear, no one will know the difference.  It’s super-moist and delicious.

Wet Ingredients:
3 c. sugar
1 c. natural applesauce (or vegetable oil – trust me, you won’t miss the oil!)
4 eggs
1 c. water
2 c. canned pumpkin

Dry ingredients:
3 1/3 c. flour
1.5 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg

Mix the wet ingredients in one bowl, mix the dry ingredients in another bowl.  Slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing the whole time. 

Bake at 325 degrees:
For mini bundt cakes – 20-25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. 
For mini muffins – 15-20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
Loaf pans – ~1 hour, until center is set and doesn’t “wiggle” anymore.

If making the pumpkin bundt cakes, let them cool and then remove them from the pan.  Trim the “muffin top” off of them to create a flat surface.  Take one cake and spread cream cheese frosting (for link to recipe, click here) or Cool Whip on flat part of the cake.  Then, take a second cake and line it up, flat sides together to form a pumpkin shape.  Top with mint or greenery for pumpkin “stem”. 

Enjoy!  Now go get your pumpkin on!

Jenny

13 Comments

  • Reply
    A Few Pennies
    September 22, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    Yum! This would be sooo good with my coffee right now! Thank you for the recipe–lovely to look at too.

  • Reply
    Pam@OurAdventuresInHomeImprovement
    September 22, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    Very cute! And I'm sure very tasty!

    Thanks for sharing.
    Pam

  • Reply
    Passionate for White
    September 22, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    Almost too cute to eat!

  • Reply
    Andrea
    September 22, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    Yummy! My kids would love these too.

  • Reply
    A Vintage Vine
    September 23, 2011 at 11:41 pm

    What a great idea! This would be fun to make with my daughter! Thanks!

  • Reply
    Carrie
    September 24, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    Adorable! My husband is a pumpkin fiend and would love that. I'm off to find a mini-bundt pan!

    Would you consider linking it to my new linky party, Refresh Your Nest Fridays? My readers would love such a fabulous (and seasonal) recipe!

    http://makinglemonadeblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/refresh-your-nest-friday-2-transition.html

  • Reply
    Kim@todayismysome-day
    September 24, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    Super cute! So glad you got your mini-bundt pan wish 🙂 Saw you at Just a girl blog link party.

  • Reply
    Kristel
    September 25, 2011 at 3:46 am

    Oh, I know what I'm buying tomorrow…a mini bundt cake pan. And the first thing I will bake is pumpkin bread, delicious! If they end up looking like yours, maybe my kids will eat them 🙂 Thanks for the idea!

  • Reply
    Kelly @ View along the way
    September 27, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    That is SOOO CUTE! I have such a weakness for pumpkiny desserts.

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    October 5, 2011 at 9:57 am

    It's so cute cake !

  • Reply
    WhisperWood Cottage
    July 28, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    They look as cute as they do delicious! Thanks for linking up to The "Autumn Décor" Talent Scouting Party at WhisperWood Cottage!

  • Reply
    Blank
    July 14, 2013 at 4:13 am

    I know you posted this forever ago, but hopefully you'll see this comment. I'd love to make this in a large Bundt pan for my son's first birthday. Do you think the edges will get over done before the center is baked through? Would you adjust the baking temp? Thanks so much for your help!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      July 16, 2013 at 4:32 pm

      I think you could make it work in a bundt pan – you would just have to cook it a bit longer – like I did in the loaf pan. It's worth a shot!

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