Pumpkin Pie – Juicy, aromatic and irresistible

Calories, Effort & Difficulty Level

• Calories per piece (for 12 pieces): approx. 280 kcal
• Preparation time: approx. 30 minutes
• Total time: approx. 1 hour 15 minutes
• Difficulty level: Easy

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 300 g pumpkin puree (e.g., from Hokkaido or Butternut)
• 200 g sugar
• 150 ml neutral vegetable oil (e.g., sunflower oil)
• 3 eggs (size M)
• 200 g flour (type 405)
• 100 g ground almonds or hazelnuts
• 1 packet baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 1 pinch salt

For the glaze (optional):

• 100 g cream cheese
• 50 g powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp cream

Preparation

1. Prepare pumpkin puree

1. Peel the pumpkin (Hokkaido can be used with the skin), remove the seeds, and cut into small cubes.
2. Cook the pumpkin cubes in a pot with a little water for about 15 minutes until soft, then drain and puree.
3. Let the pumpkin puree cool completely.

2. Prepare the dough

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (top/bottom heat) or 160 °C (fan oven).
2. In a large bowl, cream together sugar, oil, and eggs with a hand mixer or whisk.
3. Fold the cooled pumpkin puree into the mixture.
4. In a separate bowl, mix flour, almonds, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir until smooth.

3. Bake the cake

1. Grease a springform pan (approx. 24 cm in diameter) and line the bottom with baking paper.
2. Pour the dough into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
3. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes. Check if the cake is done with a wooden skewer (skewer test: no batter should stick to it).
4. Remove the pumpkin cake from the oven, let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, and then let it cool completely on a wire rack.

4. Prepare the glaze (optional)

1. In a bowl, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and cream until smooth.
2. Spread the glaze over the cooled cake and sprinkle with chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds, or cinnamon as desired.

Pro Tips for the Perfect Pumpkin Cake

1. Perfect pumpkin puree:
   Use Hokkaido pumpkin for a particularly creamy puree. For a more intense color and flavor, bake the pumpkin instead of boiling it.
2. Do not overmix the dough:
   To achieve a light cake, mix the ingredients only until the dough is homogeneous.
3. Custom spice blend:
   Experiment with additional spices like ginger, cardamom, or cloves for a personal touch.
4. Glaze alternatives:
   Instead of cream cheese glaze, you can dust the cake with powdered sugar or coat it with chocolate.
5. Storage:
   The pumpkin cake stays particularly moist when wrapped in cling film and stored in a cool place.

Ingredient Knowledge: Ingredients in Focus

Pumpkin

• Properties: Hokkaido and Butternut pumpkins are particularly aromatic and excellent for puree.
• Nutrients: Rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and fiber.

Almonds or Hazelnuts

• Function: Add a nutty note and pleasant texture to the cake.

Spices

• Cinnamon and nutmeg: Bring a warm, autumnal note to the cake.

What Can Go Wrong – and How to Fix It?

1. Cake is not moist:

   • Cause: The pumpkin puree was too dry.
   • Solution: Make the puree creamier before using it by adding a splash of water or milk.

2. Cake collapses:

   • Cause: Oven door opened too early or dough mixed too vigorously.
   • Solution: Open the oven door only after 30 minutes of baking time and stir the dough only briefly.

3. Cake is not baked through:

   • Cause: Temperature too low or baking time too short.
   • Solution: Check the baking temperature and perform the skewer test.

Why Love This Recipe?

This pumpkin cake is not only moist and aromatic but also wonderfully versatile. Whether plain, with glaze, or slightly modified – it is the perfect companion for autumn afternoons or as a sweet ending to a festive meal.

Interactive Conclusion

Have you tried the pumpkin cake? How did you enhance it? Share your ideas and results in the comments – our cooking expert looks forward to your feedback!