Warm Pumpkin Cake

prep time:: 20 min
total time:: 1 hr 20 minutes

Makes 6 servings

Tom Fundaro of Villa Creek Restaurant asked his pastry chef Susan Masch for a pumpkin dessert that “wasn’t the ubiquitous crème brulée.” Masch came up with this riff on a traditional English steamed pudding. Warm, soft, spicy, and simple, it may be one of the best pumpkin desserts you’ll ever eat.

ingredients

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/8 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened canned pumpkin puree
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 Medjool dates, finely chopped
vanilla ice cream, for serving

directions

1
Butter a 2-quart soufflé mold. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking power, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time. In a small bowl, mix the pumpkin puree with the lemon juice, then beat into the egg mixture. Add the dry ingredients and dates and beat slowly until blended. Scrape the batter into the prepared mold and smooth the top.
2
Cover the soufflé dish with a sheet of buttered foil, seal and transfer to a large, enameled cast-iron casserole. Pour enough hot water into the casserole to reach halfway up the side of the mold and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over moderately low heat until the cake is set, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove the dish from the casserole and let cool for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and spoon the cake onto plates. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Source: FW