Cooking Lights Eastern Harvest Pecan Cake Maple Frosting Recipes

AUTUMN MAPLE PECAN LAYER CAKE WITH PENUCHE FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Butter 2 8-inch round cake pans, and line them with parchment paper.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add the maple syrup, stirring until smooth. Alternately add the flour and the hot water, a little at a time, stirring gently until combined and smooth. Stir in the chopped walnuts.
• Divide the batter between the two prepared pans, and bake in a 350F degree preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Let the cakes cool in their pans on a rack for 8 to 10 minutes, then carefully unmold them and allow them to cool completely on the rack.
• At this point, you can individually wrap the completely cooled cakes in cling wrap, place in an airtight container, and refrigerate or freeze them until needed. Allow the cakes to defrost completely before filling and frosting them.
• Make the frosting shortly before you want to frost the cake, as it will get harder with time.
• For the frosting/filling, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring all the while; continue to boil and stir for about 1 minute, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is thickened (watch carefully). Off the heat, and whisk in the coffee powder, the 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 2 tablespoons milk, and the maple and vanilla extracts, stirring well to combine. Allow to cool slightly, then gradually add the powdered sugar, beating after each addition, until smooth and glossy and of the desired spreadable consistency; beat in a little milk, a tablespoon at a time, if it gets too thick.
• Place one of the cakes onto a cake plate or pedestal, and spoon some of the frosting/filling over the top, spreading evenly with a flat spatula; sprinkle with chopped pecans. Place the other cake on top and evenly spread the remaining frosting over the top of the cake. Decorate the top of the cake with the pecan halves. Just before serving, you may adorn the plate with autumn leaves as desired.
• This cake is best eaten the day it's frosted.
• Makes about 8-10 slices.

MAPLE FROSTING

Steps:

• Mix together sugar and salt.
• Beat in butter, add syrup and vanilla.
• Gradually add in the milk a tablespoon at a time, beat until creamy, YOU MAY NOT NEED ALL THE MILK, or you may need to add extra, adjust until it is of spreadable consistancy.
• Makes enough to frost a 2 layer cake or a 9"x 13" cake.

MAPLE-PECAN MINI POUND CAKES WITH MAPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a mini Bundt® pan.
• Whisk together 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour, salt, baking soda, and nutmeg in a small bowl.
• Mix together butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Mixture will look curdled; this is normal. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla and maple extracts. Add in half of the flour mixture and mix until combined. Pour in buttermilk and mix until combined. Add in remaining flour mixture and mix until just combined. Batter will be thin. Stir in pecans. Divide batter evenly amongst the cavities of the prepared pan.
• Place pan into the preheated oven and bake until the bottom of the cakes spring back lightly when touched, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool cakes in the pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make the frosting: mix cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer until smooth. Add in powdered sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, maple extract, and salt; beat until mixture is completely smooth. Pour in heavy cream and mix until well incorporated. Frost mini cakes as desired, and sprinkle additional chopped pecans on top.