Pumpkin Cake with Spiced Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

one 15 oz can of pure pumpkin
1 cup of Crisco oil
4 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups of flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 tsp. ground cinnamon, plus extra for dusting
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract, Nielsen - Massey™ Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp. salt
{optional additions: chopped Walnuts, confectionery sugars, dusting sugars, sprinkles}

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, place eggs, Crisco oil, pumpkin and sugar. Beat at a medium speed until blended together. Add in the remaining ingredients until blended together. In a prepared 9 x 13 inch baking pan, greased or lightly sprayed with Pam and floured, evenly distribute the batter. Dust the top of the batter with additional cinnamon. Add chopped nuts and decorative sugars or sprinkles if desired.

Bake for 30 minutes. When a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake is removed clean of batter, the cake is ready. Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool.

This recipe if very versatile and adapts well to almost any type of baking container. Place batter to the one half mark of the pan for a high rising effect or to the one-third mark of the pan for a lower effect. Adjust your timing accordingly to the size of the pan, the climate and altitude of where you live and type of oven you use. {Approx. 8 to 12 minutes for mini and small pans and 30 to 45 minutes for larger, dense pans.}

Spiced whipped cream is a welcome accompaniment.

Spiced Whipping Cream :

1 cup whipping {heavy} cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tsp. Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder or Paste
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Beat whipping cream in chilled small bowl on high speed until soft peaks form.
Slowly beat in sugar, Vanilla powder, orange peel and cinnamon until stiff peaks form.

ELLEN EASTON, author of AFTERNOON TEA...TIPS,TERMS and TRADITIONS, etiquette, lifestyle and tea consultant to leading hotels and tearooms, including The PLAZA and LADY MENDL’s, is a speaker and designer of related products to the hotel, food service, retail and special event industries. (212) 722-7981