Rich chocolate meets warm pumpkin spice in this beautifully moist Bundt cake. It’s the perfect dessert for cooler weather, special occasions, or when you just want something a little extra.
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It seems rather fitting that as I write this post, my last Nutella scroll is defrosting on the bench for my morning tea - fitting because it was the recipe I made up for last month's Secret Recipe Club.
My final assignment of the year was Crumb Blog - written by Isabelle - a bargain hunting, cookbook collecting, self-taught cook. Sounds like we would get along rather well don't you think?
For the first time, I didn't take me long to settle on a recipe once I saw chocolate spiced pumpkin bundt cake.
You might also like my best ever chocolate mud cake recipe.
I saw the word 'bundt' and I was sold - another recipe for my new tin! I've had some pumpkin puree in the freezer waiting for the perfect recipe and this was most definitely it.
Instead of the pumpkin icing Isabelle used, I decided to go for a tiger-stripe of colour to jazz it up a little because to me, bundt cakes must have drizzle.
I made it on a Monday to take to a girly lunch the following day, hence why there are no slice photos.
Later that night, I got a text from the host of the lunch saying she wasn't well and she'd have to cancel. Oh dear - Claire left with an entire chocolate cake. The message arrived right when I was thinking about dessert, so yes, I cut myself a slice. It was heavenly.
It must have been the pumpkin that made it so moist and dense and the combination of spices and chocolate warmed my heart.
I had to package some up right away to give my grandma because I knew it would be dangerous to have the whole thing sitting on the bench with my pregnant sweet tooth lurking.
My mouth is actually starting to water thinking about the flavour of this beauty.
You can't actually taste the pumpkin, it's more like a spiced chocolate cake with an amazingly soft texture.
If you wanted to make it for Christmas just leave out the pumpkin icing and go crazy with chocolate and white.
You could even tint a third icing red for a very festive look. Ooh or red, white and green. However you choose to ice it, if you're a chocolate cake lover you will love this. Enjoy!
Recipe
Chocolate spiced pumpkin bundt cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1¾ cups plain all purpose flour
- 1 cup caster superfine sugar
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 1½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk I used milk with a little lemon juice
- 450 g 15 oz pumpkin puree (reserve 1 tablespoon for icing)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 free-range egg
- 1 free-range egg white
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup light corn syrup I used glucose syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Drizzle
- 1 cup icing confectioner's sugar
- 1 teaspoon cocoa
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree
- Water
- Icing sugar to dust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160C (350F) fan-forced.
- Generously butter a bundt tin, then dust it with flour, tapping to shake out the excess. I found it easier to sift the flour onto the tin.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt.
- In a second bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, pumpkin and brown sugar until smooth then whisk in the whole egg and the egg white.
- Finally, add the oil, corn syrup and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Make a well in the dry ingredients and carefully fold in the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Spread the batter into the tin and smooth out the top.
- Bake the cake for 1h to 1 hour 15 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Leave it to rest in the tin for 15 minutes and then cross your fingers and turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the drizzles, divide the icing sugar into three bowls.
- To one, add the cocoa and to another add the pumpkin puree.
- Add just enough water to each one to make it into a drizzle then when the cake is cool, drizzle them over the top and leave them to set.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
You're right, bundt cakes must have drizzle. Love that you added two to this scrumptious cake.
Claire says
They must indeed!
Kate | Food Babbles says
Oh my goodness! This looks ridiculously good! I need this in my life. WOW!
Danielle says
You have definitely convinced me on the bundt tins. Beautiful cake and photos!
Claire says
Thanks Danielle!
The Life of Clare says
It's beautiful! I love pumpkin in all baking I've decided!
Claire says
Me too Clare!
Jessica says
Oh. my. word. That is a gorgeous cake. LOVE these pictures, Claire - in the second one, it looks like it's snowing icing sugar! This looks fantastic!
Claire says
Thanks Jess! I could have taken photos of it for hours!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
What a gorgeous cake, Claire! You've done her proud x 2!
Claire says
Thanks Maureen x2
erin @ she cooks, she gardens says
I love the way pumpkin adds a lovely density and sweetness to baking, I really should use more of it. Love the tiger stripes, too! :)
Claire says
It does doesn't it? Everything that I've baked it in I've loved.
PolaM says
I recently made a chocolate chip and pumpkin cake and it surprised me how well chocolate and pumpkin went together! Have to try this now!
Claire says
Aren't they great?
LeAndra says
This is a beautiful cake! I love the tiger stripe drizzle. It sounds absolutely delicious too.
Claire says
Thanks LeAndra!
chitchatchomp says
Your photos and that amazing cake look absolutely amazing Claire!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
How gorgeous are those stripey drips? And you two were perfectly blog matched! :D
Claire says
I rather liked them :-)
Anna says
This is so pretty. I love the drizzle. The flavors all sound so wonderful!
Jane, The Heritage Cook says
This sounds heavenly and will probably make an appearance in one form or another (with proper attribution of course) on an upcoming Chocolate Monday! Your photos are incredibly lovely ~ especially your attention to the depth of field!
Claire says
Thanks Jane! Chocolate Monday is such a wonderful idea Jane.
sara says
This looks SO yummy - what an awesome cake!
Isabelle @ Crumb says
Great pick! I love the change-up with the frosting, especially the addition of the chocolate drizzle. I could totally go for a slice of that right about now.
Funny enough, I first made this recipe for an SRC reveal... it's kind of like the gift that just keeps on giving. :)
Claire says
Haha yes I did notice that but by then I already had my heart set on making it. Thanks for the recipe Isabelle!
Lesa @ Edesia's Notebook says
Oh my goodness, how beautiful! I love your tiger stripes! Too bad your event got cancelled, but good for your grandma!
Claire says
Good for me too Lesa!
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
this looks amazing-- the photos are gorgeous!
Claire says
Thanks Elizabeth!
Amanda E says
These cake looks delicious - and those tiger stripes are perfection! Looking for a cake to serve for guests on New Years and this is totally going on the short list, perfect holiday dish without being overpowering. Great SRC pick :-)
Claire says
Thanks Amanda! Hope it makes it off the shortlist into mouths!
angela@spinachtiger says
Well, those ladies sure missed out. I would be in danger having that sit around my house too. You did such a nice job decorating it.
Claire says
I think I ate enough for them too!
Hotly Spiced says
I love all the spices in this cake - very festive! It looks festive too. And I've always found that adding a vegetable to a cake will help it be moist xx
Claire says
Makes it health too right? x
Lisa the Gourmet Wog says
omg Claire that looks absolutely amazing! Love the photos too, very well decorated :)
Claire says
Thanks Lisa!
Sweet as Sugar Cookies says
I just love how you did the drizzle on your cake. So elegant. Too bad the other girls couldn't get to have a taste too.
Claire says
Might just be an excuse to make it again!
Camilla @ Culinary Adventures says
Funny. You were assigned Isabelle's Crumb. Isabelle was assigned to my blog...and I was assigned to you. I was inspired by your chocolate-olive biscotti. I made a chocolate-kalamata cantucci. Thanks for the inspiration! http://culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com/2013/12/chocolate-kalamata-cantucci-src-reveal.html
Claire says
What a coincidence! You're very welcome.