Pumpkin Hummingbird Cake

Pumpkin Hummingbird Cake with Maple Buttercream

Ingredients:

For the Cake:
Unsalted butter, for greasing
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup pecan pieces
1/2 can of pumpkin puree
1/2 cup crushed pineapple (about half a can), drained
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup canola oil

For the maple buttercream frosting:
6 sticks butter, room temperature
1 package cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup

Preparation:

Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 6-inch round cake pans and dust with flour.  Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake until fragrant and toasted, about 8 minutes. Let cool slightly, then roughly chop. Add the pumpkin puree and the crushed pineapple and mix well.

- Whisk the flour, the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Beat the eggs and granulated sugar in a separate bowl with a mixer on high speed until thick and light, 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the vegetable oil.  Sprinkle the flour mixture over the egg mixture, then gently fold to make a thick batter. Fold in the pecan-fruit mixture, then transfer the batter to the prepared pans.

- Bake until the cakes are firm and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool in the pans on a rack and then invert the cakes onto the rack to cool completely.

Make the buttercream: Beat the butter in your electric mixer on medium high speed for about 5 minutes. Add the maple syrup and keep whisking. Scrape down sides if necessary. Add the cream cheese and the powdered sugar and keep beating for at least 5 minutes, or until buttercream has desired consistency.

- Once the cakes are cooled down completely (preferably over night), cut the tops off and cut each cake in 2 layers. Assemble and frost the cake and decorate with chopped pecans, if desired.