CINNAMON-NUT SWIRLED PUMPKIN BUNDT CAKE

This Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Pound Cake recipe is a moist, tender pumpkin bundt cake with a cinnamon swirl throughout the middle.

FOR THE CINNAMON NUT SWIRL:
2 oz pecans, (1/2 cup), toasted
2 Tab white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

FOR THE PUMPKIN POUND CAKE:

15 oz canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) - nearly 2 cups home-cooked
.5 c buttermilk or Greek yoghurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2.25 c plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb
1 Tab ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger 
.5 tsp each of nutmeg and allspice
.75 c unsalted butter, at room temperature
.75 c white sugar
.5 c brown sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature

FOR DECAF FROSTING:

TO MAKE THE PUMPKIN POUND CAKE:
1.  Preheat the oven to 160°C FF. Generously grease a bundt pan and dust it with flour, then tap out the excess flour. Toast the pecans.

2.  Combine ingredients for the cinnamon swirl in a food processor and process them until they’re in fine crumbs. Set aside for now.

3.  Whisk together the pumpkin, buttermilk and vanilla in a small bowl. In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, bicarb, salt, and spices.

4.  Combine the butter and both sugars in the bowl of a large mixer fitted with a paddle attach- ment. Beat on medium-med-high speed til light and fluffy: about 3-5 mins. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Turn the mixer speed to low and add a third of the flour. When that’s almost mixed in, add half of the pumpkin mixture. Continue to alternate adding wets and drys, ending with the dry ingredients. When just a few streaks of flour remain, turn the mixer off and finish mixing by hand, scraping down the bottom and sides with a rubber spatula.

5.  Spoon about a third of the batter into the bundt pan and smooth it out. Add half of the cinnamon swirl mix, then top with more batter. Add the rest of the cinnamon mix, and finish by spreading the rest of the batter on top. Bake cake about 45 mins, until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool on a rack 15 minutes, then invert out of pan and cool completely before frosting.

🎂 CAKE STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
If you make the cake ahead of time, don’t glaze it until shortly before you are ready to serve it (within a few hours is best). Without the glaze on top, you can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

You can also freeze an unglazed cake for up to 2 months in the freezer. When you want to serve it, allow it to come up to room temperature and glaze it before serving.

If the cake is already glazed, store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, or up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Note that the glaze might weep or liquify over time.

 

 

Roast pumpkin salad with lentils and honey-miso dressing

This big salad is perfect for spring dinners, picnics and barbecues

Ingredients
For the salad:
1 small (about 1kg) butternut pumpkin, peeled and cut into wedges
Extra virgin olive oil
6-8 thyme sprigs
2 French shallots, finely sliced
1 heaped Tab honey
3/4 cup (150g) Puy lentils, rinsed
1 clove garlic, skin removed
1 cup chopped soft herbs (such as parsley, coriander, chives, dill)
Handful of microgreens, sprouts or baby rocket to serve
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

For the honey-miso dressing:
1 heaped Tab mild miso
3 heaped tsp runny honey
1 clove garlic, grated
1cm piece ginger, peeled and grated
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp water
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

1. Preheat oven to 190˚C.

2. Place pumpkin onto large baking tray. Drizzle with oil, season and scatter with thyme sprigs. Roast for 15 minutes then remove from oven, turn pumpkin pieces over & drizzle with honey. Scatter the shallots over the pumpkin with another drizzle of oil. Return to oven, roast 15-20 mins more until pumpkin is tender. Remove from oven and season with sea salt.

3. Meanwhile, add the lentils & garlic clove to a large pot of salted water. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 15-20 minutes until lentils are just tender. Drain, and if garlic clove has not disintegrated, mash it up with the back of a fork and fold it through the lentils.
While still warm add the herbs, drizzle with a touch more oil, season & toss to combine.

4.  Place all dressing ingredients (except water) into a bowl & whisk to combine. If mixture is too thick, add 1-2 teaspoons of water to loosen it up. Season with sea salt and black pepper.

5.To serve, combine pumpkin, shallots & lentils. Drizzle over the miso-honey dressing and fold it through the vegetables to distribute evenly.

NOTE:  This can be made up to three hours ahead. When ready to eat, top with the microgreens, sprouts or baby rocket.