This Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake Will Satisfy Your Sweet and Spiced Fall Dessert Cravings: Simple Recipe
Researchers share why pumpkin spice treats, such this cake, are so popular during fall!
The sweet and spiced flavor of a pumpkin spice latte isn’t only meant to be enjoyed as a drink. You can make pumpkin spice latte cake using warming spices, instant espresso and other baking staples. It’s a baked treat that’s tasty, fluffy and full of fall goodness. Bring it to your next fall gathering or simply savor it with a cup of coffee for an afternoon snack. Here’s more on delicious cake, including a recipe and some insight into why pumpkin spice latte remains a fan-favorite every fall!
What is pumpkin spice latte cake?
This cake contains baking staples such as pumpkin pie spice, eggs, canned pumpkin, butter and flour. Once baked, many recipes call for topping the cake with an espresso-infused frosting—giving it the latte touch. The cake’s rich, spiced taste makes it worth going back for a second slice (or even a third).
Why are people obsessed with pumpkin spice foods and drinks?
It seems like everything’s getting the pumpkin spice treatment, from hot chocolate to Dolly Parton’s very own cookie mix. Well, according to researchers, there’s a reason why the demand for all things pumpkin spice only grows each fall. “Pumpkin spice aromas emerge in the fall in shops and cafes, coinciding with the arrival of colorful leaves, family gatherings, and back-to-school bustle,” Jason Fischer, assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University, tells the university’s arts and sciences magazine. “The association that the smell has with the season in our memories allows it to powerfully evoke the refreshing feelings of fall.”
Even without containing any actual pumpkin, Sarah Cormiea, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania Neurology, says our imagination does the work to make sure we don’t miss out on the deliciousness. “We can vividly experience it nonetheless. Our minds are very good at filling in missing details, guided by the associations that smells have in memory,” she explains. Overall, the pumpkin spice craze is here to stay—which gives you a reason to use it for sweet treats, including pumpkin spice latte cake.
A simple pumpkin spice latte cake recipe
This Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake recipe is from coffee blogger Ethan Rode (@Ethanrodecoffee). It’s similar to sheet cake in that it’s baked in a square pan, which makes frosting a breeze. Looks like your fall dessert spread just got a whole lot tastier thanks to this cake!
Pumpkin Spice Cake with Espresso Icing
Ingredients:
For the pumpkin cake:
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- Oil or nonstick spray, for greasing
For the icing:
- 5 oz. cream cheese, slightly softened
- 6 Tbs. unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
Directions:
- Yield: 9 servings
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease 8-by-8-inch baking pan with oil or nonstick spray
- In large bowl, whisk together canned pumpkin, eggs, sugar, brown sugar, melted butter and Greek yogurt or sour cream. Add flour, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and baking soda and continue whisking until just combined. Pour into greased baking pan.
- Bake about 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- To make the frosting: Beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and espresso powder and gradually add powdered sugar. Once fully mixed, spread frosting onto cake. Slice into 9 even squares and serve.
- Note: Store cake in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days.
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