Pumpkin Chocolate Dessert Cake

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

This pumpkin chocolate dessert cake recipe yields a moist sponge cake and an exceptionally creamy frosting. It's the perfect treat for colder seasons.

Ingredients

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup butter
3 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup applesauce
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9-inch fluted tube pan (such as Bundt).
2 Whisk flour, cocoa powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl. Beat white sugar, ¾ cup butter, eggs, and applesauce together in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; beat in pumpkin and ½ cup heavy cream. Stir applesauce-pumpkin mixture into flour mixture until blended; transfer to the prepared pan.
3 Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate.
4 Meanwhile, bring brown sugar, remaining ½ cup butter, and ⅓ cup heavy cream to a boil in a medium saucepan; cook and stir until combined, smooth, and sugar is dissolved. Whisk in confectioner's sugar; immediately drizzle over cake.