Tag Archives: pumpkin puree

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Cake 

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For Thanksgiving this year, I want to make something that I haven’t made before and is easy to put together. So I made this Pumpkin Cake ! I kept it light by using vegetable oil in the batter and just a small amount of butter in the frosting. I figured everyone might be running out of stomach space after a hearty turkey meal ! The maple walnuts are optional, but they are REALLY good and make the cake a lot more flavourful ! My daughter is usually my taste tester, but this time I got my mom to try it …..and she ate 2 big pieces of it, I guess that means it’s approved ! Happy Thanksgiving !

Makes one 8-inch square cake

For the cake 

  • 150 g canned or homemade pumpkin puree 
  • 200 g cake and pastry flour
  • 3 g baking powder
  • 3 g baking soda
  • 2 g salt
  • 5 g ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of ground cloves
  • 100 g granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 90 mL vegetable oil
  • 90 mL buttermilk
  • 5 mL pure vanilla extract 

For the frosting 

  • 250 g cream cheese, softened
  • 60 g unsalted butter, softened
  • 100 g icing sugar, sifted
  • 2.5 mL pure vanilla extract 

Optional toppings

Mix about 60 g walnuts with a tablespoon of maple syrup and toast in a 350°F oven for about 8 minutes.

  1. To make the cake, preheat oven to 350ºF
  2. Line bottom of baking tray with parchment paper, lightly grease and flour the sides
  3. In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking power, baking soda, salt and spices
  4. Mix in sugar
  5. In another bowl, mix together eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla
  6. Add wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mix until just blended
  7. Fold in pumpkin puree
  8. Pour into baking tray and bake for about 25-30 minutes, let cool 
  9. Evenly trim off top and sides with a serrated knife 
  10. To make the frosting, beat together cream cheese and butter until creamy
  11. Add icing sugar and vanilla, beat until smooth
  12. Spread over top of cake
  13. Top with toasted walnuts if desired 
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

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Pumpkin is very nutritious and healthy. It is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and fibre. And best of all, it is low in calories ! So….I have an excuse to add more chocolate chips in this recipe ! Wow ! My kitchen smells so good today with these delicious muffins…..

Makes about 12-14 muffins

  • 1+1/2 cup cake and pastry flour
  • 1+1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • pinch of cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 8 oz pumpkin puree,preferably homemade
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and the four spices Mix in brown sugar
  3. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, butter and pumpkin, mix until just blended
  4. Add chocolate chips
  5. Spoon into muffin tins lined with slightly greased paper muffin cups
  6. Bake for about 20 minutes

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

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There are so many recipes you can do with pumpkins, sweet or savory. They are not only for carving and making jack-o’-lantern ! Freshly made pumpkin puree tastes much better than canned and it costs less.  Use it to make your muffins, pies, cheesecakes, soup, etc.  You can also save the seeds and roast them with olive oil and salt for a healthy treat !

Makes about 2-3 cups puree

  • Two medium-sized pumpkins
  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF
  2. Wash pumpkins, cut stems off, scrape out seeds and fibre
  3. Cut pumpkins into large pieces
  4. Bake on baking sheets lined with parchment paper for about 45 minutes until fork-tender
  5. Remove skin, puree with blender

It can be stored in the fridge for up to one week.